Last Updated on 27th September 2020

For dog owners, there are few things more important in their lives than their dog and their dog’s health. With more and more people beginning to take CBD(cannabidiol)for their own health, many dog owners have been wondering if CBD can benefit their pets too. Leading to lots of dog owners across the UK giving their pets CBD dog treats and oils. This article will take a look at how you can use CBD oil for dogs for those that already understand the benefits we recommend CBD oral sprays as the easiest way to get fast effective treatment for your dog

NB: As of writing,Sept 2020 it is still a offense to use CBD products on pets, including dogs, in the UK if you don't have a valid prescription from a vet. Owners however can buy in many high street stores for their own use.

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What health problems should you give your dog CBD for?

The world of CBD research is still in its early days. Clinical trials into how CBD affects humans have only just begun, and unfortunately, trials studying the effect of Cannabidiol oil on dogs is even further behind. This means that we mainly have to look towards anecdotal evidence and results from human trials when it comes to CBD oil for dogs. The good news is CBD comes in many forms but the core ingredient CBD may help with multiple ailments, you really only need one oral spray, which can easily be sprayed onto the dogs tongue where it is quickly absorbed and is fast acting.

Pain

CBD has been used as a key part of pain management for dogs. Throughout a dog’s life, they may suffer pain from injury or hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia. Traditional pain medication can be quite tough on canines, so some dog owners like to turn to a natural product like CBD. Reducing your dog’s pain can greatly improve their quality of life.

Love CBD 20ml £19.99 – Is a very reputable CBD spray and 1 (small dogs) -2 (medium-large dogs) sprays onto the tongue twice a day is what has been recommended in the US by many vets and pet owners. CBD enters the blood stream almost instantly and starts to have its effect on the animals to hopefully help with pain, seizures or anxiety. Always start with small doses and increase as the animal and you become more comfortable with the CBD.

Seizures

Studies have shown in humans that CBD may help in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures. It is believed that CBD can be used in the same way for dogs. Seizures are caused by erratic electrical activity in the brain and it is thought that CBD can slow down this activity.

Anxiety

Some dogs, particularly rescue dogs, can become anxious around loud noises or groups of people. CBD oil for anxiety has been shown to be a great help to nervous humans and an increasing number of people are starting to look to CBD to assist with their nervous canine companion.

Cannabidiol is a natural product that can help sedate dogs and allow them to relax in stressful situations where otherwise they would be quite anxious. Loud noises at Guy Fawkes celebrations, separation issues from their owner are some of the common ones.

Arthritis in older dogs

Where an older dog is starting to be in pain or less mobile you may wish to try a little CBD balm on the affected area and see will it help. CBD Asylum at £13.50 is a medium strength cream with 500mg of CBD in a 100ml tub. Simple rub into the affected area 2-3 times a day gently and massage into the skin.

Appetite stimulation

CBD is known to bind to appetite receptors in a dog’s brain. This can help stimulate their appetite. This is very useful if you have a dog that refuses to eat due to an illness or as a side effect of other treatment. Ensuring your dog is at a healthy weight is a great way to combat illness.

Mobility

Just like in humans, dogs of a certain age can find it more difficult to move as they get older. The effects of conditions like osteoarthritis can severely affect your dogs quality of life. People have been using CBD to reduce this pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. This may make going for a walk or run in the park much more enjoyable for your dog by reducing joint pain and help keep them healthy.

As many people are now choosing to treat their dog with Cannabidiol oil, it has also raised the question as to whether or not there are any side effects.

CBD side effects in dogs

Research into the side effects of CBD on dogs hasn’t been completed, instead, we must again look at the side effects of CBD on humans and anecdotal evidence.

Some of the most common side effects are:

Dry mouth

Drowsiness

Increased appetite

Vomiting

Dry mouth

Just like it's cousin with THC, CBD can inhibit the production of saliva in your dog's mouth leaving it very dry. This can lead to your dog becoming quite thirsty or even developing pains in the mouth.

Drowsiness

CBD is often used to treat insomnia and anxiety. It has shown in tests that it can stimulate sleep and help keep patients asleep for longer. If too high of a dosage is taken the calming effect of CBD can make your dog feel drowsy.

Increased appetite

While in some circumstances having an increased appetite is a good thing, it may also be bad for your dog. This is particularly true if you are trying to get your dog to lose weight. CBD can stimulate receptors in the brain that increase the feeling of hunger which will make your dog want to eat more.

Vomiting

CBD oils can cause some dogs to vomit. This is not due to the CBD itself, but rather the processes used to make the CBD and the oil that CBD is mixed with. These processes and oils can contaminate the cbd products which may upset your dog's stomach causing them to vomit.

Most side effects can be avoided by either changing dosage, product or time that it is taken. With all these benefits and side effects it begs the question: How does CBD work?

How does CBD oil for dogs work?

Once ingested by your dog CBD then enters their bloodstream. From here the CBD travels throughout the body and interacts with the endocannabinoid system. It binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors and alters how they work. These receptors are responsible for pain management and inflammation in your dog's body which helps alleviate pain.

How to give CBD oil to your dog?

The most common way to give your dog CBD is either with CBD dog treats (which can't be bought online but you can buy UK CBD oils) or with a CBD oil tincture. There are some topical creams and balms available, but these are rare and can be less effective than treats and oils.

Best CBD products are oral sprays that can be sprayed onto the tongue for immediate effect

Best Oral Sprays to buy in the UK – suitable for your dog

Understanding CBD?

CBD is one of 113 known cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. CBD is extracted from the cannabis or hemp plant through a process that separates it from the majority of other cannabinoids. It is this extraction process that helps make CBD legal. Is CBD legal in the UK it must have less then 1mg THC and be sourced from CBD grown with less than 0.2% THC. CBD is non-psychoactive and will not get you or your dog high but in the UK you need a script from a vet for dog branded cbd, fortunately CBD active ingredients are the same and its legal for humans and readily available.

CBD is used for its medicinal qualities and has many claimed benefits which have spurred on researchers all over the world to study CBD. While there has been a lot of coverage lately of how CBD can help humans, many people want to know if you can give it to your dog.

Tincture

When Cannabidiol oil is extracted, it is very concentrated. Manufacturers then combine the CBD with a carrier oil to make it easier to dose, this is what’s known as a tincture. It is sold in small glass bottles and comes with a dropper that allows you to measure the exact amount needed.

Giving a dog CBD oil from a dropper is obviously much trickier than giving it to yourself. Vets recommend that you apply the required amount of drops to your finger and rub it either on the dog's gums or under their tongue. This allows it to enter the bloodstream quickly and can make the taste less noticeable. It can also be added to your dog’s water or food.

Treats

CBD treats for dogs are very similar to CBD edibles for humans. When the CBD has been extracted from the plant it is then used to create many different treats. You can find all sorts of CBD infused dog biscuits, chewy treats and small snacks for your dog.

CBD dog treats can be given as a snack on their own or worked into their food. Dog treats tend to taste very good which means dog owners have no problem in getting their dogs to eat them. In the next section, we’ll look at some of the best CBD treats for your dog.

What are the best CBD dog treats?

It’s widely believed that CBD oil is the best way for your dog to take their CBD as it is thought that the baking process can reduce the effectiveness of the CBD. But some dogs can struggle with the taste of the oil, which is why some pet owners prefer to use CBD dog treats as they happily wolf them down.

Holistapet Organic CBD Dog Treats

These CBD dog treats are 100% organic, gluten-free and are non-GMO, meaning that your dog is eating high-quality food. Holistapet have made three different dog treats to help with different issues. They have cbd oil products that specifically target mobility, allergies or stress. All of their treats include superfoods like flaxseed making their product an all-round health food.

HempMy Pet Organic Dog Biscuits

HempMy Pet makes very high-quality CBD dog treats with human-grade, organic ingredients. Their treats are also third-party tested and are made with a full spectrum extract. They make low dosage treats with 2 mg of Cannabidiol that are perfect for small dogs or dogs who are just starting to take CBD. HempMy Pet also guarantees that their treats come from cruelty-free sources.

MediPets CBD Treats

If you’re looking for a wide variety of dog treats at a fantastic price then MediPets CBD Treats might be the company for you and your dog. They have dog treats with CBD dosages from 3 mg up to 5.5 mg and have some tasty flavours like salmon, cheese and beef. MediPets also donate some of their profits to a local animal rescue centre, Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation.

Honest Paws Dog Treats

Honest Paws want to make your dog as healthy as possible so you can both spend some quality time together. They’ve created a range of CBD dog treats that are made with the highest quality, all-natural, lab-tested ingredients. Their peanut butter flavour is their most popular, but they also have turmeric and coconut flavours available too.

King Kanine CBD Treats

Full-spectrum treats from King Kanine are a great way for your dog to get full health benefits of CBD. Traces of other, non-psychoactive, cannabinoids are found in their treats which helps your dog get the full effects of the CBD.

The benefits of CBD for dogs are very attractive, but with research still in its early days, dog owners have been wondering if it is safe to use.

Is CBD oil safe for your dog?

When it comes to the known risks associated with dogs taking CBD, once again information is scarce and we need to look at effects on humans. Cannabidiol is widely considered to be low risk. There have been zero CBD-related human deaths anywhere in the world. This has led dog owners and vets to believe that CBD is suitable, and safe, for dogs.

It is unknown how CBD interacts with dog medication. If your dog is taking regular medication it is important that you visit your vet first and speak with them. They are animal health professionals and experts when it comes to giving your dog CBD.

To help limit any potential side effects or risks, it is important to give your dog the correct dosage. We’ll take a look at how to do this in the next section.

CBD dosage guide for dogs

As things stand there are no official CBD dosage recommendations from the Animal and Plant Health Agency in the UK. Instead, dog owners must base their dosage off their dog's weight and issue being treated. It is a good idea to start off with a small dosage and work your way up, rather than giving an excessive dosage that may bring unwanted side effects.

If you have a small dog like a Bichon Frise that weighs 5 kg, it would be a good idea to start on a dosage of 0.5 mg to 1 mg. On the other end of the scale, a large dog like a 50 kg Rottweiler should be given a dose of 10 – 11 mg.

If you are concerned about cbd oil dosages, speak with your vet and they will suggest a suitable dosage to start on. Always take your vets advice and understand that the information here is to help and support you and your pet, but the best advice is always from your vet.

Conclusion

Dog owners have claimed that CBD oils have helped to manage their dog's pain and improve their quality of life. Early research has shown that this may be true and is encouraged by results seen in tests studying CBD and humans.

However CBD can come with some side effects, so it is important to be aware of these and speak with your vet if you have any concerns. Many say that CBD oil for dogs is a great idea and if you do decide to go with it, there are a number of Cannabidiol oils and CBD dog treats to choose from.

If you can support the Dogs Trust in the UK we would appreciate it. Here at TheExtract we donate time and money to helping animals every month and if you can donate a little time or money it is appreciated by all the hard working people who care for dogs and all the animals at the centres.