Benefits of CBD Oil for Active Dogs

The popularity of CBD Oil for dogs has surged in recent years since the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018. The bill legalized CBD derived from hemp containing no more than 0.3% THC. 

With production restrictions reduced, manufacturers have been quick to jump on the scene. Aside from the marketing value of the product, CBD oil has been shown to provide numerous benefits for both humans and dogs.

Active dogs in particular can benefit from CBD oil to help with general well-being, inflammation, and anxiety. Further, it can alleviate aggression, pain, seizures, and heart conditions.

As always, consult your veterinarian before giving any product to your dog. I do thorough research, but I am not trained in veterinary medicine.

What is the Difference between CBD Oil and Hemp Oil?

With the extreme popularity of CBD and hemp products for dogs in recent years, the language can be confusing. What exactly is the difference between the two? 

CBD, hemp, and marijuana all come from the same plant species, but a different variety. Both Hemp Oil and CBD oil are derived from cannabis sativa, where marijuana comes from cannabis indica.  The difference is that marijuana contains THC, which is the chemical responsible for the high.

Hemp Oil

Regarded as a superfood, thanks to its high content of Omega fatty acids among other health benefits, hemp seed oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant and is produced through a process called cold-pressing.

Uses includes consumption in foods (seeds and oil) and skin and hair products.  There are no cannabinoids (CBD and THC) found in hemp seeds.

CBD Oil

Contrary to hemp oil, CBD oil is found in the leaves, stem, and flowers of both the hemp plant and the marijuana plant and does not contain THC, which is what contributes to the psychoactive effects. It is more commonly extracted from the hemp plant using one of two processes: Isolate and Full Spectrum.

Isolate extraction removes only the CBD from the plant where the full spectrum method uses Co2 extraction to gain additional benefits from the other cannabinoids in the plant. Neither will get you high, only provide the relaxation effect.

To make things even more confusing, CBD oil is often sold as Hemp Extract. 

Is CBD Oil Safe for My Dog?

Yes, CBD Oil is completely safe for pets. The important thing pet owners need to be aware of is the product they are purchasing. Since the passing of the Farm Bill, CBD has been popping up pretty much everywhere — from pet stores to health food stores, and even drug stores — however, the quality varies significantly from product to product.

After a lot of research, I decided on HempMY Pet for my dogs. Why HempMY Pet?

• I have visited the facility in Colorado and spoken with the growers. And they know what they are doing. They are very dedicated scientists and biologists and producing the highest quality product is of utmost importance to them.
• It’s made from Certified Organic Colorado hemp
• They use full-spectrum strain-specific consistency. This means that you get the same exact product every single time. Other brands may mix different products, similar to the way wineries do for wine. This means that what works great once may not work the same the next time.
• HempMY Pet products are third-party tested.
• The products are grown in small batches, which ensures freshness.

When you go to purchase a CBD oil product for your dog, these are the qualities you should look for. You can see my full review of HempMY Pet products here.

How Much CBD Oil Do I Give My Dog?

With proper dosage, CBD has no life-threatening side effects for dogs and doesn’t cause damage to any organs like other pain medications might. While dogs can overdose on THC, law mandates that hemp oil contains fewer than 0.3 percent THC, so complications from overdose are extremely rare. 

Dogs who have consumed too much may be lethargic or uncoordinated for several hours until the dosage has passed through the system fully. While there are no known adverse effects, if the condition persists, contact your veterinarian.

That said, the right dosage varies by weight. Your product should include a recommended serving size on the label. Talk with your vet before administering for any amended dosages.

How Can CBD Oil Benefit My Active Dog?

All invertebrates, including humans and dogs, produce cannabinoid receptors. These receptors interact with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and helps regulate the immune system and central nervous systems. 

The ECS regulates a number of processes, including:

• Immune response
• Inflammation
• Mood
• Pain regulation
• Body temperature
• Metabolism

While studies on the effects of CBD oil are still in their infancy, those which have been conducted show promising results for a number of ailments. 

Reduces Anxiety

Several studies have shown anxiety reduction in both humans and animals, demonstrating antidepressant-like effects. This is encouraging news for those who hike with nervous or reactive dogs may find significant benefit from using hemp extract. 

Pain and Inflammation Relief

Medical marijuana has long been used as a pain management option for humans, and studies have shown that CBD products contain some of the same healing and anti inflammatory effects. 

A 2017 study showed reduced inflammation in the joints of rats after two weeks of CBD treatment. The application also revealed that the CBD prevented development of nerve damage and joint pain in the rats. 

What this could mean is pain relief:

• After a long hike or trail run
• For dogs with arthritis
• For pup healing from surgery
• After rough play
• Serve as basic maintenance for active senior dogs

Relieves Nausea

Like humans, dogs can experience nausea, and it can feel equally discomforting for them as it does for us. Signs of nausea in dogs include:

• Excessive panting
• Shaking
• Drooling
• Lip licking
• Vomiting
• Restlessness
• Vomiting

When we ingest toxins, our GI system, brain, and nervous system react by vomiting as a way to purge the substance from our body. Nausea can occur for a few different reasons:

• Infection
• Overeating
• Food poisoning
• Concussion
• Motion sickness
• Diseases
• Cancer treatment
• Anxiety
• Stress

If your pup has a sensitive stomach, is prone to car sickness, or is going through certain medical treatments then CBD oil could help alleviate the discomfort. Evidence from experiments illustrates that CBD helps reduce the anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) response by interacting with receptors that release serotonin. This interaction decreases the release of serotonin which sends a message to the vomiting receptor in the brain.

Inhibits Cancer Growth

After Sora’s tumor reappeared for a fourth time, a friend in the cannabis industry suggested that I look into CBD oil. While the research is still in its infancy, preliminary results do seem promising.

After learning a bit more, I immediately got some to include in her cancer diet. 

CBD oil has been shown to force cells to commit suicide, prevent the growth of existing tumors, and inhibit metastasis. Studies have also linked cancer tumors and inflammation, indicating that 20% of cancer cases are due to chronic inflammation.

Have you tried CBD oil for your dog?