Cannabidiol can be an effective treatment for certain conditions that dogs experience. CBD can, however, also have uncomfortable or even detrimental side effects. Fortunately, the most common side effects are mild: lethargy and increased appetite.
As with any medication that you plan to give your dog, you should check with your veterinarian before beginning the treatment. CBD is an oil that comes from hemp rather than cannabis itself. Hemp only has a trace amount of THC compared to cannabis. Because of this minuscule percentage of THC, hemp is legal in more places than cannabis.
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Is CBD Regulated?
No, the FDA does not regulate CBD products nor has it approved them. There are quite a few CBD products in the marketplace, and some of them are of dubious quality. If CBD is legal in your area, then you can get them from either your vet or us. Be sure to speak to your dog’s veterinarian about which CBD products are best for your fur babies and their specific needs.
What About Dosage?
Generally, there is no “standard dose” for CBD treatment in dogs. Therefore, it’s difficult to determine the correct dosage for your dog. Your vet will help you decide both which product to use and how much of it. When it comes to research, although there is more and more taking place every year, there must still be more to be able to determine safe and/or standard doses of CBD for dogs.
On Which Conditions Will CBD Be Effective?
Pain Management
One study at Cornell University showed that 80% of dogs with osteoarthritis that received CBD experienced lesser pain than the control group. This is just one study, however, so the results need correlative confirmation by other studies. Still, the results were promising.
Seizures
The Humane Society references research that 89% of dogs that experience seizures get relief from them when treated with CBD. Again, more research is needed.
Anxiety
The American Kennel Club notes that CBD is useful in some cases when treating canine anxiety. Like most of the CBD treatments of dogs, the treatment of anxiety relies mostly on anecdotal evidence at this point.
Further Research
The AKC is soon going to work with the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to perform a comprehensive study on dogs with epilepsy that resists other treatment strategies.
In September 2024, de Linde Henriksen et al. studied the effect of CBD in treating eye diseases in dogs. They found limited evidence and recommended more research.
Australian researchers studied the effects of CBD in reducing the itch associated with atopy. They found that 65% of the dogs tested experienced a 50% or greater reduction in scratching and chewing. Roughly half of the dogs who got relief saw their symptoms disappear completely.
Assuming that you’ve spoken with your vet about appropriate CBD products, you can get your products from us. So, if you have decided to treat your dog with CBD, then contact us at your earliest convenience to get the products you need to help your dog.