We love our pets and want them to feel the best that they possibly can. How do we do this? There are so many pet products out there that are made specifically for dogs. Those dogs who are older and those who are just little puppies. What about cannabidiol (CBD)? What is CBD? Can it work for dogs? What can it do for older dogs? What can it do for younger dogs? These are all great questions that will be answered in this article. The holistic world of health is ever expanding and therefore reading between the lines and doing plenty of research before starting a product is of high importance so that you know that you are making the right choice. Is CBD a good choice for your young pup or elderly dog? Let us find out together.
Cannabidiol: What is it?
Starting with the bare basics will help you understand the rest of this article. What is CBD? CBD or cannabidiol is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is naturally found and comes in a variety of variations. One of these is the hemp plant. As of 2018 the hemp plant is federally legal to grow and sell throughout the United States because of the 2018 Farm Bill. This variation of the Cannabis sativa plant is different than the one you have most likely heard of, the marijuana plant.
Unlike the hemp plant, the marijuana plant is not legal in all of the fifty states. Why is this? The marijuana plant contains very high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is a cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant as well. THC is the cannabinoid that gives users a ‘high’ or a feeling of euphoria. CBD, however, does not give users a ‘high’ and this is the most common misconception. Now that you understand what CBD is and what it is not, what can CBD do for your dog? Is it safe?
CBD and your dog
There are several reasons that one would use CBD for their animals, and they are similar to the reasons that you would use CBD for yourself. One of the most important things to understand about CBD is that there needs to be much more research done regarding CBD and everything surrounding it. This includes CBD for dogs. We here at Panacea Life Sciences did a bit of our own research in dogs and horses. Here is what we found:
Joint health: In this study we asked pet owners of dogs with age-related movement issues to give them CBD to see if there would be any improvements to their ability to walk, run or simply move. Joint health issues in older dogs may result from inflammation and definitely causes the dog discomfort. We asked these pet owners to give their dogs CBD twice a day for four weeks consecutively. One milligram was administered for each 5 kilograms of body weight to ensure the animal was getting the proper amount for its size (an important aspect when giving animals CBD). The owners also took an online weekly assessment and before and after videos were taken of dogs doing certain movements. After the four weeks, we found that all of the measures we had taken had significantly improved. The dogs in the study demonstrated increased mobility and because of this we can understand that CBD may increase joint health and flexibility.
Overall wellbeing: Another study we have done is not about dogs, but, equine (horses). Yes, this study is not geared toward dogs, but it can still be helpful when looking at CBD for pets and animals in general. These horses were given 50 milligrams of CBD two times a day for two weeks. These horses before the study were understood to have types of chronic discomfort or feelings of anxiousness. At the end of the two weeks they looked at the results and found that CBD was helpful for the horses who had chronic discomfort and not all, but some of the horses demonstrated lower anxiety.
What do we do with this information? Perhaps you have an older dog who is not as mobile as they once were, and you would like to improve their joint health. CBD may be the answer. Or you have a brand-new puppy that is nervous around loud noises. CBD may be the answer. It is important to speak with a veterinarian before giving your dog CBD. We recommend starting with a small amount and slowly increasing until you see results.
What products do we offer for dogs?
We have a couple of different products that we have made with your dog best friend in mind.
Canine Softgel: These canine soft gels are full of our pure hemp oil and fish oil. All of our pet CBD products are THC free. 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 (the recommended application). Our soft gels are formulated with fish oil and medium chain triglycerides (MCT) from coconut oil to enhance the absorption rates.
Canine Tincture: Our canine tinctures are also formulated to be THC free products. These come in small breed, medium breed, and large breed droppers for the perfect fit for your “man’s best friend.” This product contains omega-3 from fish oil as well as coconut oil. These can be easily administered directly into the jowls, added to water, or poured over food.
What about other animals? We carry CBD products for equine as well as felines:
Equine CBD Tablets: These tablets are chalk full of 50mg of CBD. These are easy to administer and come in a peppermint flavor. Some horses may respond to the CBD sooner than others but waiting 5 days before seeing a reaction is not unlikely.
Feline CBD Relief Creme: This is our first feline CBD product purposefully formulated for cats. Since it is hard to give cats pills or drops and they typically alter their eating behavior, we formulated our Feline CBD product as a cream that is applied to the inner surface of the ear flap. We suggest using this twice daily.
It is important to ensure that your CBD is THC free as THC may be harmful to your animal. Again, we suggest speaking with a veterinarian before giving CBD to your animal. CBD products may be a great alternative to over the counter medications that could cause side effects to your furry friends.
What about Me?
Now that you know that CBD may be right for your dog. What about you? What CBD products are available for you to choose from? And of course, how do they work? Here is a list of products that we offer for our pet owners.
Softgels: A soft gel is a capsule that is full of CBD. Once the capsule is swallowed it goes through the digestive tract and then lands in the stomach. Once there the CBD is absorbed as the capsule is broken down. The CBD is absorbed by the stomach and enters the bloodstream from there.
Tinctures: This type of CBD gets into the bloodstream quickly. When the dropper full of CBD is placed in the mouth it is absorbed into the bloodstream from there. A tincture is an oil like substance that is added to carrier oil. Some tinctures come flavored to mask the earthy hemp taste that some do not enjoy. Although tinctures give the CBD effects quite quickly, they have been described to last not as long as other products. These are similar to tablets in their bioavailability.
Tablets: A tablet is placed in the mouth and dissolves there. It enters the bloodstream from the mouth as the tincture does. You can add or subtract amounts of CBD with a dropper, but tablets are made with the same mg every time making it easier to know how much you are getting.
Topicals: CBD topicals are a bit different than the others as they typically do not reach the bloodstream. They, however, can provide benefits as the CBD lotion is absorbed into the skin and poresThese are best used frequently and in the same area. They come in lotions, salves, creams, and even hand sanitizer for antibacterial purposes.
Vapes: Panacea Life Sciences does not advocate the use of vapes, it is an option for CBD use. This way of using CBD has a high rate of absorption as it directly enters the bloodstream via inhalation. That being said it is important to note that the effects may be shorter lived and inhaling CBD may have negative health associations.
CBD for puppies and old dogs
Health is one of your top priorities and so should your dog’s health. If you wouldn’t take a certain medication or food item, why would you give it to your “man’s best friend”. We here at Panacea Life Sciences are committed to giving you the most up to date information possible to ensure the quality of our knowledge and products. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at [email protected]
