CBD for Dogs
I personally LOVE CBD for dogs. It's natural, safe, and helps with lots of things, including anxiety and pain - two things I deal with having 4 senior dogs. CBD is something I recommend to all clients with anxious dogs because there's just no downside.
WHAT IS CBD?
Even in 2023, there are a lot of people who think CBD is marijuana and will get their dog high. It won't! Let's dive into what CBD is. CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol, which is one of 114 different cannabinoids or chemical compounds found in marijuana and hemp plants. The compound responsible for that notorious "high" is THC - THC and CBD are two completely separate compounds (cannabinoids) of the same plant.
CBD oil is cannabidiol that's been extracted from the plant and diluted with a carrier oil, like MCT oil or hemp seed oil.
WHAT IT HELPS WITH
CBD is a natural remedy that's helpful for a lot of different things, most commonly anxiety and pain. CBD might seem like a new trend, but it's actually been used for pain relief as far back as 2900 BC.
Some of the things CBD can help with include:
Anxiety
Pain, including nerve and back pain, arthritis and multiple sclerosis
Cancer
Aging/wellness
Inflammation
Gastrointestinal diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease
Improves heart health
Here’s what some of the research shows:
In a Brazilian study, 57 men received either oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes before they did a public speaking test, and it was found that CBD was effective at significantly reducing anxiety during the test.
A 2015 review of studies found "Preclinical evidence conclusively demonstrates CBD's efficacy in reducing anxiety behaviors…"
In a 2019 study of 75 people, "Anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients (79.2%) and remained decreased during the study duration."
A 2020 literature review found "CBD has consistently demonstrated acute reduction in anxiety-related symptoms in patients… Additionally, the use of CBD for these disorders has shown increasingly minimal adverse effects compared with existing pharmacotherapy."
A 2021 study on shelter dogs found that CBD may reduce aggressive behavior toward people.
DOSING
Start at 0.25 mg per pound per day - divided into 2 doses. So a 50-pound dog would start at 12.5 mg per day, or 6.25 mg in the morning and 6.25 mg at night. Most dogs can safely go up to 2.5 mg per pound (yes, a 10-fold increase!). That means our 50-pound dog can start at 12.5 mg per day and go all the way up to 125 mg a day. Keep in mind that a dog has never died from taking too much CBD!
Every dog is different and every ailment is different. For things like stress, a lower dose is more beneficial (generally), while for pain or seizures a higher dose is more beneficial.
Because it takes 7-14 days for CBD to reach a steady level in the body, give it time at the starting dose before you increase it. When I started my dog on CBD, I didn't notice any improvement in anxiety until about a week of consistent, twice-daily dosing. Some people notice a difference right away - I didn't, so give it time to reach a steady level in your dog.
HOW TO GIVE IT
Research shows that CBD is best absorbed if given with high-fat food, and cannabinoid expert, Dr. Rob Silver recommends giving it before meals. Because I give my dogs fish oil every day anyway, I put a pump of fish oil on a plate, add the CBD oil, and let my dog lick it off. I'll usually wait 30-60 minutes until I feed breakfast/dinner.
Should I rub it on their gums or cheek? In my opinion, no. I know a lot of people say this is the most effective method because it's faster and bypasses the hepatic first-pass metabolic process. Here's my issue with this: in humans, we know it works (20-30 minutes) faster when taken sublingually (under the tongue, not rubbed on gums), but it should be held there for at least 60 seconds. I can say with certainty that my dogs will not hold CBD oil under their tongue for 60+ seconds.
A 2019 study that discusses sublingual and buccal administration of drugs in people has listed several disadvantages of this type of administration, including that the drug must not be swallowed too soon and that food or drink can't be consumed right after. So now I have to force my dog to hold it under their tongue for 60 seconds and then restrict water? All so it takes effect a little faster? No thanks. It mentions that heavy saliva flow can negatively impact absorption because more of the drug will be swallowed but also if there's a dry mouth absorption can also be negatively impacted. I don't know about your dogs, but mine get pretty dang drooly when they think they're getting a treat. It seems like a lot of extra work for something that's probably not going to make any difference. So even if rubbing it on gums has the same slightly faster absorption of sublingually, good luck keeping your dog from licking it right off, drooling it away, or drinking water right after.
**Just to test my own theory, I put a little dab of gravy on my dog’s gums. I checked 10 seconds later and it was already gone. Dogs are not going to leave anything on their gums/cheeks long enough to absorb.
REGULARLY OR AS-NEEDED?
I give CBD regularly as opposed to as-needed. I find it's most beneficial if it's at a steady level in my dog's system, which is what my vet recommended as well. If something extra stressful is happening, like a thunderstorm or fireworks, I'll simply give an increased dose about an hour before the stressor. I’m sure for some dogs it’s fine to give as-needed, but for my anxious, arthritic senior dog, giving as needed wouldn’t be helpful. If you’re giving as-needed without much benefit, try giving it consistently and see if that changes anything.
FINDING A GOOD BRAND
There are loads of CBD products available for dogs, so how do you know which ones to get? All brands are not the same - I tried several brands before I found one that actually helped my dog. Brands will vary in their extraction methods as well as what specific cannabinoids (and amounts) are included. There are a lot of good brands, and in general, here's what to look for:
You want full spectrum, not broad spectrum or CBD isolate. (It should say on the label) What's the difference? Full spectrum contains more cannabinoids and terpenes (the essential oils in the plant). Full spectrum also contains THC!! But don't panic, it's a very low amount of THC and won't get your dog high. It can't contain more than 0.3% THC by law, but just that tiny bit of THC is incredibly beneficial! All the cannabinoids work synergistically together, and full spectrum has been shown to be more effective with fewer side effects. Broad spectrum has some of the cannabinoids removed, including THC, making it less effective. Isolate means they've extracted ONLY the CBD from the plant extract. This tends to be the most inexpensive option, but research also shows it to be the least effective - remember, CBD does best with other cannabinoids and terpenes!
You want organic so those pesticides and herbicides aren't being ingested by your pet!
It should be third-party lab tested to make sure it's free of contaminants and heavy metals and contains what the label says it does
There should be a COA (Certificate of Analysis) available for you to view - these are usually on their website. The COA lists when the batch was tested, whether it was negative for contaminants, and what's in it and how much.
TIPS
Shake the bottle (if you’re using oil) to evenly distribute any cannabinoids that may have sunk to the bottom.
If you're putting the dropper directly in your dog's mouth, wash the dropper before you put it back! The bacteria from the dog's mouth can effect the CBD.
Heat can degrade it, so don’t leave it in your hot car or in a sunny window.
If it's not helping, increase the dose. Still not helping? Try a different brand.
Give with high-fat food.
If putting directly on the gums or cheek, don’t let your dog eat or drink for 20-30 minutes after.
Give it time!
MY TRIED & TRUE FAVES
TREATIBLES is the first brand that helped my dog’s anxiety. You can set up a subscription to save money and make sure you don’t run out, and you can get it delivered to your door. Use code GOODDOG for 10% off all orders!
ELLEVET SCIENCES is another brand I really like. They’ve done a lot of formal research on their brand’s effectiveness, and I’ve personally found that it was very helpful for my dogs’ pain and anxiety. Use my link or code ref3276730 for $20 off your first order.
AUSTIN & KAT is only broad spectrum, not full, so if you’re in an area where you can legally use full spectrum I would. But if full spectrum isn’t an option for you, this is a good choice. I love the added herbs and botanicals to provide extra support alongside the CBD.