Is CBD Oil Beneficial for Dogs?

Written by

Simon Šfiligoj

CBD Manufacturing

The information provided in our articles has undergone a thorough research process by a team of writers, editors, legal advisors, and medical experts to guarantee accuracy. Only reputable sources have been cited.

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

What you need to know about CBD oil for dogs

Companion animals, especially dogs and cats, are valuable family members. It means that their well-being is vital. Although animals may have different anatomy and physiology nonetheless, most mammals share numerous traits with humans.

It means that many health products that are good for humans might have health benefits for dogs. In recent years, CBD has gained popularity as a nutraceutical for humans and pets. Initial experience with CBD appears to confirm certain health benefits of CBD oil for dogs.

Is CBD Oil safe for my dog?

When choosing any remedy or health supplement, safety should be of prime concern. After all, it is necessary to ensure that it should not do more harm than good. 

There could be many reasons for considering CBD for dogs, from managing pain and inflammation to reducing aggressive behaviour.

CBD is safe for pets when used as indicated and at the correct dose. In addition, CBD products that are free from THC are less likely to have any side effects. However, full-spectrum CBD with small amounts of THC may have greater benefits in some cases, so one has to weigh the risk against the benefits before choosing CBD products.

Experience with CBD products shows that most CBD adverse effects are transient. It means that they would be gone in few days after discontinuing the product. Moreover, none of the side effects appears to pose any severe health risk to dogs.

Some of the known side effects that might occur at higher dosages are:

• Mouth dryness results in low saliva, which may be a concern in some warm climate zones.
• Lowering of blood pressure – again an infrequent side effect, which may occur at much higher dosages.
• Lethargy – which may occur due to calming effect of CBD on dogs. It might not be an unwanted effect in many cases, especially when CBD is used to manage anxiety in the dog or control aggressive behaviour.
• Behavioural changes are more probable on exceeding dosage or if any given product is high in THC. In such cases, owners may notice specific behavioural changes.

There is a firm reason to believe that CBD won’t cause any side effects in most cases and only minor hassles in some. Moreover, in the last few years, numerous clinical studies have emerged, confirming its safety. For example, in one of the dose-escalation studies in 21 dogs, CBD oil (even products with THC) was well tolerated, causing mild adverse effects only.

How does CBD oil affect dogs?

Pets like dogs differ from their human friends in a way that they have a pretty different kind of digestive system and metabolism. Although there is some research on how dogs metabolize CBD, it is worth keeping in mind that the difference between various breeds may be considerable.

Pharmacokinetics of CBD in dogs

Pharmacokinetics is the study of the movement of drugs or other substances into the body. The study of CBD in dogs show that it is absorbed pretty quickly, with a peak concentration in plasma reaching 1.9 to 2.3 hours. It means that CBD starts acting after a couple of hours in dogs. Further, studies show that half of the CBD would be gone from the dog’s plasma (not essentially body) in about 14 to 24 hours. 

Since the half-life of CBD may be as long as 24 hours in dogs, it means that the concentration of CBD may increase with repeated dosages. It also means that maximum benefit could be seen after few days only.

Pharmacodynamics or how CBD works in dogs

Once inside the body, CBD has to start working. Studies show that the endocannabinoid system is present in all members of the animal world. So, it may explain why CBD may have similar kinds of health effects in humans and dogs.

Targeting endocannabinoid receptors may modulate pain, inflammation, anxiety, reduce stress, have a calming effect, and much more. Researchers have identified various endocannabinoid receptors present in different body parts, from the brain to the skin.

What are the benefits of CBD for dogs?

As dogs reside with humans, they have become physically less active and prone to specific health issues. Therefore, supplementing the canine diet with CBD may have several health benefits for dogs:

Behaviour improvement

Behavioural issues like not listening to human friends, frequently whining for attention, continuing chewing objects may become issues. CBD may help alter behaviour in many cases. It may also help reduce unnecessary aggressiveness in some cases.

Stress reduction

Dogs are pretty emotional and highly attached to their human companions, and they are also prone to anxiety. In addition, some dogs may have a fear of separations, others may respond inadequately to noises. CBD may help calm the nerves of dogs and thus help not only reduce stress but even prevent the condition from becoming chronic.

Pain and inflammation

CBD for pain relief in dogs is quite effective. Pain and inflammation may occur due to numerous reasons like trauma, arthritis, age-related illnesses. Adding CBD to regular treatment may help in many cases. CBD may also be the right choice for chronic pain issues when continuous use of medications might not be an option.

Lowers risk of neurological conditions

Quite like humans, dogs may also develop epileptic seizures, diseases of the brain and spine. Although CBD might not be a cure for most of these conditions, it may provide considerable relief and thus improve the quality of life.

Lowers risk of tumours

CBD has anti-tumour properties. It means that regular supplementation of a canine diet with CBD may help prevent the development of certain types of tumours.

Metabolism enhancements

CBD also alters metabolism, and these effects are even more important considering that dogs are becoming prone to metabolic disorders. Dogs are not as active as they need to be due to limited space in cityscapes and other limitations. CBD has a proven ability to alter or enhance metabolism.

Reduce skin itching

Dogs often have problems with flicks and fleas, skin dryness, dermatitis, and much more. To a degree, scratching is normal. However, if a dog scratches too often, it might be a cause for concern. Although CBD is not a remedy for underlying causes, it may provide much needed symptomatic relief.

What is the best type of CBD to give to my dog?

CBD products for pets come in numerous forms like edibles, oils, gummies, and much more. Although most dose forms are equally good, each has its pros and cons.

CBD oil – is the most common form for use by humans and pets alike. It can be used in various ways, either directly taken orally or added to food items. For quick and consistent effect, it is always good to squirt it directly into the dog’s mouth, as this will result in fast and dependable absorptions. 

Broad-spectrum CBD is a good balance of efficacy and safety. It contains CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes, and so on, resulting in entourage effect or greater effectiveness. However, it is still free from THC, thus the lower risk of neurological side effects.

Full-spectrum CBD – quite like broad-spectrum CBD oil, it has multiple beneficial phytocompounds along with CBD. At the same time, it has a low amount of THC in legally permissible levels. Although THC poses a greater risk of neurological side effects, it should not be demonized as (in the proper dosage) it may considerably boost specific health effects like providing greater anxiety relief.

Adding hemp oil to food products is also an option. However, it may result in lower bioavailability and thus the need for a higher dosage.

A word of caution:

when choosing hemp oil, pay particular attention to the source of oil and its total CBD content. Remember that many online hemp oil products are extracted from hemp seed, which may not have any CBD at all.

CBD isolate– as the name says, it is an isolated form of CBD, usually in a powder form containing more than 99% of CBD. Using such a product has cost benefits, reliability. Additionally, one can use isolate in many ways like adding to food products, and so on. However, CBD isolate does not contain other cannabinoids or terpenes, which may result in fewer benefits in some disease conditions due to the absence of entourage effect.

Edibles – edibles are a good option in a way that they are much easier to use. However, one of the issues with many edibles is an extremely low amount of CBD, which may not result in expected health benefits.

How much CBD oil should I give my dog?

Dosing CBD in pets can be challenging due to the huge variance in body weight between various breeds. Thus, unlike humans, it is best to calculate the dose based on body weight.

Generally, it is a good idea to start with the lowest dose and increase it gradually. Since CBD has some accumulating effect, it exerts its maximum effect in 3-5 days. It means that one may increase the dosage after 5-7 days if expected results are not achieved.

Most experts recommend starting from 1 mg per 10 pounds of body weight and then increase to 2 or 3 mg per 10 pounds of body weight (once or twice a day). One may even increase dosage much further for severe health conditions. Pharmacokinetic studies regarding the daily dosage say that up to 2 mg per kg is still a low dose. Up to 5 mg per kg is a moderate dose. Higher than 5 mg per kg can be regarded as a high dosage.

It means that CBD products have a broad safety range, and one can safely increase dosage when and as required. There is barely any risk of overdosing until or unless someone completely neglects recommendations.

Some of the other common questions regarding CBD dosing are:

Can I give my dog CBD oil for humans? Well, in short, the answer is yes. Vital here is proper dosing. 

How many drops of CBD for dogs are adequate? It would depend on the strength of CBD oil, that is, the amount of CBD in each drop. However, in most cases, one can give dogs few drops of CBD oil.

Can CBD help relieve my dog’s health issues?

There is lots of research going on into CBD’s role in various health conditions. For example, it might help manage some disease conditions, be an add-on treatment, and even help counter specific symptoms.

CBD for dogs with cancer

Although there is limited research into the subject, CBD remains among the preferred non-pharmacological means of managing cancers in dogs. However, this does not mean that there is no supporting evidence in favour of such use. Numerous experimental studies show that CBD may alter immune responses, prevent tumour growth, and even induce the death of specific cancer cells.

Additionally, one can use CBD to manage pain and anxiety related to cancer. CBD may have a calming effect on the nerves. It may also improve metabolism and promote the survival of dogs.

CBD for arthritis in dogs

CBD may reduce inflammation and pain sensation. There is some research indicating that CBD may help dogs with arthritis. In one of the studies, 4 weeks of CBD oil could reduce pain and increase periods of activity in dogs diagnosed with arthritis. In the mentioned study, researchers gave CBD oil in the dosage of 2 mg per kg, twice daily.

CBD oil for dogs with heart problems

Although CBD oil for dogs with heart problems is not a well-studied remedy, there are reasons to believe that it can help. CBD has a calming effect, may alter stress responses, lower blood pressure a bit, and thus ultimately reduce cardiac load, and has a beneficial impact on heart health.

Cannabidiol oil for dog seizures

Cannabidiol based medications are already approved for managing resistant cases of epilepsy in children in the US and UK. However, in recent years, researchers have turned their attention towards using CBD oil for dog seizures. Many cases reports have confirmed that CBD oil, especially when added to the regular treatment, may help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. Additionally, some pilot clinical studies also appear to confirm that adding CBD oil to standard treatment for dog seizures may help.

CBD for anxiety in dogs

Dogs are loving, dedicated, sensitive, and emotional beings. They are quite prone to anxiety, which may result in unexplained behavioural issues. Adding CBD to the daily regime may help overcome anxiety in dogs. One study demonstrated that CBD could reduce noise-induced fear in dogs. Yet another study showed that CBD could lower aggressive behaviour in shelter dogs towards humans due to its anti-anxiety action. CBD could be considered to manage subtle, unwanted changes in a dog’s behaviour due to anxiety.

Cannabidiol for inflammation in dogs

CBD is good for suppressing inflammation and reducing related pain. However, such use is not limited to arthritis. Supplementing a regular canine diet with CBD may help lower general inflammation and thus lower the risk of various other painful chronic ailments.

Conclusion

CBD oil for dogs may help counter numerous health issues. It can help prevent certain disorders, be used as an add-on treatment, or counter disease symptoms. CBD is good not only for dogs but also for various pets, and it is also suitable for cats. 

Those looking for CBD products for managing their pets’ health can check the list of our finished products. Please feel free to reach out after choosing from different CBD oils for pets. Queries from those interested in manufacturing custom CBD pet products are also welcome.

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Is CBD Oil Beneficial for Cats?

Written by

Simon Šfiligoj

CBD Manufacturing

The information provided in our articles has undergone a thorough research process by a team of writers, editors, legal advisors, and medical experts to guarantee accuracy. Only reputable sources have been cited.

Furthermore, to ensure the most recent and relevant data, the content is consistently evaluated against current scientific literature and expert recommendations.

What you need to know about CBD Oil For Cats

With “Cats” being one of the most searched-for terms on the Internet, we know they are many people’s favorite pets. Cats are our cutest furry companions, Intelligent, elegant, calming, giving us love and compassion. Can CBD be of aid in their purrsuit of happiness? Read ahead!

Is CBD Oil safe for my cat?

The first question cat owners ask is how safe is to give CBD to their cats. Although there have been no scientific studies that investigate the effect of cannabis on cats, CBD should be generally safe. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant. 

Even with long-term use, no real serious side effects should be appearing. However, there are potential adverse effects, especially if the dosing is too high or too frequent. Gastrointestinal upset, drowsiness, and sedation can be observed. Most of the undesirable results can be stopped by discontinuing the administration of CBD. Drug interaction with existing cat medications can also arise! Always make sure and check with your veterinarian if your cat is suitable for CBD consumption.

How does CBD oil affect cats?

Like humans and many other animals, cats also own an endocannabinoid system. This means they are also affected by cannabinoids found in plants, as well as synthetic ones. To gain a deeper understanding of how CBD affects our cats, we must look into the functioning of the endocannabinoid system.

Cats and the endocannabinoid system (ECS)

The endocannabinoid system, consisting of endocannabinoids, CB1 and CB2 receptors, metabolic enzymes is a part of the nervous system assisting neural communication. This lipid signaling system plays an important role in every aspect of the cat’s life. It affects appetite, sleep, hunger, memory, mood regulation and stability, pain perception, body temperature, immune resistance, reproduction, and fertility,… Although the distribution of cannabinoid receptors is different than in humans, they can be affected in the same way. This means CBD can bring the ECS to a harmonious tone in cats as well.

How long it takes for CBD to work in cats

We should always consider CBD as a long-term treatment. Minimal doses administered over a long time span are the best way to see the CBD benefits for cats. By receiving a daily dose of CBD, the ECS should improve its function, resulting in a healthier and happier cat. Especially at the first few tries, or if the dosage is increased, there might be some immediate reactions from our cat. We must observe how our cat responds to CBD and diminish or stop giving them CBD if unwanted effects occur.

How does a cat react after taking CBD?

At first, the cat might be curious and seem to like the taste of CBD. Some cats might find the taste repulsive and reject it. Once the CBD oil enters their system, their mood can change, usually becoming calmer. Their appetite can rise and they might sleep longer. Some CBD products and their ingredients might also irritate the cat.

What are the benefits of CBD for cats?

The need for clinical studies in veterinary species is very significant. Science needs to provide evidence-based applications for phytocannabinoid like CBD. Except for the laboratory animal species in which experimental studies have been performed, we need more data regarding the same benefits on our cats. So far, the findings show towards the treatment of:

Urinary tract disease: In most cases, the UTD is not caused by bacterias in cats. The cause is inflammation which CBD as a natural anti-inflammatory can ease.

Anxiety: CBD can help cats deal with their anxiety, relieving stress, leading to several different complications.

Seizure disorders: epilepsy and similar conditions are very difficult to treat with conventional medicine. CBD shows great potential as a legitimate option for uses against seizures.

Vomiting and diarrhea: inflammatory bowel disease, chronic vomiting, and diarrhea could all be made easier with the help of cannabinoids.

Diabetes: the increasing number of diabetic cats might find a solution from cannabinoid treatment. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD could reduce the hyperglycemic damage caused by type 2 diabetes.

Cancer: CBD can provide some systematic pain relief and can benefit cats with cancer by increasing appetite and reducing nausea.

Overall wellness: CBD can positively impact the cat’s immune system acting as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant.

What is the best type of CBD to give to my cat?

If you are interested in trying cannabidiol for your cat it might be quite difficult to start. CBD for pets comes in many forms, including how it is manufactured and what it is used for. We will stay away from products such as CBD pet treats since they are more prone to contain artificial flavors, colors, grain, and dairy ingredients. We will focus on hemp oil as it is the most popular and widely available product.

Several methods exist to obtain CBD oil. It is wise to make sure the best CBD oil for your cat is produced without harmful solvents, which can be retained in the final product. CBD extractions such as CO2 are most suitable for cats.

CBD oil is mostly termed as full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate.

Full-spectrum CBD oil, also known as whole plant CBD, contains all the plants naturally occurring components such as cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc… and is usually deemed most effective. Albeit the THC levels are below 0.2%, the cat can still have a negative reaction from consuming too much full-spectrum CBD oil.

Broad-spectrum CBD oil, is like full-spectrum oil, with a key difference. It contains a whole range of different compounds but is without THC.

CBD isolate oil contains the CBD isolate in its purest form. It’s the most purified form of CBD oil. Without containing all the plant’s potentially beneficial components, it means this CBD oil has less chance of causing allergic reactions to your cat.

CBD topicals for cats

Cats might suffer from joint and muscle pain, or skin anomalies. In this case, CBD topicals are ideal since we can apply them directly to the cat’s skin and deliver immediate relief. CBD topicals are meant only for external use and shouldn’t be ingested by your cat!

How much CBD oil should I give my cat?

We are usually administrating CBD based on the weight of the subject. As cats are quite small animals, dosing should be careful and accurate. Typically, cats should consume 1-2mg of CBD per serving, once or twice daily.

For different dosing options, check the chart below.

Can CBD calm cat anxiety or cat aggression?

One of the most common things troubling cat owners are overexcited pets. They are looking up CBD to calm their cats and ease their anxiety. CBD is very often discussed as a potential treatment for anxiety, stress, and irritation.

Cats, CBD, and anxiety

CBD and anxiety (after pain management) is the most discussed topic when pet owners visit the veterinary clinic. In CBD topicals veterinarians found CBD to be at least somewhat helpful in treating canine anxiety. And just in around 10% it produces side effects. CBD was also deemed to help reduce anxiety by over 75% of participants. 

CBD and Cats agression

Most lives of domestic cats are pretty far from their natural habitats. As they are natural predators they are very active by instinct. But sometimes, things get out of hand. CBD might be a tool to calm these situations. According to this study, CBD shows some effectiveness in taming aggression. Another thing to note from the study is that THC, found in full-spectrum CBD products, might potentiate aggression group settings.

Conclusion

So far we found out CBD can be quite a treat for our cats. As no harmful side effects are expected to be seen from cats, Essentia Pura offers all kinds of CBD oil formulations for your pets. Let us know which one you think suits your cat and we will get you going! CBD full spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate, blended with salmon fish oil is available for you to order.

Reach out to us here for any further information on the topic. To place an order, complete our form and let all pets discover the wonders of CBD!