Animal Planet Hub: A Little Guide on How to Give CBD to Your Dog

When it comes to feeding your dog with medication, it is imperative to learn everything about its administration. CBD is now being accepted as an alternative form of medication since it is known for relieving people from many physical, emotional and mental problems, such as anxiety, depression, inflammation, and chronic pains.

These problems are found as many animals as in humans. In this article, our focus will remain on our furry friend, that is, dogs. If you have a hyper-active dog or sluggish canine friend, there are chances that he or she might be suffering from anxiety or depression. Apart from that, it might also be suffering from mood swings, pains, gastric issues, etc. You should be happy to know that the dog owners are proudly sharing the before and after stories of how CBD helped their furball in healing many health issues.

Now, the question is how do you give CBD to your dog?

This little guide is the answer.

Things you should know about CBD

Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, is one of the many (more than 100) chemical compounds found in the cannabis and hemp plant. However, unlike other compounds found in these plants, such as marijuana and hashish, CBD is non-intoxicating or non-psychoactive in nature.

The reason behind this characteristic is the absence of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is usually less than 0.3%. This amount is nil when compared with marijuana. THC is primarily responsible for getting you ‘high’ or stoned.

For now, this much information about CBD is enough for you. If you are wondering whether dogs get high on CBD, well, then, it is safe to say that no, dogs or any other animals do not get high on CBD. However, he or she may deal with some sleep-inducing effects that only ease anxiety.

Now come to the legality of it.

It is safe to say that CBD is no longer a part of the ‘controlled substance’ (under the Farm Bill 2018) and has been legalized across all 50 states in the country. So, there you go!

How to give CBD to your dog

CBD comes in many forms at fabcbd.com. The top ways to administer CBD to your dog is via-

Treats or capsules
Oils
Creams

Even though there are different methods of CBD for your dog to consume, the efficacy of each method is quite vague. So, you might have to work with your dog a bit to understand which method would suit him or her best.

As per a 2018 study, it was revealed that a dog suffering from epilepsy showed better results after orally taking CBD oil than consuming a cream or a capsule.

Here are the top 3 ways to give CBD to your dog-

Mix it with a treat: If you are giving CBD oil or capsule to your dog, you can always mix it in his or her food. Your furry friend won’t have to struggle to develop a taste for it and will swallow it away along with the regular food.
Choose the product your dog will like: CBD oil treats and capsules come in different flavours, and thus offer a variety of choices for customers. Choose flavours and aromas that your dog is expected to love and see how he or she reacts to it.
Apply it directly: This can be done with treats, tinctures, oils, sprays, and creams—basically all the products. Instead of tricking and treating your friend, it is advised to directly put the oil or capsule inside the mouth of your dog and make sure it goes down his or her stomach. The cream is the least purchased CBD product for dogs but if you are up for it, then apply it directly on the affected area.

What is the optimum CBD dosage for your friend?

It has been made clear many a time that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the dosage of CBD in America. So, the best way to find out the optimum dosage for your dog is to start feeding him or her with a minimum amount and notice the changes. Keep increasing the dosage until you think that he or she feels better at a certain amount. Stick there for a week. Then, start decreasing the dosage and see if the positive effects of CBD continue at a low dose as well.

In any case, do not forget to consult a vet or medical practitioner regarding the dosage. Also, there are no known side effects of CBD intake. However, you should cut down the dosage if your dog feels dizzy, disoriented, loses appetite, shows changes in sleep pattern, etc.

Closing thoughts

Apart from the treat and dosage, it is also important to focus on buying the good quality of CBD products. The product gets inside the body of your furry friend. Thus, it is important for you to put a complete check on each product that you buy for your friend.

The top things to consider before hitting the payment button is to check whether there are any toxic materials used in the product if it is tested by a third party in a lab and if it is naturally extracted. If it ticks all the three points, well, go ahead and buy the product. Once it delivers, try it on your dog for a few days and notice his or her reaction. If it’s positive, well, keep up with the dosage. If he or she feels funny after consuming it, perhaps, you should lower the dosage, even though it is highly improbable that they will show any side effects considering it’s a natural product. Nonetheless, it is advisable to consult a vet and keep monitoring your friend.

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