CBD for dogs

CBD products are becoming increasingly popular. Dogs and cats are fed with hemp extracts worldwide. Many owners enjoy the positive effect on the well-being of their pets and praise the use of CBD products. This blog article gives the most important information in the use of CBD for dogs, cats and other pets.

How does the CBD get into the dog?

First comes the practical question of how the CBD will get into the dog’s body. There are several ways to do this. If it is accepted by the dog, the CBD in the form of oil can be administered directly e.g. with a pipette. Another option is to mix the cannabidiol – again in the form of oil – into the feed. This application seems to be one of the most practical, but it contradicts the relatively widespread recommendation to administer the oil about 2h before eating. A possible solution: provide only a very small amount of food with the CBD oil and administer this 2h before the main meal.
Topical application (i.e., application to the skin) does not seem to have much effect on the general condition of the pet, according to current knowledge.[1] Presumably, the active ingredients are not able to penetrate the skin well enough. But this does not mean that an ointment does not have a local effect, for example, on irritated skin.

The optimal dose

As with the use of CBD oils in humans, the question of dosage also arises in dogs. First, an important note: We are not allowed to give dosage recommendations for legal reasons. Nevertheless, we want to inform you with as good as possible, so that you can use the potential of the hemp plant also for your four-legged darlings. Most important rule: Always use an oil of max. Use 10% CBD concentration.
Since every (dog’s) body reacts differently to CBD, it’s best to determine the optimal dose for your dog yourself. The following applies: Always (!) start with a low dosage first and increase it as needed. This reliably prevents side effects. If side effects do occur, or if your dog is on regular medication, you should contact your veterinarian.

If you want to choose an oil for your dog, you need to make sure that this oil does not contain THC, as it is harmful for pets. Further you should use an oil of max. Select 10% CBD concentration, otherwise dosing becomes difficult. Once you have selected a product, you can start with “gradual dosing”: in the beginning, dose the oil low (e.g. 1 mg CBD per kg body weight). Always observe well whether an effect occurs or whether side effects occur. Based on these observations, after a habituation period of a few days, you can increase the dose slightly if necessary until the desired effect is achieved.

Excuse me?! Side effects?

So far, this article has talked several times about side effects and desired effect. What is actually meant there? Possible side effects that may occur include: diarrhea/digestive disorders, fatigue, sluggishness/drowsiness, or even a stimulated appetite. Since there should be no THC in CBD oil for animals anyway, animals do not get high.
It is difficult to make statements about the effect. As in humans, the study situation is still too thin. However, testimonials[2] indicate that CBD helps well against pain or sleep problems of the quadruped. Anxiety and stress also appear to be reduced by administration of CBD.
Further, there is a study that demonstrated successful use of CBD (in addition to conventional treatments) against epilepsy.[3]

Pet products in our store: https://www.herbadiberna.ch/cbd-oel-haustiere/

Articles on the subject:
– CBD oils for the dog and the correct dosage (cbdoele.org)
– Treating your dog with CBD (healthline.com)

Sources:
– [1]: Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in healthy dogs (Colorado State University).
– 2]: Consumer perception of hemp products for animals (ibid.).
– [3]: Clinical study on the antieptileptic effect of CBD (Mc Grath et al.).