Cannabidiol-infused oil has become pretty popular recently thanks to its widely believed wellness effects. From using it in drinks and foods to using it for a better night’s rest, it has plenty of different ways of helping our life.
And one of the newest ways this major non-intoxicating cannabinoid can help is by supporting our furry friends. If you have ever wondered how you could do something for your dog for firework anxiety, or even just alleviate some of the pain they may be experiencing, CBD could be an amazing alternative.
We’ve gathered some of the most relevant information about how this natural supplement works, its benefits, safety, and what to look for when buying CBD for yourself or your dogs.
Is CBD oil safe for dogs?
Now, you might be asking yourself if CBD is safe for your dog. Before we dive into the topic, you must know that even if something is safe for humans, our furry friends have a different biological system that might react differently.
This study researched the potential adverse effects of giving CBD to 30 healthy beagles. In general, the results reported that the product was well tolerated at a clinical level.
There were a few factors that need more research, like elevation in alkaline phosphatase in higher doses. So while generally safe, higher CBD doses could cause side effects in smaller dogs.
Besides this specific factor, there are some things to look out for when buying cannabidiol-based products, including sweeteners, flavors, quality of the extraction, and even if other cannabinoids are present.
While CBD in smaller doses is safe for your canine pals, some sweeteners used in human products can be terrible for your pets. Avoid Xylitol-based products and other artificial sweeteners when looking for products for your pets.
Another thing to look out for is that the oil should not have active THC. Some products nowadays blend up a smaller dose of Delta-9 THC, which can be toxic to your pet. Having more than 3-4mg of THC in the formula can pose a risk to dogs, cats, and other animals.
There is still a lot to understand about CBD oil and pets and much more research to be done, but CBD is safe under the conditions stated above. Now that you know what to avoid or what to look for, let’s dive into the actual benefits of this supplement for your pets.
Benefits of CBD for pets
Whether it’s a rainstorm, a commotion outside the house, or general anxiety, seeing our pets panic can make us feel helpless.
With the correct dosage and product, CBD can be a wonderful aid when your furry pal needs a little help relaxing. While CBD for your pet is a relatively new concept, it’s currently being explored for reducing anxiety, pain relief, and helping with appetite and nausea.
CBD may help reduce anxiety
If your dogs or pets have destructive or over-energetic moments during the day, it might be a sign of separation anxiety.
While we recommend consulting a veterinarian, CBD can be a great support. In general, as it also interacts with their nervous system, thanks to its sedative properties, it may be a potential help to calm down your pal.
CBD may help reduce pain
Cannabidiol-based products are also believed to have strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
This scientific review of the general properties of CBD also mentions the suppression of pain behavior in various animal models, including inflammatory pain and response to inflammation in humans.
Of course, there is still much to understand about CBD, but there is enough evidence that shows how the potential for pain treatment and inflammation could even help alleviate some of the symptoms.
This could be a great support for adult dogs that suffer from joint pain, which can be a serious concern depending on the breed.
CBD may help with appetite and nausea
Last but not least, one of the biggest benefits of using CBD is promoting narusea relief and modulating the appetite. Sometimes due to emotional or physical changes, our furry friends can have trouble eating.
This is why cannabidiol-based oil could be helpful as a potential treatment. As it works with the endocannabinoid system, it can potentially help stimulate certain behaviors, including hunger and appetite.
Is CBD for pets the same as for humans?
At its core, yes. CBD oil for pets is very similar to the formula used for humans, however, there are key differences that can make an oil pet-friendly. So while we as pet owners can ingest your buddy’s oil in a pinch, we wouldn’t recommend it the other way around.
If you want to treat your dog to the benefits of CBD, we suggest you try our new Premium CBD Pet Drops.
We’ll go in-depth in the following section about the actual differences, but in its essence, CBD oil on its own is perfectly safe with the correct dosage.
CBD oil for pets needs to be purer and have fewer additives in general, so it could also be consumed by humans as it's a less processed product.
Difference between CBD for dogs and humans
Now let’s take a look at the things that make this product different. As we stated above, human-grade CBD oil can present certain differences that can make them not pet-friendly. Sweeteners like Xylitol, certain flavorings, or even amounts of THC can be a problem.
The main issue is the type of product. While humans can consume most CBD-based products, certain candies and edibles can be harmful to pets because of added ingredients like chocolate, stabilizers, or sweeteners.
Soft drinks and other teas or beverages that have CBD are also not advised for pet use. Sometimes coloring and flavoring can be dangerous for our furry friends, specifically wintergreen and citrus oils for pets, according to the Pet Poison Helpline information.
To sum it up, not all CBD products are pet-friendly and we strongly advise you to check on the ingredients before using a non-specific pet CBD oil. With that said, we always advise you to check with your local vet to be absolutely sure.
CBD oil for dogs vs. humans
As with everything in life, sometimes less is more. And that’s precisely why CBD oil for dogs has a somewhat different formula.
While some brands add special flavoring, we especially advise that your CBD oil for dogs only has some sort of organic and non-GMO base oil and CBD extract.
The fewer ingredients you can see on the label, the better it can work for your pet. Cannabidiol oil for pets tends to be a lot blander and without many extra supplements, coloring, or flavoring.
It may also come in lower doses as this is better for your pet than high-dose products made for humans.
In the end, before giving anything to your furry companion we always recommend checking with your local vet first.
If you suspect your product may contain a dangerous chemical or compound, we always recommend checking in with your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Pet Poison Control Hotline, at (888) 426-4435.
Is CBD oil for humans the same as for dogs?
As we mentioned above in the article, yes and no. Some brands tend to add other compounds and supplements for human use, including herbal supplements or other cannabinoids such as THC, CBG, or CBN.
THC can be harmful to certain animals, specifically dogs. It’s also important to remember that while CBD is mostly safe, even lower human doses like 4-5mg can be toxic to your furry friends.
Let’s talk about some of these differences.
Difference between pet and human CBD oil
Human CBD oil can also have several flavors, presentations, or even dosages. While a really strong concentration can be safe for humans, it can severely intoxicate smaller dog breeds. Hence why pet-grade products have a lower concentration and overall dosage.
Another key difference is the quality of the product. While we always recommend choosing the best quality when talking about cannabinoids, it is important to look for third-party lab testing of CBD. This information is usually available on the website of the product or by request.
If your CBD oil is up to standards and from a renowned brand, you can feel safe checking how much of the actual cannabinoid is in the bottle. This also comes with a literal price, as high-quality extraction tends to be pricier.
Can I give my dog human CBD oil?
This is a complicated answer. You need to read your label first. While we do not recommend this and we actually would advise you to buy pet-friendly products.
Make sure your CBD oil does not have sweeteners, specifically Xylitol which can be greatly intoxicating to dogs. Avoid food coloring, citrus-based flavoring, or products that have essential oils. In the end, the simpler the oil, the better for giving it to your dog in an emergency.
Before you do though, always check with your vet and if you can, try looking for a CBD treat or oil specifically for pets to make sure your furry friend will be okay.
Can I take my pet’s CBD oil?
Yes, CBD oil for dogs is fully okay for human consumption. Albeit not very tasty, you could regularly take your pet’s cannabidiol-based oil.
Some brands use bacon or meat flavors that are fully pet-safe, so you might get some dog breath instead of a fruity experience.
So in general yes, just make sure you read the label and check on the ingredients. And as always, before taking any supplement make sure to talk with your healthcare provider or professional as well.
