It’s important we as pet owners do everything we can to ensure our dogs have the happiest and healthiest lives possible. After all, a dog’s job is to play and provide companionship.
How often have we thought about how we can either maximize our dog’s quality of life, or help them maintain the quality of life they currently have? If there’s anything we can do to make our dogs happier and help them thrive, we’re definitely going to do it.
One thing that has been critical in providing better care for our dogs is the availability of better and more affordable pet care, and the increasing availability of total wellness products and supplements to help support our dogs’ overall health. Just like we as humans can benefit from creating a health stack that includes proper nutrition, diet, exercise, and supplements, your dog can benefit from these measures too.
When considering supplements for your dog, you should always speak with your veterinarian to determine if the supplement you’d like to give is appropriate for your dog.
All dogs are different, and each will react differently to different supplements. Speak to your veterinarian and voice your concerns, discuss other medications or treatment plans your dog may be undergoing, and the potential benefits of supplementation. These are all important aspects of deciding if you should give your dog a particular supplement.
A great supplement that is relatively new in terms of supplementation for canines is CBD. Cannabidiol, or “CBD,” is an all-natural chemical compound found in the leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis-sativa plant. The cannabis-sativa plant contains over one hundred of these cannabinoids, which can be taken to help support overall health and wellbeing, and support certain systems in our dog’s physiology.
CBD is typically extracted in an oil form, and this oil can be delivered in isolate, broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum formulas. Isolate oil delivers only CBD oil–no other plant parts are included, which is why isolate oil cannot deliver the “entourage effect.” The entourage effect refers to all compounds of the cannabis-sativa plant working together synergistically to provide the most benefit that the plant can offer. You can only find the entourage effect in a full-spectrum CBD oil.
To quell any fears you may have about CBD oil being intoxicating to your dog, you should know that CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, or “THC,” CBD does not get your dog “high” or make them feel impaired. In fact, for CBD to be legally distributed, it must contain less than .03% THC. It’s important that a trace amount of THC is included, however, so the entourage effect can be achieved.
CBD is generally well tolerated by canines, and very few side effects are reported from owners of dogs who are given CBD and CBD products.
CBD interacts with systems in your dog’s body that are responsible for things like mood, sleep, appetite, and memory. CBD is a great supplement to give your dog for:
Every dog and breed is different, and the length of time that CBD will stay in your dog’s body depends upon many factors. As such, it can be difficult to determine how much CBD to give your dog and how frequently.
Here are some factors that will determine how long CBD will stay in your dog’s body.
While it may seem as though getting the right amount of CBD into your dog is very complicated, it’s really just a matter of experimenting with the recommended dosing and developing a system that works well for your dog. You’ll know you’ve found the right amount when your dog responds positively to treatment.
You can give VETCBD’s CBD oil tincture directly to your dog, as our CBD oil is formulated with high-quality olive oil, which helps a dog’s body better absorb CBD quickly and with less breakdown in the first parts of digestion.
It’s first important to decide how much CBD you will give your dog.
For VETCBD’s hemp oil tincture, a dosage of .2mg of CBD per pound of bodyweight is a good median amount of CBD that is well tolerated and effective. However, achieving this dosage will depend on the delivery method of the CBD you choose.
You may need to dose your dog with CBD oil more than once daily, but determining how frequently your dog needs CBD will also depend on the factors listed above (i.e. weight, diet, activity level, etc.). The best option is to begin with a small dose and see how your dog responds to it. If your dog seems unaffected or non-responsive to the CBD treatment, consider a second dosage after 12 hours has passed since the first dose.
When we discuss how long a supplement lasts in your dog’s body, we are referring to that supplement’s “half-life.” Half-life refers to the amount of time it takes for the concentration of the supplement to decrease by half the amount that was originally given.
The half-life of CBD in dogs is about four hours, which means CBD can be present in a dog’s system for twenty-four hours, but it may need to be present at a certain level to achieve desired benefits.
This means that even though you gave your dog 2mg of CBD in the morning, and you know it will be present in their system through evening, the amount of CBD present in their system by the end of day may not be enough to give them the desired amount of temporary comfort they need.
If you are giving your dog CBD oil as an overall addition to their health stack, they may only need one dose per day. Other dogs may need twice a day dosing, especially if being used to help promote relaxation. Again, it depends on your dog’s physiology and metabolic rates.
CBD oil is a great supplement for supporting your dog’s overall health and wellness and giving them comfort when they need it the most. CBD will remain in your dog’s system for up to twenty-four hours, but depending on the dosage amount, the severity of your dog’s symptoms, and his own physiology, your dog may need more or less than a full recommended daily dose of CBD.
It’s important to always speak to your dog’s veterinarian prior to starting any new supplementation routine, including CBD oil supplementation, to make sure it’s a good fit for your specific pup’s health profile.
If you’re looking for veterinarian formulated, lab tested CBD for your dog, cat, or horse to support their mobility and provide calmness, check out our CBD tinctures and CBD calming soft chews. We offer free support from veterinary professionals by email or phone, and a 30 day money back guarantee!
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#how-it-works https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-018-0578-5 https://www.drugs.com/article/drug-half-life.html
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Due to state laws, we are unable to ship product to Idaho.
VetCBD products are made using hemp containing less than 0.3% THC.
