CBD Dog Treats: Everything You Need To Know

Society’s attitude towards cannabis and hemp-derived products is drastically changing. We’re coming to realize that many cannabinoids are safe and effective wellness boosters that have a positive impact on the way that people feel, both physically and emotionally. If you’ve tried CBD for yourself, you know how soothing it can be. CBD dog treats began to pop up on the market shortly after the CBD industry began to swell. People love CBD, and they wanted to be able to share the benefits with their pets. If you’re thinking about buying a box of CBD treats for your dog, here’s what you need to know before you do: CBD is safe and beneficial for your dog, but even the best CBD dog treats are probably not the best way to administer CBD to your furry friend.

What is CBD?

CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the major cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Hemp is also a cannabis plant. The designation “hemp” is a way to federally differentiate between cannabis plants with high amounts of THC and low amounts of THC, the part of the plant that gets you high. Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, which is why it won’t get you (or your dog) high. CBD allows people and pets to enjoy some of the soothing and supportive benefits of the cannabis plant without becoming impaired.

How CBD Works

All mammals, from the smallest mouse to the tallest giraffe, have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). Humans are included within this group of animals. Medical researchers are still learning how this system works and many questions remain to be answered, but there are a few things we clearly understand. Cannabinoid receptors exist everywhere throughout the body. They’re in the brain, along the spine, in the internal organs, and in the cells of the immune system. They’re absolutely everywhere, and they’re essentially the gateway that cannabinoids use to send signals to the rest of the body. Two types of cannabinoid receptors have been formally identified, but most experienced researchers believe that there are as many as five types of cannabinoid receptors that express throughout the entire body. Mammal bodies make their own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. Researchers have definitively identified two of these endogenous cannabinoids, but they’re very hard to study. The body makes them, uses them up, and eliminates them with special natural chemicals very rapidly. The process is fast and leaves behind very little evidence, which makes it exceedingly difficult for researchers to understand how much of each cannabinoid the body makes and needs, and what would constitute a surplus or deficiency. CBD interacts with the same receptors that the body’s natural cannabinoids interact with. The theory is that they help to support the endocannabinoid system in the absence of or in addition to endogenous cannabinoids. By interacting with these receptors, they lend their support to the system at many locations throughout the brain and body.

The Benefits of CBD For Your Dog

CBD supports many vital systems within your dog’s body. This includes normal gastrointestinal health, healthy brain function, overall mobility and joint function, and the health of the nervous system. CBD doesn’t actually perform these functions, just like echinacea doesn’t cure the common cold. Herbal preparations are not the equivalent of medication, and they aren’t intended to be. They don’t perform the same functions, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable. CBD works to support your dog’s body in its natural quest to reach homeostasis, i.e., balance. The theory behind the use of CBD is that it helps to balance and moderate the body via the endocannabinoid system, which is connected to these balancing processes. While there is no definitive evidence that CBD’s effects are medically significant, plenty of evidence suggests that CBD is therapeutically significant. Many pet owners use CBD to improve mood and promote relaxation in their dogs. When holiday fireworks start going off, when the neighbors are loudly repairing their roof at all hours of the day, or when a big storm hits, dogs tend to get nervous. They don’t understand where the loud sounds are coming from or if they’re unsafe. Since CBD works to promote relaxation, it might help to ease your dog’s emotional edge. You can’t control your whole neighborhood, and you’ll have even less luck attempting to control the weather. High quality CBD tinctures allow you to help manage your dog’s perspective of the situation. Giving them a safe place to relax where they’re minimally exposed to the noise and giving them a few drops of CBD can make a tough situation a lot more bearable for your pup.

CBD Treats May Not Be the Best Idea for Some Dogs

There’s nothing inherently harmful about CBD pet treats in most circumstances. Soft chews or blueberry sweet potato bites seem a lot more convenient than giving your dog a dose of hemp oil until you consider the logistics of the situation. CBD treats count toward your dog’s daily allowance of treats. If your dog needs more CBD for their body weight than the amount per treat, you’re going to be loading them up with a lot of treats if you’re giving them CBD every 12 hours, which is a standard CBD dosage schedule for most pups taking it for general wellness and mood support. CBD treats are a better idea for dogs who will only occasionally benefit from CBD. If the only wellness concern you’re looking to address is occasional startling events, like those associated with holiday festivities or periods of construction, CBD treats will come in handy. If you want to add CBD as a routine staple in your dog’s wellness routine, they’re going to lose out on a lot of yummy treats that they might otherwise want, like their peanut butter or bananas or that little piece of cheese.

The Best Way To Give Your Dog CBD

VETCBD Hemp’s seasoned team of veterinarians formulated the perfect CBD extract for your pets. Our 100% organic CBD is thoroughly third-party lab tested for quality and purity. It’s made from American-grown hemp, and it won’t get your dog high. Our CBD is designed to be administered with a safe plastic syringe. Most human CBD products come with a glass syringe, but pets often aren’t quite as gentle. If your dog bites down on the plastic, it doesn’t create a sudden cut risk — the plastic will just squish down. Simply administer your dog the appropriate amount for their body weight every 12 hours. If you already use CBD for yourself, you can even keep the same schedule as your pup. As veterinarians, we would never suggest that CBD is a substitution for proper veterinary care. If you have serious health or wellness concerns regarding your dog, you need to see a veterinarian. Your dog may have an underlying illness that needs to be appropriately treated through conventional means. CBD acts as a holistic wellness supplement, and can sometimes be used in conjunction with other treatments or therapies for your animal. Ask your vet before you add CBD to your dog’s routine. Sources: What is CBD? Definition of Cannabidiol & CBD Oil | Project CBD Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill - 07/25/2019 | FDA The Endocannabinoid System of Animals | National Library of Medicine The molecular logic of endocannabinoid signalling | Nature Reviews Neuroscience Echinacea Information | Mount Sinai