CBD Oil for Dogs: What Science Says
Cannabidiol or CBD is gaining worldwide popularity among its users. It is a chemical extracted from cannabis. But unlike THC it doesn’t make you “high”. The therapeutic potential of CBD has influenced many dog owners to use CBD oil to treat various ailments in their pets. There is evidence that suggests CBD can help with various health conditions in pets like, anxiety, stress, seizures, arthritis, cancer symptoms, etc. It is for this reason that the UK has approved the use of CBD.
The reason why CBD is so popular among its users is, evidence suggests that CBD can help relieve the symptoms of chronic pains, anxiety, and the frequency of seizures without the deleterious side effects. But at the same time, it is often seen that the benefits of CBD are often exaggerated by people promoting the product. Thus, it is necessary to go through the reliable evidence and then administer your dog with the correct CBD oil.
Is CBD safe for pets?
Although CBD has multiple health benefits to offer to its users, there is very little scientific information confirming the therapeutic benefits of CBD on pets. Even in the states where the consumption of CBD is legal, the laws only allow medical experts to prescribe it to people. As far as animals are concerned, vets still don’t have the right to prescribe CBD for pets.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t recommend the use of CBD to pet owners. According to a recent survey, 63 percent of 2131 vets were asked about the use of CBD oil. Although state laws don’t technically allow vets to give professional advice on the use of CBD for pets, they may give you some advice nonetheless.
Side-effects of CBD oil in dogs
The use of CBD oil does not possibly cause any side effects in dogs until the pet is given a higher dose than normal. According to a recently published report, the use of CBD oil can show adverse effects in pets when given a ten times higher dose than recommended and not before that.
In a trial, 30 healthy dogs were assigned to receive CBD at the dose of 10mg per kg per day or 20 mg per kg per day for six weeks. The six weeks of study period revealed gastrointestinal upset as the most frequent adverse clinical sign. The study revealed that all the dogs developed diarrhea after the trial period and around 20% of dogs had a single episode of vomiting.
Is CBD effective for pets?
Although there is very little scientific evidence on the therapeutic potential of CBD for pets, various studies and clinical trials suggest the potential benefits of CBD for pets. For example, a small trial was held with 9 dogs suffering from epilepsy. The dogs when administered CBD, showed fewer seizures with zero negative side effects.
Besides, the way CBD is given to a pet also plays an important part. CBD when given orally can be more effective than a capsule, get or cream. The right dosage is another important factor to be taken care of. While the right dosage of CBD oil depending on the body weight of your dog can show great improvements, an overdose can be potentially harmful to your dog’s health.
The bottom line
The research on the use of CBD for dogs is still in the early days. But this doesn’t necessarily limit the potential benefits of CBD on pets. Although the use of CBD in pets has not yet gained legal concern, multiple research and studies have revealed its benefits on the health of your pet. Hence it can be concluded that with the right research and a veterinarian’s opinion, you can always proceed to enjoy the multiple health benefits that CBD oil has to offer.