You may be thinking, cannabidiol (CBD)? For dogs? It is true! There has been a growth of popularity when it comes to dogs and holistic health products. Perhaps you have a dog that is picky on what it ingests or maybe your dog is extra sensitive to smell? We all know the “cover it in peanut butter” trick, but, what if that still does not work? There are many other things that one can do to soothe your dog’s nerves about taking something new. In this article we will first, explain why pet parents have started using CBD for their dogs, what products are available for animals and what CBD tastes like to you and your dog. And different ways to get your dog to take CBD. Let us begin with the basics.
CBD: What is it?
CBD is short of cannabidiol. This is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is found in a variety of forms that have varying cannabinoid and terpene content. The best known sort is the marijuana plant that contains high concentrations of the psychoactive cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the component that gives users a ‘high’ or feeling of euphoria. This is an inebriating effect as well as the high amount of THC found in the plant are just a couple of the reasons why marijuana is not legal in all of the 50 states. However, quite a few states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes or for recreational purposes. The other important variation of the Cannabis sativa plant is the hemp plant. This plant contains high amounts of CBD and at or less than 0.3% of THC. Because of this, hemp derived CBD is available throughout the United States and is completely legal as of 2018. In the year 2018, the Farm Bill was passed, this bill allows farmers across the states to grow and sell the hemp plant. Because the percentage of THC is so low in the hemp plant there is no possibility of getting ‘high’ while using a CBD hemp derived product. Although you cannot get high from CBD there are other possible benefits available.
CBD for dogs? What?
That’s right, CBD is for dogs too! How could CBD possibly be beneficial for dogs? Here is a list of reasons we have researched or found that may be applicable to you and your furry friends.
Promote a sense of calm: In this study we looked at horses who were in need of feelings of calm and an overall increase in wellbeing. This was a short research that only lasted two weeks. The horses were given CBD twice daily and owners took a questionnaire each week. At the end of the study most horses showed signs of an increased overall wellbeing in the equine that were given CBD.
Joint health: Joint health is a great topic that should be looked at when looking toward CBD and your pets! Panacea Life Sciences conducted our own research regarding this specific potential CBD benefit. We looked at dogs who had poor joint health. These dogs were watched for four consecutive weeks. They were given CBD twice daily and owners were given a questionnaire at the end of each week. In the end, we found out that CBD helped improve the joint health and increased the mobility of the subjects.
It is important to keep in mind that there are many different more topics that need to be researched when it comes to CBD in general. But there needs to be much more done surrounding CBD and your pet. Please speak to a veterinarian before giving CBD to your pet to make sure that it would be right for them.
CBD products for dogs
Now that you can see why others have chosen to use CBD for their pets. What type of CBD Is available to you? Here is a list of the products that we have here at Panacea Life Sciences.
Feline CBD relief cream: This is our first feline CBD product. Like all topicals, the CBD never reaches the bloodstream of your feline, but may have certain positive effects when applied to the skin. We suggest using this twice daily.
Equine CBD tablets: These tablets are chalk full of 50mg of CBD. These are easy to administer and come in a nice peppermint flavor. Some horses may respond to the CBD sooner than others but it is unlikely to take more than five days before seeing a reaction.
Canine tincture: Our canine tinctures are also formulated to be THC free products. These come in small breed, medium breed, and large breed concentrations for the perfect fit for your best friend. This product contains omega–3 and omega-6 fatty acids from fish oil as well as coconut oil. These can be easily administered directly into the jowls, added to water, or poured over food.
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 MCT from coconut oil to enhance the absorption rates.
Keep in mind that not all animals will react to CBD the same way as others. Always start with a small amount and then slowly increase until you have seen the results that you want.
What does CBD taste like?
So, you want to possibly improve your pet’s life with CBD? What does it taste like? Will they like it? CBD has been described as tasting “earthy” and this makes sense because it does come from a plant after all. Some dogs may not even notice the taste if you administer it directly into their jowls, but others may fight, so what are the options available? For dogs in particular it may be easiest to add the CBD into or on their favorite treat. That way the CBD is getting masked by a yummy taste.
Perhaps starting with a small amount of CBD and increasing it so that your animal gets used to the taste will work as well. There are many ways to mask the taste of CBD if your pet does not like it. Try different methods until one works or contact your veterinarian to see if they have suggestions that may be right for your pet.
What about pet’s owners?
What about you? Can you use CBD? What are the reasons that people use CBD? CBD can assist humans the same way it may assist pets. AKA joint health as well as an overall wellbeing. Here is a list of the other reasons CBD is used for humans.
Antibacterial properties: In this study they concluded that CBD had the capability to kill certain types of bacteria. Therefore, CBD hand sanitizer was born. This is a great product to use that has less chemicals than normal hand sanitizer.
FDA approved medications: There are several FDA approved medications that contain CBD. There are a handful of medications that assist those going through anti-cancer treatments and the nausea it may cause. These are called Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone). These medications can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Epidiolex is the most well-known. This medication helps those with two severe types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
Promote a sense of calm: Promoting a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness is just the beginning of the potential CBD has. In this study, they used brain imaging to test subjects who have SAD (social anxiety disorder). Those who were given the CBD showed a decrease in their SAD via brain scans. Those who did not receive the CBD did not have any decrease. Another similar reason is for the anti-inflammatory or joint health benefits.
Skin health: CBD topicals never reach the bloodstream. However, this does not mean that they cannot assist in skin health. In this study they explain that those with and without skin conditions had improved skin health after the use of CBD topicals. They used several tests to test before and after the use of a CBD topical. Their evidence was enhanced by photographic evidence.
CBD products available for pet owners
There are several reasons to use CBD for humans and with that comes along several different ways to get CBD into your system. Here are some of them!
Vapes: Panacea Life Sciences does not advocate for the use of a CBD vape, but it is an option that you may want to be aware of. Once the CBD vape is inhaled the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream. This is a fast way to get CBD but may have negative health effects on the lungs.
Topicals: CBD topicals different from the other types of CBD, as they do not reach the bloodstream. They, however, can give 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.
Tincture: This type of CBD gets into the bloodstream quite fast. 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. Although tinctures give the CBD effects quite quickly, they have been described to last not as long as other products.
Tablets: Tablets are more similar to tinctures. 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 concentration of CBD every time making it easier to know how much you are getting.
Soft gel: A soft gel is a capsule that is full of CBD (just like the dog version). 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.
Edibles: Edibles are similar to soft gels in the way that they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Once you have chewed and swallowed the edible (we have cherry flavored gummies) it will travel to the stomach where it is broken down. Once broken down the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream by the stomach lining.
With all of these options there is a high possibility that one could work for you. Just like using CBD with your pet it is important to speak to your health care provider before taking CBD. As always, start with a small amount and slowly increase until you feel like you have the correct amount for you!
CBD, your pet, and you
There are so many things that are going on in the holistic world of health now-a-days and CBD is just one of them. We want what is best for you and your pets and that is why we have done everything in our power to create the best, highest quality products. Our CBD comes from our Colorado grown hemp plants and are completely organic. Our CBD is tested multiple times to make sure that there are no toxins and that the concentration on our labels is accurate. We here at Panacea Life Sciences are dedicated to make sure that our customers have the most up to date information possible to ensure their CBD knowledge is impeccable. As always, make sure to speak with your veterinarian before giving any type of CBD to your animal and to ensure they are safe, make sure the CBD you use is THC free. With that being said, please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding your or your dog’s CBD journey at [email protected]
