CBD Oil for Dogs – Everything you need to know

What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs?

While many people are discovering the benefits of CBD oil, many pet owners are turning to this new holistic treatment modality. This article will explain all you need to know if you are thinking about giving CBD oil to your dog.

How can CBD oil help my dog

CBD Oil can be used to treat seizures, nausea, stress, anxiety, arthritis, back pain, symptoms of cancer, and gastrointestinal issues, among other health conditions in dogs.

Eternal Plants – High strength CBD Oil suitable for large and medium sized dogs

Thinking of buying CBD for your dog. We have the perfect product that is much better value than the other commercial pet products available.

CBD Oil may helps dogs that suffer from:

Separation Anxiety or noise phobias: CBD Oil may help calm your dog and help them relax

Depression & Sadness: CBD can directly boost 5-HT1A serotonin receptors in the brain which are closely linked to happiness and wellbeing.

Arthritis: CBD Oil can act as an anti inflammatory and reduce joint pain in animals.

Eating disorders: CBD can improve appetite and rebalance the digestive system

Nausea & vomiting: CBD is a proven antiemetic and can reduce vomiting & nausea

Symptoms of Cancer: CBD may slow down cancer and reduce it spreading in the body

Problems with the intestines: CBD affects the digestion and can reduce inflammation in ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.

Neurodegenerative disease: CBD is Neuroprotectant and can support the brain and nervous system.

Seizures: CBD has antispasmodic qualities and has been shown to help in certain types of epilepsy and reduce seizures

Further reading : Scientific Research into CBD Oil

The Endocannabinoid System in Dogs

Like humans dogs have an endocannabinoid system that works through CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout the body. This system modulates various functions in the body and is part of your dogs immune system.

Further reading : Beginners Guide to the Endocannabinoid System 

Choosing A Good CBD Oil For Your Dog

When looking to buy CBD oil for your dog  you will be faced with a multitude of choices. What strength of CBD Oil to buy, what type of CBD oil is best for dogs, what delivery method is best. How to find the best quality CBD oil for your dog?

Because of significant size and weight differences, you need to select the right product for your dog from the ones that are currently available

We have written some useful guides that equally apply when looking for CBD oil for your dog.

further reading : CBD Oil Buyers Guide

What strength CBD oil is best for dogs?

Most companies that make specialist CBD oil for pets choose a low strength CBD oil – below 1% in strength. Often these oils are diluted in a carrier oil like hemp oil or coconut MCT oil. Some suppliers don’t even show the mg of CBD oil you are buying

Examples

Canna-Pet® –  strength of CBD not shown

Bluebird Botanicals CBD Companion Blend for Pets – 500mg in 60ml of carrier oil. (0.8% CBD)

Innovet – 125mg of CBD in 30ml of carrier oil (0.4% CBD)

Medipet for large dogs – 100mg of CBD in 30ml of carrier oil (0.33% CBD)

Source CBD oil for dogs – 200mg of CBD in 30ml of carrier oil (0.66% CBD)

Prana CBD oil for pets – 300mg of CBD in 15ml of carrier oil (2% CBD)

Compared to the prices you would pay for a normal 3% or 10% CBD oil pet owners are getting ripped off. If you have a small dog it maybe worth getting a lower strength oil as it makes it easier to calculate lower dosages but for a larger dog you are going to spend a lot for very little value.

How Is CBD Oil Administered to Dogs?

CBD for dogs comes in a variety of forms there are 4 main delivery methods.

1. Ready made food – like dog biscuits
2. Capsules that the dog eats or are hidden inside treats
3. CBD Paste that can be mixed with food
4. CBD Oil drops for oral application

When considering what product to buy you should understand the concept of bioavailability. You want the most CBD to be absorbed by the delivery method you choose.

CBD that is eaten as food or taken as capsules will have a lower bioavailability as it is broken down by the acids in the stomach and metabolized by the liver.

The most efficient delivery method for dogs is absorption is through the mouth, but it has the disadvantage that your dog may not like the taste and you need to hold your dogs mouth open by force if you want to administer it.

Many dog owners may choose a lower bioavailability because they want to minimise the stress on their dog and allow them to eat CBD as part of their normal diet.   

Further Reading : CBD Oil Delivery Methods

How to calculate the correct CBD Oil dosage for your Dog

A dog is a lot smaller than a human being so you should calculate dosage based on your dogs weight and size. To calculate the correct dosage you need to also consider the strength of the CBD oil you buy. If you have bought a low strength oil you will need more drops to get the same effect.

How to calculate your dogs starting dose?

STARTING (low dosage): 0.05 mg/kg / twice daily

MAINTENANCE (medium dosage): 0.25 mg/kg / twice daily

SEVERE (high dosage): 0.50 mg/kg / twice daily

MAXIMUM UPPER DOSE – 1.0 mg/kg/day

It is best to start with the lowest amount possible and to gradually increase the dose every 5 days or so until the desired effect is seen. If undesired side effects such as excessive sedation, disorientation, excitement, vomiting etc. are observed, the CBD dose is too high and administration should stopped immediately. After the side effects have worn off, your dog can be restarted at a lower dose.

The upper oral dose limit for CBD products recommended by veterinarian Dr. Robert Silver is around 1 mg/kg/day orally, but one should start with a much smaller fraction of this dose such as 0.05 mg/kg/day.

For THC products, Dr. Silver recommends to start with an oral dose of 0.1-0.25 mg/kg THC once or twice daily. Once the pet has received the same dose over about 1 week without undesired effects, the pet has developed a tolerance and the dose can be gradually increased.

Example 1: CBD oil

If your dog weighs 25 kg and the hemp CBD oil you bought lists 200 mg of CBD infused in 30ml of hemp oil

Your dog’s starting dose of 0.05 mg/kg/day works out as 1.25 mg/day (25 kg x 0.05 mg). 30 ml hemp oil has a CBD content of 6.7 mg/ml (200÷30). Your dog’s starting dose of 1.25 mg equals a volume of approximately 0.2 ml of the hemp oil (1.25÷6.7). Since hemp oil contains approximately 20 drops per ml, 0.2 ml equal about 4 drops (0.2×20). Your starting dose is 4 drops by mouth once daily for 5 days.

What are the potential risks of CBD oil for dogs

Medicinal cannabis laws do not apply to vets, only to human physicians and their patients. This is a dilemma for veterinarians and their clients because humans can now share their CBD Oil with their pets and often do so without understanding the risks. Most vets are reluctant to prescribe CBD oil because of the lack of research and information about potential side effects.

The fact is we do not know the risk of using CBD oil for dogs. If you are prepared to live with that and take responsibility for your decisions there is a high possibility CBD oil may be of as much benefit to your dog as it is to a humans.

The biggest risk you face is overdosing your dog, symptoms may include excessive sedation, disorientation, over excitement or vomiting. If this happens stop the treatment straight away and reduce the dosage.   

Does CBD Oil have any side effects for animals

There are dozens of studies that attest the efficiency CBD in treating numerous preconditions, and most of these studies conclude that the cannabinoid is safe and virtually free of side effects.

While there haven’t been any studies on the side effects in dogs you would do well to familiarise yourself with the known side effects of CBD oil in humans.

Further Reading : Known Side Effects of CBD

Can my dog get high from CBD Oil

CBD is considered non psychoactive so it’s unlikely your dog will get high unless your CBD oil contains a lot of THC. Theoretically it’s possible but only if you give your dog a lot of CBD over a considerable amount of time and the trace amounts of THC build up in the fat cells. If your dog suddenly exerts itself this built up reserve could be released all at once.

If your dog does get high it’s normally nothing to worry about, it will normally wear off after a few hours.

Sometimes you may leave your CBD product lying around or not properly closed and you dog may decide to eat/drink the lot. Afterwards it might not be able to stand or eat. If you suspect an overdose, take your dog to the vet immediately. Better safe than sorry.

Is CBD Oil legal for dogs?

In most countries CBD oil is perfectly legal to give to your dog. In some countries where CBD is considered a medicine and is subject to more regulations you may be crossing into the grey zone. Always check with your local authorities or customs officials if you plan to import CBD oil or carry it across international borders. Some CBD oil contains very small amounts of THC so if a country has zero tolerance to THC you may be breaking the law being in possession of it.  Luckily your dog probably won’t get drug tested

Do I need THC for my dog if it has Cancer

If your dog is suffering from Cancer then you may want to find cannabis oil that contains THC as well as CBD. THC has shown to have certain anti cancer properties like Apoptosis etc

Sourcing THC oil is often a problem unless you live in a country or state that has legalised cannabis. The next best thing is a whole plant extraction CBD oil that has all the acidic cannabinoids like CBDA and beneficial terpenes to give your dog the benefits of the entourage effect.

Books about using Cannabis and CBD Oil for dogs

Canine expert Caroline Coile walks you through 30 years of documented research on therapeutic applications for cannabis with animals and introduces you to pioneering new CBD products specifically designed for pets. Learn about legal, safe, and veterinarian-approved cannabis products for dogs, and their potential health applications for your pet. A natural solution to improve your dog’s quality of life.

Purchase on Amazon

Where Can Pet Owners Get CBD Oil for their Dogs?

If you have decided you want to give CBD Oil to your dog you can ask your local petshop if they stock CBD oil. In most cases it’s probably easier to find a supplier online. A quick google search for CBD oil for pets will bring up a lot of results.

Sometimes your holistic vet may have CBD oil available and you can purchase directly from them.

Buying CBD Oil online for your dog has the same problems as buying for humans. There are lot of unscrupulous suppliers so we would advise you to read our buyers guide first to familiarise yourself with the different types of cannabis oil available online

Further Reading: How to buy cannabis oil online – buyers guide

Can you use normal hemp CBD oil for your dog?

Companies that target CBD specifically for Dogs offer specialised products that are designed for pets. Normally these are lower strength products but are exactly the same formulation they use for humans. The only difference is the picture of the dog on the label and the inflated prices.

You can use normal hemp CBD oil for your dog and it will often work out cheaper than the brands that are marketed to pet owners. Calculate exactly how much CBD is contained in the product when you compare them.

It’s important to adjust the dosage accordingly especially if you decide to give your dog a high strength CBD oil. Your dog can’t communicate how the dosage is affecting them so always start low and observe your dog carefully for any adverse effects.

Eternal Plants – High strength CBD Oil suitable for large and medium sized dogs

If you have a large or medium sized dog our high strength CBD oil products work out very economical. Our 10ml bottles, at 20% CBD, contain 2000mg of CBD. $250 divided by 2000 = 12.5c per mg. We doubt if you will find a better price anywhere. If you have a small dog then we would recommend purchasing a lower strength oil like community based dispensary 1000

What companies make CBD Oil for dogs?

Below are a few of the top companies that make specialised CBD Oil for dogs. We always recommend you do your own research before purchasing a product