Dogs & CBD Oil Breaking News: Only Use CBD That’s Made Specifically For Canines!
CBD for Dogs is different than CBD for humans. Find out more below with 10 facts every dog owner should know before buying any CBD oil for their pup.
At Alurell, we operate on the philosophy that healthcare for your furry friend is uniquely defined by their individual needs. We understand that as a pet owner, you want the reassurance that man’s best friend is taken care of in the best way possible.
While in the modern world, conventional veterinary medicine has been the only option for pet parents, but with advanced research and education, it is becoming increasingly clear that the application of natural and holistic medicine may be a more viable option in the long term. That’s why we’ve introduced our “Happy Dog” line of CBD oil for dogs and our “Happy Cat” line of CBD oil for cats. No added ingredients, no flavors, and NOT full-spectrum CBD.
Table of Contents
- CBD Oil for Dogs: What is it and What Does it Do?
- What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs?
- Is CBD Safe for Your Dog?
- Can Dogs Get “High” on CBD Products?
- In What States is CBD Legal?
- Can My Dog Take CBD Oil While Taking Other Medications?
- How Do I Choose a CBD Product for My Dog?
- How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
- How Long Before CBD Oil Starts Working for My Dog?
- CBD Studies in Dogs: What Does Science Say?
- CBD Oil for Dogs With Anxiety: Quinn’s Story
CBD Oil for Dogs: What is it and What Does it Do?
For anyone not well-versed in this area, CBD stands for Cannabidiol – which is one of the cannabinoid molecules found in marijuana. But don’t be alarmed. While marijuana remains the most well-known form of cannabis, CBD oil is extracted from the drug’s much milder and more medicinal relative – hemp.
Backed by nearly 1,000 years of medicinal use, as well as the FDA who “support the rigorous scientific medical research of marijuana, cannabis and hemp-derived products” – CBD oil is best known for its healing properties.
It is crucial to note that broad spectrum CBD does not contain any THC, which is the chemical responsible for making people feel “high”. Instead, CBD possesses a unique trinity of anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties – making it perfect for addressing a multitude of ailments.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs?
In his book entitled Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, Dr. Pitcairn states that “health is not necessarily just the absence of disease, it is rather a universal good condition on all levels – physical, emotional and mental. Naturopathic health is a distinctively natural approach to health and healing that recognizes the integrity of the whole animal.”
In other words, CBD Oil is one of the best and most natural approaches to improving your dog’s health. It means all of the treatment with none of the pharmaceutical side effects.
Here are 9 reasons why you should choose Alurell CBD oil for your furry friend:
Alleviate Puppy Separation Anxiety
If your pup exhibits symptoms like destructively chewing furniture, digging and scratching at doors and windows, or whining when you leave the house – it’s their way of saying he or she is distressed when you’re away. While you might think this is just a sweet sentiment, the emotional dysregulation this causes can make your pet very uncomfortable. Luckily, CBD promotes soothing feelings in your pet, making your departure much more manageable for them, and giving both you and them peace of mind.
Reduce Canine Aggression
Just like social anxiety in humans, dogs can become anxious or afraid when interacting with other dogs or people, which causes them to act out in aggressive ways. But with CBD oil, a walk in the park can be a walk in the park again – by encouraging a sense of calm in your dog.
Help Your Dog Cope with Loud Noises
Thunderstorms, fireworks, or even loud parties – whatever the cause, an explosive environment can leave many dogs feeling frightened. But while you can’t control the outside environment, you can have some control over your pup’s internal environment by incorporating CBD oil into their daily regimen, to help your pet feel comfortable no matter the occasion. We also recommend the Thundershirt for extreme cases.
Treat Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs
It is estimated that around 5% of dogs suffer from seizures. Using CBD oil to supplement treatment can help restore your dog’s health, it is especially effective in drug-resistant epilepsy. While most of these dogs are put on drug treatments like potassium bromide or phenobarbital – these drugs can be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver and other internal organs in the long-term. *We do not encourage you to stop any treatments given by your vet. Ask your vet how you can add CBD oil to help treat your beloved pup.
Mobility Support for Arthritis in Dogs
As our dogs age, they start to exhibit less interest in the activities they once enjoyed. Whether it was their daily walk or a run around the park – your dog will eventually resign to their new favorite position: sitting down. While there’s no inherent issue in a dog taking the time to relax, this sedentary lifestyle can cause immobility – which in turn can lead to osteoarthritis. Due to CBD oil’s ability to address both pain and inflammation, it is effective in improving your aging dog’s mobility.
Increase Your Pup’s Appetite
The long-term use of CBD oil increases your dog’s appetite and even helps with nausea. If mealtimes are a struggle for your pup, the National Cancer Institute reports that CBD increases appetite.
Help Fight Canine Cancer
Every single day, your dog produces a cancer cell or two, and it is the job of their immune system to kill it and prevent it from spreading or multiplying. CBD has been shown to help the immune system consume cancerous cells. It kills cancerous cells by inhibiting their ability to produce any energy. Plus, these anti-tumor properties can possibly slow cell growth too.
Pain Management in Dogs
Conventional pain relief includes the use of opioids, and although they work – they also come with a host of serious side effects including long term liver damage and even dependence. With scientists considering CBD as a possible new class of drug in the treatment of chronic pain, your dog will certainly benefit from its pain killing properties. This includes decreasing neuropathic and nerve-related pain, age related pain, inflammatory pain, and the pain associated with surgery.
Keep Your Doggy’s Brain Healthy and Agile
Like any other organ, the brain needs some special care. To protect brain cells from toxicity, CBD has shown promising results. This is especially true for senior dogs who need protection from cell death caused by toxins and free radicals.
Is CBD Safe for Your Dog?
In short, yes. As the proud parents of canine companions, you may be wondering about the mechanisms behind CBD as well as its safety – and we’re here to demystify and cut through all the noise. Start by finding CBD that is broad-spectrum with no added ingredients or flavoring.
You and your dog have more in common than mutual love: you both have a complex endocannabinoid system that affects your brain, skin, heart, eyes, stomach – and even your mood.
Our bodies produce our own cannabinoids for this system, but sometimes a little boost is all we need to achieve wonderous results in body and in mind. This is why CBD is so effective for treating such a wide range of ailments and promoting so many health benefits.
Perhaps the main role of the endocannabinoid system lies in controlling levels of inflammation in the body by regulating immune response. An overactive immune system can often trigger allergies and even the development of auto-immune diseases. On the other hand, an underactive response can foster a favorable environment for the growth of cancer cells, as well as making the body vulnerable to infections. It is crucial, then, to maintain a healthy endocannabinoid system.
There is one major difference in the distribution of the CB1 receptors in dogs compared to humans. Studies have shown that there are in fact a higher number of CB1 receptors in the brain structures of canines compared to humans – this means your dog is perhaps the best candidate for CBD.
Can Dogs Get “High” on CBD Products?
Cannabis is a plant most people associate with the popular recreational drug marijuana, which explains the apprehension of many pet owners in buying CBD for their pets. However, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is just one type of cannabinoid.
There are a total of 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Most cannabis available for recreational use and is intentionally bred to contain high levels of THC with only small concentrations of CBD.
CBD is another type of cannabinoid from the cannabis plant. As a non-psychoactive compound, it does not produce any kind of buzz, let alone any kind of high.
Most medicinal properties from the cannabis plant come from CBD – which has shown promising and positive results in everything from alleviating anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, to reducing inflammation in both humans and animals.
You can rest assured that your beloved pet will not come anywhere close to a psychoactive high. This is also why we have chosen broad spectrum CBD over full spectrum CBD for dogs. Although all our hemp-derived CBD is third party tested to ensure it contains less than .03% THC, broad spectrum is the better, safer choice in our opinion.
In What States is CBD Legal?
If you’re worried about whether or not CBD products fall within the confines of the law, the answer is yes, of course. In fact, CBD oil, derived from hemp, and not marijuana – is legal in all 50 states.1
At Alurell, our products come with a Certificate of Analysis to prove they’re 3rd party tested for the presence of harmful substances so you can feel good about choosing them for your dog.
Can My Dog Take CBD With Other Medications?
It is recommended that you discuss all supplements your pet may be taking, whether over-the-counter meds or prescription meds, with your veterinarian. They will advise you on any potential interactions.
Pain relief drugs that your pet may be taking, such as NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs), Tramadol, or anxiety relief drugs all rely on the same group of liver enzymes that CBD relies on. This does not mean your pet should not take CBD, it just means you should be calculating and careful in your dosage and timing as to avoid overwhelming them.
Additionally, if you’re still concerned about dosing your pet with CBD, we recommend that you administer their prescriptions at least 2 hours before or after giving them any CBD oil or treats.
That being said, not all drug interactions are an issue. In fact, some interactions can be favorable.
CBD can often enhance the effects of certain medications, which means you can administer a lower dose of that specific medication, which is a good thing for your dog’s overall health.
This is certainly the case for drugs that are used to treat seizures in dogs. Since CBD promotes its own anti-seizure properties, it may work well as a complementary treatment.
Additionally, dogs who are undergoing chemotherapy for various cancers often suffer many unwanted side effects. CBD oil can curb some of these side effects and make your pet more rejuvenated. Check out the story on our About page to see how CBD helped our own dog Mickey deal with cancer.
How Do I Choose a CBD Product for My Dog?
When choosing a CBD product for your pet, there is one key question to keep in mind: is this product derived from marijuana or hemp?
Some manufacturers of CBD oil may use CBD derived from marijuana; in which case the answer is unclear. Not only are the legal lines blurred, but this type of CBD may be very harmful to your pets.
That’s why at Alurell, we’ve done the due diligence for you. When you buy our products, you can rest assured that not only are the products good for your dog, but they are also entirely legal, highly regulated, and safe. Each bottle has been lab tested against stringent standards and regulations. This ensures that unlike other CBD products out there on the market, ours is free of pesticides, microbial bacteria, or heavy metals – all of which can harm your pet.
Our high-quality CBD has been naturally cultivated to give you only exceptional levels of purity and quality. When you buy our products, your dog is only getting the most superior standard of CBD oil available on the market today. We know your pet means the world to you, and as our loyal customers, they mean the world to us too.
Let’s get to the fine details…
Alurell CBD oil for dogs is a broad spectrum tincture with no THC and is also safe for human consumption. As a non-psychoactive CBD oil, derived from hemp grown in Oregon – each 30ml bottle is made with all-natural ingredients in our FDA-approved facility, following rigorous GMP regulations. Our oil also contains a full-plant extract, with natural cannabinoids and terpenes to encourage its full effects and benefits.
To make the CBD go down easily, the CBD is delivered through a pipette dropper, ensuring no damage to your pet’s gums or teeth. You can also add the oil to their favorite snacks to create an instant medicated treat.
Each 30ml bottle contains 500mg of hydrocarbon extracted CBD – to provide rapid, safe, and effective relief for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Our CBD is also gluten-free, corn-free, and grain-free, so you don’t have to worry about allergies. It’s also vegan, vegetarian, and non-dairy.
And what’s more? Our extraction process is heavily regulated, ensuring total purity with no unnecessary filler or chemical colorants. With no GMOs, we ensure that we maintain a sweetly symbiotic relationship with the farms from which we source our plants.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
Although safe, it is recommended by most veterinarians that your dog begins the CBD oil regimen at a low dose. This applies to any potent supplement.
If you start with a modest dose, you can gradually increase it to gauge the sweet spot at which your dog receives the maximum benefits without being overwhelmed.
The suggested dosage is 1 mg – 5 mg per 10 pounds of body weight for the first week.
If your dog is new to CBD, you should probably start at the lower end of the dose and work your way up to adjust it, if you think they might need more.
CBD Dosage Chart for Dogs
10 pounds: 1 mg – 5 mg
20 pounds: 2 mg – 10 mg
30 pounds: 3 mg – 15 mg
40 pounds: 4 mg – 20 mg
50 pounds: 5 mg – 25 mg
60 pounds: 6 mg – 30 mg
70 pounds: 7 mg – 35 mg
80 pounds: 8 mg – 40 mg
90 pounds: 9 mg – 45 mg
If your dog is suffering from pain, they should receive their calculated dose approximately every 8 hours, or as needed with sufficient time in between doses to begin with. If your dog suffers with anxiety or behavioral disturbances, their dose should be administered once or twice a day after the initial introductory phase.
As an alternative medicine for long-term use, you may need to gradually increase the dosage to maintain the same positive effects.
And if you’re worried about your dog potentially overdosing, you should know that there is no toxicity related to CBD, so this is simply impossible to achieve.
At worst, your dog may have side effects in the introductory phase, like dry mouth, tremors, light-headedness, drowsiness, an upset stomach or even increased appetite. These side effects are just like any you would normally expect. Once your pet’s metabolism adjusts to their dosage, these side effects should stop.
How Long Before CBD Oil Starts Working for My Dog?
Every dog is unique, and they respond differently to CBD oil. For this reason, we encourage you to start slow and start small.
On average, it takes about 30 minutes to notice therapeutic effects. That being said, you should always observe your dog after giving them a new supplement for the first time. If your dog starts to show any signs of a negative reaction, do not be alarmed – simply reduce the dosage for the next time.
Generally, if you administer the CBD oil drops directly into your pet’s mouth, you can expect to allow 20-60 minutes before effects will be noticed. If you choose to put the drops in your dog’s food or treat, you should allow more time, from 45 – 90 minutes, before effects would be noticed.
If issues are long-term or chronic, it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks of continued dosing to see optimal results.
CBD Studies in Dogs: What Does Science Say?
A plethora of recent and reliable studies have been conducted to lend credence to the fact that CBD oil is a very beneficial and holistic treatment for dogs with a multitude of ailments and conditions.
One recent study, entitled “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain” – has been published in the journal PAIN.
In this study, researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine determined whether various doses and formulations of CBD may help dogs suffering with osteoarthritis – and the results were promising.
They conducted this 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. It included 20 large dogs, all of whom had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or one of three different CBD options. Before and after the regimen, each dog was evaluated by both veterinarians and their owners on factors related to their mobility and pain.
By the end of the four weeks, the group of dogs given the placebo showed no improvement. However, the group of dogs who took high doses of CBD saw significant improvement in both their mobility and quality of life. The results were so impressive that Matthew Halpert, a PhD student from the faculty with the Department of Pathology and Immunology at the university stated: “I openly admit that I was surprised at how quickly we saw such large results”.
More impressive studies can be found in numerous scientific journals, some of which are freely available to the public online.
CBD Oil for Dogs With Anxiety: Quinn’s Story
A beautiful Teacup Toy Poodle named Quinn was bought by a friend to serve as her deathbed companion. When she passed away and left him in our care, he was distraught. The pain of losing his favorite person in the world was too much, especially as he was being whisked away from the only home he had ever known.
I could see his grief when he latched onto me with all his power, or when he would scream if I left his eye line. Quinn would even tear the stuffing out of any bedding in his crate, and eventually had to be retrained.
But with all the retraining, compassion and care – it was CBD that was instrumental in helping to calm Quinn down and reduce his extreme stress and separation anxiety.
Nowadays, you can find Quinn playing outside or relaxing in his bed. He is a very well adjusted, calm, and loving family member who enjoys his life. He can go hours away at the vet, stay overnight in his crate, and even leave the room to be alone and go chew on his favorite bone.