Can you give dogs CBD oil?
Every year sees the rise of new trends in health and wellness. The same applies to pet care. With so many people taking CBD these days, it was only a matter of time before folks started wondering what the plant-based treatment could do for their dogs.
That said, is it actually safe to give your dog CBD? What exactly is CBD?
As you’ll soon see, this is an area where science has given us a lot of mixed results. Remember that most CBD products contain some degree of THC. Studies show very different results between CBD and THC usage in dogs.
Before giving CBD to your dog, you’ll want to know:
- the difference between CBD and THC
- how these substances work in the body
- which products contain THC and which do not
- how safe these substances are for your dog.
The most important factor to understand is that research in this area is still rather lacking. We’ve identified numerous potential benefits of CBD use in humans, but don’t know much about how it functions in dogs.
Be sure to discuss any alternative treatment with your veterinarian to ensure you don’t put your dog at any unnecessary risk.
What is CBD oil?
Oils are one of the most popular methods to administer CBD. They’re produced by extracting CBD (or cannabidiol) from resins produced by the hemp plant. Specifically, it’s extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the plant. THC, on the other hand, is taken from the flowers only. They are two of over 100 compounds found in hemp.
Cannabidiol is combined with a carrier oil and administered via a dropper. These drops can be taken sublingually (under the tongue) or mixed into food and drink.
Both substances work by interacting with the endocannabinoid system.
This system relays messages from the brain across the body. These messages are picked up by CB1 and CB2 receptors that bind to various cells, triggering a range of bodily responses.
It’s through this system that cannabidiol and THC have been shown to have potential therapeutic benefits. It’s important to note that both are considered by experts to be more efficient in treating symptoms rather than the conditions themselves.
Notably, dogs, humans and most other mammals have an endocannabinoid system. This means that, for better or for worse, cannabidiol can have an effect on your dog.
It’s also critical to note that CBD usage can induce various negative side effects.
So, can you give a dog CBD oil?
Most of our understanding of how cannabidiol affects dogs is based on how it affects us. Because dogs have an endocannabinoid system, we presume the compound functions more or less the same. This is backed up somewhat by scientific research that shows us CBD is generally well-tolerated by dogs. That, however, does not say much about potential medical benefits.
There’s still much research to be done on this system. For now, we know that it:
- affects both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
- contributes to regulating awareness, digestion, immune response and more
- is a central point of interest for clinical research and drug development.
Conversely, there’s an abundance of evidence to show that THC can be toxic to dogs.
Know that the research seems to suggest that this specifically concerns higher doses of THC. The highest THC content in any legal cannabidiol product in Australia is 0.3%.
Nevertheless, it can help to understand the differences between the products available:
- full-spectrum CBD contains THC
- broad-spectrum CBD contains it in trace amounts
- isolate CBD does not contain THC.
Only your vet is qualified to help you decide if cannabidiol is the right treatment for your dog and whether or not THC should be avoided.
Can I take my dog’s CBD oil?
Cannabidiol has been shown to not only be safe for human consumption, but to present a range of potential medical benefits as well.
However, much like in dogs, humans’ tolerance to cannabidiol and THC can vary greatly. As can their predisposition towards the potential negative side effects. These include heightened anxiety or paranoia, dry mouth, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and more.
No one should be consuming CBD without a doctor’s say-so. To that point, CBD is only available via a doctor’s prescription anyway. Just like with your dog, it takes a medical professional’s expertise to determine if CBD is an appropriate treatment, how much should be taken and whether you should avoid taking any THC.
The answer to ‘can dogs take CBD oil?’
Based on our current understanding, cannabidiol is generally safe for consumption by dogs. However, we can’t speak to any medical benefits with the same level of surety.
We also know that high doses of THC can be toxic for dogs, even fatal in extreme cases.
This makes recommending CBD oil for dogs a particularly tough call. It’s one that only your veterinarian is qualified to make.
What we do know is that cannabidiol functions in tandem with the endocannabinoid system. It binds to chemical receptors that attach to cells and help regulate various bodily functions. As science further explores this system, we will hopefully gain a better understanding of how these plant substances can help us and our canine allies.