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Holistic Pet CBD 101: Everything You Need to Know

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. CBD is mostly derived from hemp, which is an healthier cousin of marijuana! (more on this later). With that available, how may you create holistic pet CBD products?

CBD oil is a natural cure for dogs that has been gaining in popularity owing to the fact that CBD was made legal throughout the United States in 2018. Due to the large number of pets that swear by it for treating a variety of illnesses including anxiety, arthritis, and heart disease.

CBD has been used for thousands of years and is widely accepted in holistic medicine. Despite this, it is still quite new to the vast majority of people, as well as pet owners. With so much excitement surrounding CBD oil for dogs and cats, and how it may help them feel better, pet owners are seeking answers!

Well, look no further! 

We’ve broken down the ins and outs of using CBD oil for dogs in detail, from the advantages to what to look for when buying it!

What Is CBD?

The cannabis plant, which is comprised of over a hundred different types of cannabinoids, contains one called CBD. CBD is one of the main chemicals discovered in the cannabis plant, which includes roughly a hundred forms. They’re known as cannabinoids, and THC and CBD are two of the most well-known.

Both CBD and THC have the same chemical structure, yet due to their distinct configurations, they produce drastically different effects on the human brain and body. We all know that THC makes you high and is commonly associated with marijuana.

That said, CBD is a different story! It’s derived from the hemp plant, which produces very little THC, so you won’t get high from it!

What else do we know about CBD? 

Is CBD Legal? Will It Get My Pet High?

The government has granted permission for some CBD, THC, and cannabis items to be permitted since the beginning of time in recognition of various rights and privileges. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to obtain these products legally.

Despite the fact that marijuana is prohibited as a medicinal drug on a national level, some states may legalize its sale. These jurisdictions may allow for the retailing of holistic pet CBD goods, but only if they are devoid of THC. That’s why it’s critical to ensure that CBD oil for pets has less than 0.3 percent THC in it. THC is the hemp component that gives individuals a “high” or “buzzed” sensation. CBD products will not have any psychoactive impact on you or your pet if there is little to no THC!

In 2018, the United States government passed a Farm Bill that removed hemp and hemp products from the Controlled Substances Act’s restrictions. However, these CBD items must have had less than 0.3% THC.

By legislative extension, holistic pet CBD products produced from hemp have been made lawful and may be utilized for industrial and medical purposes. All farmers need only get a license, which they can do under state laws. The FDA had the following to say about the bill!

How Holistic Pet CBD Oil Interacts With The Body

When your dog ingests holistic pet CBD oil, it affects their Endocannabinoid System. (which is present in almost all animals) The Endocannabinoid System, which was discovered in the early 1990s by researchers who were studying the effects of THC, is located in both the brain and the immune system.

Cannabinoid receptors, which are named for the cannabinoids found in hemp plants with which they interact, operate this system. CB1 Receptors are largely concentrated in the brain, whereas CB2 Receptors are mostly found in the immune system.

According to some experts, the cells and receptors that make up the body’s communication system aren’t well understood yet, but they are believed to have a role in the body’s regulation. Some believe they may play a significant role in many functions including hunger control, sleep, mood, memory, and even reproduction.

CBD activates these receptors when it binds to them. Many bodily functions are coordinated to help various areas of the body as a result of this process. The Endocannabinoid System is complicated, and no one knows how it works in its entirety yet. CBD’s effectiveness at maintaining this system has been shown by research, according to some people.

How Holistic Pet CBD For Dogs & Cats Can Help

CBD can help with a variety of health issues because it works through the endocannabinoid system, which regulates a wide range of functions in your dog.

Arthritis

One of the most frequent applications for CBD oil in dogs is to treat arthritis, which is inflammation in the joints. Inflammation is a side effect of your pet’s body attempting to fight off foreign invaders, injuries, or trash.

In certain circumstances, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation takes a different approach. Rather of doing good, it encourages the body to inflame the dog’s joints instead causing swollen and painful swelling and inflammation around the joints. Arthritis affects 65% of dogs age 7 and older!

CBG is one of the major cannabinoids found in hemp, and it has shown to help with inflammation. By assisting the body’s ability to better understand what is and isn’t a threat, CBD has been tested to show how it helps with inflammation. CBD was found to be highly effective as a new anti-inflammatory in a 2009 research published in the journal Future Medical Chemistry, and it worked in animal tests as well as people. This is fantastic news for your arthritic dog, and it’s also good news for you!

Anxiety

Dog owners are well acquainted with the feeling of dread that comes with getting up for work, fireworks, nail trimming, and leaving their dog alone at home. Why? Because your dog may be one of many dogs who get nervous in these situations!

Anxiety is a physiological condition with cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral elements. That’s how the Science Daily website characterizes anxiety. During panic attacks or other situations in which our dogs feel anxious/frightened, their bodies and minds enter a state.

That isn’t to say that we should just sit back and watch them feel terrible during these anxious times. Many pet parents have attested to the benefit of CBD for dogs with anxiety!

Holistic pet CBD has been shown to help with anxiety by modulating canine CB1 receptors, which impact brain chemistry and sensation of worry. CBD has been demonstrated to be effective in treating a variety of mood disorders, including anxiety. However, keep in mind that not every human, or pup, suffering from anxiety will respond positively to CBD.

Seizures

CBD oil received significant media exposure when it was discovered that CBD oil could help children who had previously been unable to control their seizures respond to the medicine. More study is needed to determine how any of it works, but many veterinarians are now advocating CBD as a possible seizure remedy for dogs.

A therapeutic dose of CBD was discovered to significantly reduce the number and severity of seizures, as well as regulate brain functions disrupted by the disease in Angelman syndrome mouse models bred to imitate the human condition.

CBD for dogs with epilepsy could be beneficial as a treatment, according to the researchers. And owing to the fact that there were no negative effects in the research, drowsiness was the only side effect experienced—a small price to pay to avoid seizures.

Pain

Holistic pet CBD oil can help your dog if he or she is in pain. This discomfort might be caused by a variety of illnesses, including arthritis, surgery, or nerve damage. The body responds to pain by sending messages throughout the body and brain.

Although CBD has yet to be proved to cure chronic pain in dogs, it may assist because the Endocannabinoid System is linked with the brain and immune system. This implies that when CBD activates CBDo receptors, it relieves pain by dampening pain receptors and signals.

CBD has been shown to help with a variety of ailments in dogs, including anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, and cancer. CBD may also be used to treat pancreatitis in dogs. Although the research was done on people, it provides a good basis for comparing dogs that can also experience pancreatitis.

CBD oil has been used by pet parents to treat pain from cancer symptoms, operations, injuries, and other causes in dogs! CBD oil can’t damage your dog if he’s in agony. It might provide him with the comfort he requires.

Allergy

Dogs with allergies may react to a variety of things, including the food they eat, the environment itself. When your dog’s body assaults something that is essentially safe – such as chicken or beef he had for dinner – it is known as an allergy.

Histamine, which is typically utilized to combat bodily threats, can be beneficial when the body is fighting actual dangers to the body, but it comes with unpleasant symptoms. When your sick, histamines in your body help to fight off illness by helping to neutralize it.

When your dog is itching like crazy because they just walked through grass, it may make them want to scratch even more. Not to mention how you’ll feel if you see them in that condition!

Holistic pet CBD, according to some canine allergy specialists, may function as an anti-histamine by neutralizing the effects of histamines. CBD oil for dogs with allergies, like allergy medicine, can also help your dog directly by decreasing inflammation and nerve irritation.

Cancer

No one wants to see their pet suffer from cancer, yet if your pet reaches the age of ten, the chances of getting a cancer diagnosis are high.

Cancer can eat away at your dog’s body over time, and the illness may be quite unpleasant. CBD, fortunately, can assist with a variety of cancer symptoms.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to have anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects in both animals and humans, with some people even using it as a cure for cancer. Many canine oncologists are now suggesting it, because it is becoming more popular.

CBD is unfortunately not a cure for cancer. 

CBD oil, on the other hand, might assist your dog go about his daily activities rather than dealing with all of the symptoms linked to cancer.

Side Effects Of CBD Oil For Dogs

It appears that whenever you give your dog a dose of the prescription medicine you obtained from the veterinarian, there is an adverse reaction that lowers the efficacy. This is also seen in human and pet medicines!

Fortunately, using holistic pet CBD oil for dogs isn’t as terrible as one of those medications. In fact, there are almost no side effects linked with CBD oil at all. The following are some of the possible symptoms your dog may experience after taking CBD oil:

  • Tiredness
  • Dry Mouth
  • Changes in appetite
  • Gastrointestinal uneasiness
  • Altered liver enzymes

Your dog may or may not have any of these symptoms, and he/she is more than likely to suffer from a few of them. The most typical indicators seen by pet owners are drowsiness and a dry mouth, which causes a minor increase in water consumption.

If you’re worried, you should probably discuss it with your veterinarian to ensure that CBD is safe for your dog.

What Veterinarians Think Of CBD For Dogs

CBD was previously prohibited, and anything connected to marijuana was illegal. Holistic pet CBD is becoming more accepted, but it is still unlawful in a few locations.

Your veterinarian isn’t going to urge you to take CBD if it’s prohibited in your region. Most veterinarians, on the other hand, have been warmly receptive to it, and some clinics even provide CBD products for animals in their clinic. Nonetheless, the majority of veterinarians will not discuss or promote CBD oil for pets.

It is legal, according to the state. Before consulting with your veterinarian about it, check local laws; but, given that it’s hemp-derived, I’m sure most people will agree that it’s OK. Many pet parents may add how CBD in their pets has benefited them!

Holistic Pet CBD Dosage For Dogs

“How much CBD should I give my dog?” – This is one of the most frequently asked questions about CBD for dogs. What’s the answer?

It depends!

CBD is a natural substance, so like any other supplement or drug, it varies based on a variety of factors. The breed, weight, and health status of your dog all influence the answer to “How much CBD should I give my dog?”

The most crucial rule, regardless of what you decide the finest dose for your pet is, is to begin with a low amount! Then, step by step, increase the dose until you observe the perfect outcome for your pet.

Some people use 0.25mg per pound of the dog’s body weight as a standard. 1.25mg is the amount you’ll give your pet if you have a tiny 5 pound chihuahua. If your dog is a 40 lb lab, he/she will be consuming 10mg of CBD.

The potency of a CBD product for dogs will vary from 100mg to 1000mg based on where you purchase it. Companna Pets offers 250, 500, and 1000mg CBD oil for dogs, for example. So double-check how much of the dropper your pet should get using the figures provided above.

The side effects aren’t typically seen even if you give a little more than is necessary, and they are quite minor symptoms to be concerned about. But, just to double-check, make sure you’re giving your pet the correct dose from the start!

Choosing The Right Holistic Pet CBD Oil For Your Dog

So you’re ready to get CBD oil for your dog, but you have no idea what to search for. Or what separates a good CBD oil from a bad one? CBD oil should not be given to dogs because it may be harmful if other elements are present, even if CBD alone is safe. THC, for example, has the potential to cause negative side effects and is a health risk for your dog. A low-quality CBD oil might also include THC.

Other things to watch out for include pet CBD products that don’t contain the amount of CBD they advertise, and carrier oils containing residue poisons.

However, you shouldn’t be scared away from experimenting with CBD products because of all this. Instead, educate yourself on what to look for and it becomes a simple as selecting high-quality pet CBD medications.

Here are all the things to look for when purchasing CBD products for your dog.

Side note – Companna’s products has the best CBD oil for dogs as we check off all the below requirements!

If you’d also like to learn more, checkout our CBD pet products, take a read at our other blog! 

1. Always Check For 3rd Party Lab Testing

How can you be sure that a company’s CBD oil for dogs is pure and free of contaminants? By ensuring that their goods are third-party laboratory tested!

The third party testing was done by a different firm than the seller. The testing verifies that the vendor is keeping accurate with their clients regarding what CBD pet products are comprised of.

The Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the evaluation is a document that contains a wealth of information about the CBD pet products tested.

2. THC Content Less Than 0.3%

THC is not toxic to dogs when ingested in any amount, but it becomes hazardous if consumed above 0.3% under the federal CBD limit. This alert can be found on the COA provided earlier.

Because these cannabinoids are chemically different from typical marijuana, they have different effects on the body. It’s also why we suggest you get a CBD oil specifically made for dogs since the manufacturer is aware of this during formulation. Companies who produce CBD oils for canines understand how vital it is to avoid THC in the product.

3. Confirm The CBD Potency

Another thing to look for on the COA is the testing of the product’s CBD content. The goal here is to ensure that the amount of CBD stated on the product’s label corresponds with the amount of CBD detected by the lab when it tests the product.

It’s been observed many times that firms short sell their customers and have less CBD than stated on the label. When you go to buy any pet CBD goods, keep an eye out for this.

4. Microbial, Mycotoxin, Residue Solvent, Pesticides, & Heavy Metals

Other than that, the COA should include a thorough analysis of residual byproducts. And as the name implies, it covers the following testing: germs, mycotoxins, residual solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals.

These are all physical issues that arise from the hemp plant or when extracting CBD from it. Make sure your dog CBD oil does not contain any of these elements!

5. Isolate vs Broad Spectrum vs Full Spectrum

When shopping for CBD, terms like “Broad,” “Full Spectrum,” and even “Isolate” might be used. These are all distinct phrases, so here’s a quick rundown:

This is where the CBD in the hemp plant has been completely processed and all of its components, as well as CBD, are present. At the 0.3% level, it includes a variety of terpenes, cannabinoids, and THC.

Hemp-derived CBD products with a broad spectrum concentration of CBD are known as full spectrum products. This is when all the compounds in the hemp plant’s CBD have been extracted. THC, on the other hand, is not present.

Cannabidiol (CBD) Isolate – The CBD extracted from the hemp plant is removed from other elements. As a result, it’s only CBD.

6. Price Tag

We all want to save money, but if something appears to be too good to be true, it usually is.

The product might be diluted with additional oils and residual solvents to save money. It’s possible that it was created with poorer plants, or that it doesn’t even contain the amount of CBD promised.

On the other hand, a high price tag may simply indicate that the firm selling pet CBD products wants to keep all of your money. Higher pricing does not always imply higher quality. So, always check the COA to verify you and your dog are receiving the highest-quality CBD oil!

7. Made In USA

The hemp used to create your dog’s CBD products should ideally be produced and obtained in the United States. Why? Because sellers are required to adhere to strict production and accountability standards.

It doesn’t imply that hemp from anywhere else is not permissible. Just be sure to check if the CBD oil for dogs you’re buying comes from countries with legal hemp!

Final Thoughts on Holistic Pet CBD

Overall, holistic pet CBD goods are becoming increasingly popular. However, with the rise in demand comes a wider range of products to choose from.

When you’re out looking for CBD oil tinctures for your pup, always check the COA! Do so even if the firm claims that their product is organic and of high quality.