Can CBD oil help dogs with anxiety?
Rescue pups struggling with PTSD, traveling, moving to a new home or adjusting to new people or other pets in their life, fireworks, trips to the veterinarian or groomer…reasons for dog anxiety abound. CBD can be the solution for those looking for natural options to prescription anti-anxiety drugs and their potentially harmful side effects. CBD can help anxious dogs settle into happier routines both situationally and over the long term.
How CBD helped one rescue dog
As a rescue pup, Bennie had a rough start and continued to suffer from significant anxiety all his life, including having frequent nightmares. When his human first gave him hemp CBD, she was initially skeptical that this natural product could make a difference. Prone to panting, pacing, and barking, Bennie’s anxiety had been problematic for all the dozen years they’d spent together. After his first dose of CBD, Bennie seemed to quickly become more relaxed. When other family members, who had no idea that Bennie had been given hemp CBD, remarked on his calmer, happier demeanor, it was a testament to what hemp CBD can do to reduce a dog’s anxiety and calm restlessness.
Will CBD oil make your dog high?
There are very big differences between the two strains of cannabis. Pet CBD (cannabidiol) oil supplements are extracted from industrial hemp (sativa) plants which have high levels of CBD and virtually no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that gives marijuana its psychoactive properties). Conversely, THC with levels large enough to produce a high is found in the marijuana strain, which contains very little CBD. CBD extracted from industrial hemp is legal in all states, but marijuana is highly regulated even in states where it’s legal for medical and recreational use.
This difference is crucial because THC can be toxic to dogs, but CBD is safe, so always make sure you give your dog CBD made for pets with 0.3% THC or less. Hemp CBD offers the calming your dog needs without the THC, so you can be assured that your dog won’t get high. If you give your dog CBD for relaxation, they will simply experience mild relaxation.
Is hemp oil different from hemp CBD?
CBD oil and hemp oil are very different, especially for calming purposes. Though they’re both made from industrial hemp, so neither product causes a high. Hemp oil is made from pressed hemp seeds, which do not contain CBD. Pet CBD oil is extracted from CBD-rich industrial hemp flowers, leaves, and stalks. In order to address your dog’s anxiety, choose products that explicitly state that they contain CBD and how much.
How do you find the best CBD oil for dogs with anxiety?
CBD advertising and labeling can be very confusing and even misleading, so to find the best hemp CBD for your dog, you will want to shop carefully. Check how and where the hemp is grown, and make sure it’s free of heavy metals and pesticides. It’s essential to buy only CBD that’s lab-tested for potency and purity.
Comparison shopping also takes a sharp buyer’s eye. It’s more important to compare the amount of CBD in the product, usually stated in mg, than the actual amount of product because there are a variety of potencies available. If you are dosing a large dog, offering CBD long-term, or dosing frequently, a higher potency CBD may be more cost-effective in the long run.
How much CBD should you give your dog for anxiety?
You may need to do some experimenting to find the right dose because every dog and every situation is different. The typical recommendation is 1–5 mg per 10 pounds of body weight, but there is no known toxicity level.
Try a dose in the middle of the recommended range and watch for calming effects. You should notice a difference within an hour. If not, you may want to give more CBD to total up to the upper dosing recommendation. Your dog will not seem lethargic, just calmer with less panting, pacing, and whining once you’ve supplied the right dose.
You can give your dog CBD situationally, for example try CBD oil for dogs with grooming anxiety or offer CBD oil consistently for a dog with chronic pain.
Can I give my dog CBD along with other medications?
If you give your dog medications for anxiety or any other conditions, check with your veterinarian before using CBD oil. Holistic and integrative vets are usually very familiar with CBD and will be easily able to answer your questions.
Hemp CBD has been the drug-free solution for a happier, more relaxed life for many dogs, and it’s expected to be used even more widely as more dogs benefit from its calming properties.