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What Is CBD Oil For Dogs?

CBD oil is an oil extracted from hemp or cannabis. The CBD is extracted from the plant and diluted with a carrier oil. Generally the carrier oil used is coconut or hemp seed oil. There is little or no THC in CBD oil so you don’t have to worry about your puppy having any mind altering experiences with it!

There is no real difference between CBD oil for people and dogs, except the potency and dosage used for dogs is different. Other ingredients such as supplements or flavors my also be added, such as cod or liver oil (which also provide health benefits!). The labelling may also be different.

What Does CBD Oil Treat?

It is surprising how many conditions can be treated with CBD oil! There are also more studies now being done to assess the effectiveness of treatment with CBD oil.

Forbes did a write up on a study done by Baylor College of Medicine that did research on osteoarthritis in dogs. You can read more on the study done here. But the research showed that a dramatic improvement in quality of life occurred in the dogs who had taken larger doses of CBD oil in only one month! And the results continued to improve even beyond the initial first month.

CBD oil has also been shown to decrease seizures in dogs. Another study found that dogs taking CBD oil had a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures. You can read more on the study in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association here.

And although there have not yet been a lot of studies to back the use of CBD oil for treating dogs, many more are being done so watch for updates in this evolving space!

Other conditions CBD oil is thought to help with include:

• Improvement in overall health
• Appetite stimulant and suppression of nausea
• Reduction in anxiety and depression
• Cancer and tumor treatment
• Lowering of blood sugar levels
• Increase in cognitive function
• Pain relief
• Heart health
• Muscle repair improvement
• Improvement in circulation

Is CBD Oil Legal?

The legality of CBD oil really depends on where you live. In Canada, CBD oil derived from hemp is approved for specific animals, but is not approved if derived from cannabis. For more information on what veterinarians are allowed to prescribe and discuss please refer to The College of Veterinarians of Ontario’s article here.

In the United States it becomes much more complicated. CBD oil derived from cannabis is not legal at the federal level but may be legal at the local level. And oil derived from hemp may not be legal in some states but is legal at the federal level! And with the environment surrounding the legality changing rapidly, it is best to check locally and check often.

Is CBD Oil Safe For Your Pet?

When used properly, CBD oil can be a safe and holistic approach to treat your pet. It is important to find one free of THC or with very low levels of it as THC is toxic for your pet. Also, please have a conversation with your vet before deciding to use CBD oil to treat your dog. Depending on where you live and the legal state of CBD oil there may be limitations as to what your vet can discuss.

Very few side effects have been noted so far but more research still needs to be done. In the Forbes article above they noted that in some cases it can cause an elevation in alkaline phosphatase, a liver value, but not enough to affect the overall health of the dog. Vomiting, diarrhea and nasal discharge has also been noted but it has not been definitively linked back to the use of CBD oil. In general, it is thought to be a safe treatment option.

What To Look For When Choosing CBD Oil

There are certain things to look for when choosing the right CBD oil for your dog (or cat!). Since THC is toxic to pets, make sure that you find one with very low THC. Or better yet, none at all!

You will also want to make sure you find one that has been verified by an independent third party. Otherwise there may be inconsistencies in the dose and efficacy since it is not regulated.

There are many extraction methods as well, including CO2, liquid extraction using ethanol or butane, oil extraction, winterization and distillation. For the safest product for Fifi look for ones that are extracted with CO2. The other methods could leave impurities in the oil which may not be safe for your pet.

Check to ensure that the CBD oil is derived from hemp, and from the whole product not just the seeds. Hemp seed oil does not contain any CBD! And an organic option if available.

Overall, although much more research is still being done it appears that CBD oil is a safe option for your pet! However, please ensure that you check with your vet to discuss this and proper dosage for your pet before beginning any new treatment. With my bears, they are prone to joint and hip problems due to their size. If we run into problems down the road this is an option I definitely have interest in considering!

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The post CBD Oil For Dogs: What You Need To Know first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Summer Has Arrived!

It really is a novelty to be able to take my laptop out into the back yard and type away! But as I am typing and sitting enjoying the weather, my dogs are inside…We have hit that time of the year where I want to be out and they want to be in! Where in the winter you practically have to DRAG me out the door protesting the whole time!

Also, as I have joined the Woof Walk Challenge (read more and donate HERE) I am going to have to think about when and where I am walking my pups to make sure they don’t get overheated in order to stay on track. They are big BEARS and their black coat really heats up fast out in the sun.

Dogs pant to release heat, and can also sweat through their feet. They don’t sweat the way people do which increases their risk of overheating in the hotter summer temperatures. According to PetMD temperatures over 103 degrees Fahrenheit are above normal, and at 106 degrees or higher your pup is at risk of heat exhaustion. At these high temperatures, their organs can start to shut down and your dog could go into cardiac arrest.

Signs to Watch For

The signs you can watch for during the summer months (or in any warmer climate year round) include:

• Excessive panting
• Less responsive
• Glazed eyes
• Excessive drooling
• Rapid heart rate
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Loss of consciousness/collapsing
• Convulsions
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Gums or tongue turn blue or bright red

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, don’t wait – ACT IMMEDIATELY.

What to Do if Your Dog Is Overheating

If you think that your dog is starting to overheat, try to cool them down immediately. Move them into the shade if you are out and about. If you are at home, you can put them inside with a fan on them. My two bears are inside right now as we have hit that time of the year where they want to be in more than out, and I want to be out more than in!

Take your dog’s temperature – any pet first aid kit should include a thermometer! If your dog’s temperature is above 106 degrees call a vet or the emergency vet IMMEDIATELY!

We are fortunate that we live close to the lake and take many of our walks there. If you are close to water let your pup have a swim to cool off. Alternatively, you can wet a towel with cool water (not cold, and for puppies use lukewarm water) and put it on their feet, armpits, stomach (essentially places where you can cool down the skin directly).

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Allow your dog to drink cool water (not cold), but don’t force them to do it. I always carry around a water bottle in the summer that I keep in the fridge since it can heat up fast once we are out in the sun. Benson LOVES to drink right out of the bottle! Grace, however, is a bit of a princess so I had to get one of those little pop up bowls that attaches to her leash…We are also very lucky in that our Beaches neighborhood is extremely supportive of dogs and many of the stores have water bowls out on the sidewalk! The ice cream place on the beach even has a full trough!

Even if you can cool down your puppy it is a good idea to make a call to the vet to make sure that they aren’t experiencing any complications from the heat stroke.

Risk Factors

There are factors that can put your puppy at higher risk for having heat exhaustion. Dogs with thick coats and short-nosed breeds such as pugs and bulldogs can be at higher risk. My little pug Nemo HATED walking at the best of times…so the walks with him were always relatively short or he ended up being carried around! He had me well trained!

Young puppies and older dogs are also at higher risk for heat exhaustion. As are obese dogs.

How You Can Prevent Heat Exhaustion

NEVER leave your dog in the car! Even if the temperature outside is still cool, the inside of a car can heat up quickly to dangerous levels.

Make sure that you take humidity levels into consideration as well on hot days as this can increase the risk of heat exhaustion. Try to find areas with shade and water to walk on hot days. In the heat of summer, I take my dogs out early in the morning and later on in the day and avoid the mid-day sun. For myself, I LIVE for those hot and humid summer days! So while the dogs are inside cooling off, you can usually find me sitting out in the middle of it! I also bought them a kiddie pool last summer…

Did I Mention Hydration?

Adequate hydration is also really important. As I mentioned, I have a water bottle and pop up water bowl that attaches to the leash that I can give the dogs until they get down to the water. But I will caution one thing here as well, and that is to check the water quality if you can before letting your dogs indulge…And Lake Ontario isn’t exactly the cleanest lake around and I didn’t check last summer which led to a few nights of repeated trips out to the yard!

Vigorous exercise should also be avoided on hot days. As a result, we walk REALLLLLY slow and I let my dogs take a break if they need it. Which inevitably seems to lead to wrestling so I’m not sure if they actually needed a break but best to be cautious!

While I could live without ever turning on my air conditioning, I do it for my pets. Even then this sometimes isn’t enough. So I have a fan that I can put on them when they are inside and overnight to help more. There are also several cooling mats on the market that are great (until your cat sticks their claws into it and wrecks it…Whiskers…). Raised dog beds can also help keep your dog cooler.

Summer weather is here!!! And the past year has been tough on all of us, so let’s get out there, enjoy it and keep our pets safe and happy as well!!!

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The post What Every Pet Owner Has to Know About Heat Exhaustion first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.