You may be thinking, CBD? For dogs? You read right! There has been a growth of popularity when it comes to dogs and holistic health products. Perhaps you have a dog that is picky on what it ingests or maybe your dog is extra sensitive to smell? There is the classic, cover-it-in-peanut-butter trick, but what if your dog licks all of the peanut butter off, leaving the medicine? There are many other things that one can do to soothe your dog’s nerves about taking something new. Here at Companna, we want to make sure that you have all the information that you need to help your beloved pet as much as possible. In this article we will first, explain why pet parents have started using CBD for their dogs, what products are available for animals and what CBD tastes like to you and your dog, and different ways to get your dog to take CBD. But first, let’s start with the basics. 

CBD: What is it?

CBD is short of cannabidiol. It is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant is found in a variety of forms that have varying cannabinoid and terpene content. The best-known sort is the marijuana plant that contains high concentrations of the psychoactive cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is the cannabinoid that creates the high that is commonly associated with cannabis. This is an inebriating effect as well as the high amount of THC found in the plant are just a couple of the reasons why marijuana is not legal in all of the 50 states. However, quite a few states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes or for recreational purposes. The other notable cannabis variant is hemp. This plant contains high amounts of CBD and at or less than 0.3% of THC. Because of this, hemp derived CBD is available throughout the United States and is federally legal as of 2018.

CBD for dogs? What?  

That’s right, CBD is for dogs too! In what way could CBD help dogs? Here is a list of reasons we have researched or found that may be applicable to you and your furry friends:

Help with anxiety: There have been many studies on how CBD effects a user’s state of mind. Many of them, like this one for example, have found that CBD could be very helpful in reducing anxiety. While these studies have been focused on people, that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t help your anxious dog.

Help with inflammation: Just like us, dogs sometimes have to deal with painful inflammation, especially as they get older. There have been several studies, including this one, that have found CBD to be a good anti-inflammatory. So, CBD may be able to help your pup get the pep back in their step.

It is important to keep in mind that there are many different more topics that need to be researched when it comes to CBD in general. But there needs to be much more done surrounding CBD and your pet. Be sure to talk to your vet before you start giving your dog any CBD.

CBD products for dogs

Now that you can see why others have chosen to use CBD for their pets. What type of CBD Is available to you? Here is a list of the products that may be able to help your dog:

CBD cream: Like all topicals, the CBD never reaches the bloodstream of your pet, but may have certain positive effects when applied to the skin.

Canine tincture: Canine tinctures are formulated to be THC free products. These can be easily administered directly into the jowls, added to water, or poured over food.  

Canine softgel: These canine soft gels are full of pure hemp oil. The soft gels are formed into a fish shaped soft gel so that the end of the gel is easily removed to administer the CBD into the jowls of the dog’s mouth or added to their food or a treat.

Keep in mind that not all animals will react to CBD the same way as others. Always start with a small amount and then slowly increase until you have seen the results that you want.  

What is CBD like?  

So, you want to possibly improve your pet’s life with CBD? What does it taste like? Will it be hard to give it to them? CBD has been described as tasting “earthy” and this makes sense because it does come from a plant after all. Some dogs may not even notice the taste if you administer it directly into their jowls, but others may fight, so what are the options available? Since dogs love food so much, it may be easiest to mix the CBD with food or a treat. That way the CBD is getting masked by a yummy taste.  

Perhaps starting with a small amount of CBD and increasing it so that your animal gets used to the taste will work as well. There are a lot of ways to hide the flavor of CBD from a picky dog. Try different methods until one works or contact your veterinarian to see if they have suggestions that may be right for your pet.  

CBD, your pet, and you  

The world of holistic medicine is truly booming right now, with CBD being just one of the many popular areas. We want what is best for you and your pets and that is why we have done everything in our power to create the best, highest quality products. When looking for a CBD product for your pet, there are a few things that you should bear in mind. One is that THC is toxic to dogs and other animals. It would be best if you also looked for products that have been tested for quality and cannabinoid content. A trustworthy CBD company will always be transparent about their manufacturing and testing processes. You should never have to guess what is in the CBD product. We, at Companna, carry high-quality pet CBD for you to give your furry best friend. As always, make sure to speak with your veterinarian before giving any type of CBD to your animal and to ensure they are safe, make sure the CBD you use is THC free. Read more about CBD for dogs.