Many humans use CBD oil to help gain control over anxiety, insomnia, or even chronic pains. But, what a lot of dog owners don’t know is that CBD oil can be used for their furry friends as well. That being said, before deciding if CBD oil is a good choice for your dog, you should know the possible effects of using it—both good and bad.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a compound that’s found in both cannabis and hemp. The difference between CBD oil and marijuana is that CBD oil lacks tetrahydrocannabinol or THC that gives off the psychoactive properties.
CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant in one of two ways:
- Solvent Extraction: This is when natural solvents, or solvents like petroleum or butane, are used to extract the CBD from the plant.
- CO2 Extraction: This extraction method uses carbon dioxide, both in a liquid and a gaseous state, to extract the CBD from the plant. The CO2 is pumped into a pressure chamber with the hemp plant, and that pressure breaks down the plant and produces the CBD oil. This extraction process is safer and produces a higher concentration of CBD.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
Your dog has what is called an endocannabinoid system, serving as a messenger system within your dog that plays a role in their nervous and hormone systems. Since the endocannabinoids in CBD are similar to the ones in your dog’s body, using CBD helps stimulate the receptors in your fur baby’s nervous, digestive, and immune systems.
Having said those, buying high-quality CBD oil from this official site or other reputable stores is a cost-effective investment because using this product can help your dog help manage a variety of ailments, which include the following:
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Seizures
In people, helping with seizures is one of the main reasons to use CBD. But, it’s important to note that dogs are different than humans in that their seizures can be caused my many underlying conditions, such as electrolyte problems, flea and tick products, vaccines, pesticides, etc. While there’s often no cure for seizures, CBD oil can be a great tool to control them.
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Arthritis
Since CBD has similar metabolic pathways to anti-inflammatory drugs, it can help improve multiple inflammatory conditions, like arthritis. When using CBD for arthritis, the recommended use is twice daily in order to see substantial pain relief.
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Cancer
Cancer comes in many different forms and each form comes with a different set of best treatments. Using CBD to help manage cancer symptoms has been done a lot in humans and far less in dogs. However, if dogs are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, this is where CBD can help. Because CBD has an anti-nausea effect, this can make the nausea caused by chemotherapy more bearable.
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Other Pain/Inflammation
As CBD oil can help manage arthritis, it can also benefit dogs who are suffering from other kinds of inflammatory pain. Whether your dog suffers from nerve pain or arthritis pain, CBD oil can help control that pain in a less harmful way than using conventional pain medications.
When CBD is used for pain control, it binds to receptors in the nervous system, which ultimately changes how your dog’s brain perceives pain. Plus, it can manage symptoms caused by pain, like sleeplessness or nausea.
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Dog Treats
Dog treats CBD is becoming more popular day by day due to various health benefits. Nowadays, many delicious dog treats are being made with CBD which is effective at relieving pain and increasing comfort in our furry companions. It also effective for Stress & Anxiety Relief, Joint & Mobility Care, and Heart & Immune Care.
What Are Possible Side Effects Of CBD In Dogs?
Similar to any form of treatment, CBD oil can have negative side effects in dogs that you, as an owner, should be aware of. Some of those possible side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Lowered blood pressure
- Upset stomach
While your dog won’t likely overdose from safe CBD oil use, it’s a good idea to start off CBD usage in small doses, all while monitoring any and all effects. If there are no side effects that should cause worry, you can increase the dose as necessary. But, as always, it’s best to consult your dog’s vet before using CBD oil on your dog.
What’s The Right CBD For Your Dog?
If the idea of CBD is still new to you, it may be difficult to know how to pick the right CBD product for your dog. However, here are some tips to make it easier:
- Look for organic: You don’t want to use CBD oil that’s grown using of any pesticides or toxins.
- Pay attention to extraction process used: Some processes use harmful chemicals. The two safest extraction types are carbon dioxide extraction and cold pressing.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): This just means that the company is confident enough in their products to have them tested and authenticated.
- Levels of THC: Safe THC levels in CBD products should be below 0.3%.
Conclusion
While CBD oil can offer many benefits to your furry companion, the best benefits come from proper knowledge and research, as well as careful dosing and paying close attention to how your dog is reacting to the product.