The world of holistic health can be confusing and sometimes may not even feel real. But, we here at Panacea Life Sciences are here to debunk some questions that you may have regarding one holistic health product, cannabidiol (CBD). We love our pets and we know you do as well. With the holistic health industry growing it may be hard to know what to choose when it comes to your furry friends. One of the more popular ways that holistic health has grown is CBD. It is likely that you have many questions regarding CBD and the safety of it. Whether it be for you or your dog. We are dedicated to give you the highest quality CBD as well as the most up to date information. We will try to answer all of the questions that you may be asking in your head regarding CBD and dogs.
CBD? What is it? Will my dog get ‘high’?
CBD or cannabidiol is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabinoids are a component that is found in every version of the Cannabis sativa plant. There are a few different versions of cannabis, hemp and marijuana are two of them. Hemp contains high amounts of CBD and at or less than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Because of this the hemp plant and CBD derived from the hemp plant is federally legal. the 2018 Farm Bill has allowed farmers across America to grow and sell the hemp plant. The low 0.3% of THC found in the hemp plant is not enough to make one get the inebriating effects of THC or the ‘high’. The marijuana plant, however, contains high amounts of THC. Because of this factor the Marijuana plant is considered an illegal drug at the federal level and not legal in many states. A handful of states have legalized marijuana for recreational as well as medicinal purposes, so make sure to know the laws in your state before purchasing or using marijuana derived products. The answer to “will CBD gets my dog high?” is no. We here at Panacea Life Sciences have decided not to use THC in our pet products as we have deemed THC to be toxic to animals.
CBD for dogs, why?
Why should someone use CBD products for their best friend? While there is plenty of research that still needs to be done regarding CBD and animals, there have been a handful of studies already done that may be useful while making your decision on CBD and your dog. Below is a little of what we found that may help.
Joint health: In this study we asked pet owners of dogs with joint health issues to give them CBD to see if there would be any improvements to their inflammation. With age, movement is reduced due to deteriorating joint health that may result from inflammation, but definitely cause discomfort. We asked these pet owners to give their dogs CBD twice a day for four weeks consecutively. One milligram was administered for five 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 had increased mobility and because of this we can understand that CBD may assist with anti-inflammatory issues.
Sense of calm: Another study we have done is not about dogs, but, equine (horses). Yes, this study is not looking toward dogs, but it can still be helpful when looking at CBD for pets 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 the results showed that CBD was helpful for the horses who had chronic discomfort and not all, but some of the horses demonstrated lower anxiety.
These are just two reasons and studies that we have found to be useful when gearing conversations toward dogs and CBD. As we stated before, we like to use CBD that is THC free so that our furry friends stay safe. To use CBD for your animal, start off with a small amount and see how they react to it. If you feel like you are not seeing the results you want, give a larger amount. Also, do not forget to contact your veterinarian before giving your animal CBD.
CBD products for you dog
Now that you know a few reasons that CBD may be beneficial to your dog. What are the products available? Here are a few that we have available:
For dogs:
- Canine Softgel – These canine soft gels are full of our pure hemp 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 beneficial triglycerides from coconut oil. These can be easily administered directly into the jowls, added to water, or poured over food.
Other animal products:
- 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 CBE relief creme – This is our first feline CBD product. Since it is difficult to give cats pills or drops, and when cats alter eating behavior if they don’t feel well, we formulated this crème to be applied to the inner skin of the cat ear. We suggest using this twice daily.
When it comes to CBD in general, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has only approved a handful of CBD products that are made of humans not dogs. So, if you would like to try any of these products ask your veterinarian before purchasing them so that you can determine whether or not they are fit for your animal.
What makes a good dog CBD?
To determine this, we have to ask what makes a good CBD product in general. There are a few things that future consumers can look at while deciding whether a CBD product is right for them. The first thing you should look at is the method in which the CBD is extracted from the Hemp plant. This is an important process because without a proper extraction method the CBD that is extracted may not be of high quality. Here are three of the most popular ways of extracting CBD from the hemp plant.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction: Carbon dioxide is used to extract the CBD from the plant by using “supercritical” which, in simple terms means, using both carbon dioxide liquid and gas properties to extract. This is why carbon dioxide extraction is often known as Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE). In the beginning of the extraction, two different pressurized chambers are used. One, with the carbon dioxide, while the other contains the hemp plant. Then the chamber filled with carbon dioxide is pressurized and cooled to create liquid CO2. This is then pumped into the second chamber containing the hemp, where it infuses the hemp plant to solubilize the hemp oil allowing separation of the oil from the plant matter. The CO2 hemp oil mixture is then pumped into a third chamber where the carbon dioxide is evaporated, leaving behind pure CBD oil .
Steam Distillation: In this process, the steam separates the CBD oil from the plant itself. The hemp is placed in a separate container while a boiler is full of water beneath the hemp. Once boiling, the steam from the water travels upward to extract the CBD as an oil vapor from the hemp plant. The vapor from the plant is then trapped in a tube and added to oil or water. After this is collected, the oil is extracted from the water to make an oil. This process works well but requires more of the hemp plant than other methods and if the steam gets too hot it may damage the CBD oil extract.
Solvent Extraction (Hydrocarbons and Natural Solvents): This process is similar to the Steam Distillation extraction method. But, in this process one would use a type of solvent rather than water. The solvent and CBD oil are combined and then the solvent is extracted leaving the CBD behind. There are two types of solvents used: hydrocarbons and natural solvents. Some solvents that can be used include naphtha, petroleum, butane, or propane for hydrocarbon extraction. Natural extraction will use food-grade ethanol to extract the hemp oil. Following extraction, the ethanol is removed by heat leaving a rich solvent- free hemp oil.
This may all be confusing, but we have a few tips for you. First, choose which method seems the best for you. Then make sure that the company that you choose to get CBD from uses that method. Also make sure that they list the ingredients that their products are made up of. We want you to have the highest quality product that you can buy. The next step to making sure your product is quality is testing. We here at Panacea Life Sciences have our CBD go through multiple different tests to ensure our products are good. We also use third-party testing for our products.
But what products are available for humans?
CBD for pet owners
Here are a few products that you can use! These products are specifically designed for humans to use and unlike our CBD pet products they come in all different types of spectrums so they may contain the 0.3% of THC that is legal in CBD products.
- 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.
- Topicals: CBD topicals are a bit different than the others as they never reach the bloodstream. They, however, can reap benefits from the pores on the surface of the skin. These 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.
- 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.
Dog CBD? Approved.
With everything going on in the holistic world of health it can be confusing to choose the right product for you and your dog. As always, make sure to talk with a veterinarian before giving CBD to your dog. And please contact us with any questions or concerns at [email protected].
