Let’s face it: You are probably more concerned with your dog’s wellbeing than your own. Don’t worry, we understand. What can we say? We love our pets too. While you are looking out for your furry friend it is likely that you look for the best things possible. The best toys, food, and even that giant bed they never really sleep in! The same should be with what you give them to help their overall wellbeing. You are reading this article for a reason, perhaps it’s because you are looking for a more holistic alternative to a medication or just want your pet to feel as good as possible. Well, you are in the right place. Let’s first start off with some basics.
What is cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is a naturally found plant that comes in many variations. One of these being the Hemp plant. As of 2018 the Hemp plant is federally legal in all fifty states because of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill allows farmers across the United States to grow and sell the hemp plant. This is because the hemp plant contains high amounts of CBD and at or below 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is another cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. However, THC gives users an inebriating effect or a ‘high’. The marijuana plant is likely something that you have heard of. This plant contains large amounts of THC and therefore is not legal in all states. With that being said, it is important to note that marijuana is legal in a handful of states for recreational use as well as medical use. One of the biggest misconceptions is that CBD will get you ‘high’ that is not the case. The products that are labeled CBD must have at or lower than 0.3% of THC and that is not enough to give psychoactive effects.
CBD? For dogs?
Now, we know what you are thinking: these people are crazy! Why would I give CBD to my dog? Well, let us tell you why.
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 pet’s ability to move and in quality of life. Animals with joint health issues may have inflammation in their joints and discomfort which hinders the dog’s ability to walk, run, get up from a sitting position, or jump into a car. We asked these pet owners to give their dogs CBD twice a day for four weeks consecutively. One milligram was administered for each 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. The 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, and a significant trend towards reducing anxiety in the horses. We plan on performing more studies to fine tune our understanding of CBD’s ability to effect anxiety in horses.
These are just two reasons to give your dog CBD that have been nicely researched and that come with some evidence. So, what products can you give your doggo? Here are some of the products we carry.
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.
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.
These are great options for your dog. But do you have a cat? What about a horse? Here are products that we have created for pets other than dogs.
Feline Transdermal Creme: 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 75mg 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.
It is important to note that not all CBD is created equal so doing your own research on the products are very important. It is also important to reach out to a veterinarian to talk about CBD for your pet. And you should speak to a health care professional before taking CBD yourself! We bet you are wondering what products are available for you to try. Well, take a look.
CBD – for you too
It is important to note that all of our animal CBD products are THC free but, some of our human products have that 0.3% or lower in them. To ensure you get the right product look for labels that say THC free (if that is what you prefer) on the product.
Vapes: We here at Panacea Life Sciences do 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.
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.
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.
Softgels: A soft gel is a capsule that contains 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.
The reasons that people choose to use CBD are similar to the reasons we have given for dogs. There is a bit more reason done regarding CBD and humans. So, keep that in mind as you search for your CBD! If a company claims that their CBD will do this or that without connecting research, it is a possibility that their CBD is not of quality.
So, can CBD benefit your dog?
There are so many up and coming health products that it makes it difficult to know which to choose from. We here at Panacea Life Sciences are dedicated to giving you the best and up to date information possible so that you can benefit from this naturally and potentially very useful plant. When it comes to animals it is important to start with a small amount and then slowly increase until you see the desired results. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns about CBD for you or your furry friends at [email protected].
