CBD for Dogs: Your Pawsome Buying Guide

Nothing beats the cozy feeling of having that cuddly creature lying at your feet—especially during those lazy afternoon hours. Nor does anything beat the adrenaline-boosted declaration of love that you receive when your dog meets you at the door the moment you step inside your house.

…Nothing hurts more than when your furry friend starts showing signs of aging or illness, and they’re not nimble enough to keep those pesky pigeons away.

Looking after your pet’s health is the least you can do when wanting to give them TONS of love, and with CBD getting increasingly popular for therapeutic use among humans, the number of pet parents asking about CBD for dogs is skyrocketing.

In a poll interviewing a large cohort of veterinarians, 63% said they’re asked about CBD by clients monthly—and even weekly or daily.

CBD has been used by people seeking relief from anxiety, pain, and seizures. Naturally, pet parents want to know if this works in pets too.

So, can CBD for dogs provide similar health benefits as seen in humans?

There aren’t many reliable sources online that will give you an honest breakdown of fact-checked information. However, Dad Grass is here to make this right. With our research-backed, no-nonsense approach, you won’t have to go snooping around for more deets.

Today we focus on whether CBD for dogs is worth it, what effects to expect, and how to give it safely to your pooch. We also offer our angle on what to look for in good-quality CBD oils and treats.

Buckle up—here’s your CBD Dog Treats pawsome buying guide.

CBD for Dogs—Woof’s It All About?

CBD for dogs is a widely available product packed with beneficial cannabinoids for the canine population. But how does it work?

CBD (along with THC) falls into the category of cannabinoids, a group of substances extracted from the cannabis plant. And here’s the fun part—these cannabinoids mimic the endocannabinoid chemicals naturally present in all vertebrates.

Now get this. Your pets’ bodies are dotted with a network of endocannabinoid receptors that work to trigger specific bodily systems—the end goal being to stabilize their body. Think of the system as the mastermind behind a system of bulbs. These bulbs go on and off relative to their bodily needs. Fair enough?

Now, CBD is metabolized through these same metabolic pathways, which regulate mood, memory, sleep, inflammatory responses, and more.

Fact: CBD also shares these metabolic pathways with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Note that CBD is considered non-addictive and non-psychoactive and has been allowed for use in research and commercial purposes based on the 2014 United States Department of Agriculture Farm Bill.

CBD Oil for Dogs vs. CBD Treats For Dogs

Both CBD oil and CBD treats for dogs are legit ways to take care of your pet’s wellness. In broad terms, all CBD products have one thing in common: they contain cannabidiol or CBD.

Yet, when we zoom in on the extraction methods, they begin to have nuances, quirks, and slightly different advantages and disadvantages.

Manufacturers use different methods to extract the cannabidiol compounds from the hemp plant. The result is various CBD formats, such as CBD oils, gummies, creams, and dog treats.

So, which product is right for you? CBD oil by Dad Grass can be a go-to solution when you want to get super-precise with your dosing. The yummy treats, well, they bring yumminess, convenience, and—more yumminess for your furry friends.

Below is the table that zeros in on the nuances.

CBD Oil for Dogs vs. CBD Treats for Dogs

The Formula

Way of Administration

CBD Oil for Dogs

The product is available either as full-spectrum CBD oil or as CBD isolate.

CBD isolate contains just CBD, while full-spectrum CBD oil is enriched with other cannabinoids such as CBN, CBG, terpenes, and flavonoids—other helpful compounds extracted from the cannabis plant.

CBD oils come with a dropper that allows you to precisely dose your pet. This won’t always be a smooth ride, though, as some dogs won’t let droppers anywhere near their mouths. Instead, drizzle the desired CBD oil dosage onto your dog’s food.
By rule of thumb, full-spectrum CBD oil will have higher concentrations of CBD and other cannabinoids when compared to treats.

CBD Treats for Dogs

CBD treats can also be infused with full-spectrum CBD oil or an isolate, but it’s just that they’re packed into the most widely adored format by your fave four-legged creatures—TREATS.

While CBD dog treats might not be as precise, they sure beat oils on the taste and convenience side. CBD dog formulas are specially crafted with a dog’s palate in mind (often with added natural flavoring to appeal to their taste).
Coming in the pups’ favorite treat format, they’re easy to administer while on the go. Just hand it out to your doggo when the situation calls for it.
They’re also super convenient for dosing; each chew contains a fixed amount of CBD, so you know what you’re serving to your pet every time.

Is CBD Harmful to Dogs?

Marijuana-sourced CBD is a no-no for your pup. It’s a cannabis product high in THC that can be toxic for dogs. Instead, make sure you source your CBD oil or treats exclusively from hemp. Hemp-derived CBD products are low in THC (containing only 0.3% THC as allowed by federal laws) and the safer alternative.

As for the CBD compound itself, it’s pretty safe to give to your four-legged companions (dogs and cats included) without the risk of substantial side effects. According to a recent study, less than 5% of dog parents reported side effects from CBD, and these never amounted to anything more serious than loose stools and lethargy.

A word of caution, though—keep CBD treats away from your pets’ reach. Ingesting large amounts of a hemp-based CBD product can lead to mild THC toxicity. Still, it’s nothing that a little pet visit can’t mend, and again these effects are most frequently pinned down to THC overdose.

“Most cases need no treatment, aside from symptomatic care for gastrointestinal upset if it occurs. If it's a large dose, where the THC content might be a factor, mild sedation, urinary incontinence, hyperesthesia, and ataxia could develop, and the pet should be confined to prevent injury from misadventure. If you see significant signs that look like THC toxicity, treat the pet in front of you and provide IV fluid support, anti-nausea medication, and good nursing care as needed.” Source: ASPCAPro

Pro Tip: Always consult your vet before giving CBD to your pup — especially if they’re taking other drugs. CBD inhibits a chemical in the body that plays a role in metabolizing most drugs—for those interested in its fancy scientific name, it’s cytochrome P450. This means CBD can mess up your pup's drug levels, rendering the drugs either toxic or less effective.

Benefits of CBD for Dogs—CBD Pawsomness At a Glance

We’ve seen that you can administer cannabidiol to dogs relatively safely, but does it work, and can you rely on it to bring desirable results?

Clinical use of CBD is still relatively rare in veterinary medicine, and more research needs to be done on the medicinal use of cannabis in dogs. And while it’s critical to separate hype from facts, preliminary research shows that CBD can be used in pain and seizure management, as well as cancer and inflammation treatment.

CBD also shows promising results, as seen in veterinary clinical practice. A Veterinary Information Network survey that polled 36,000 practicing vets presents some interesting findings.

79% of survey respondents said they’d seen improvements in chronic pain in animals followed by CBD administration.

Over 62% reported the beneficial effects of CBD for dogs for managing anxiety.

Now, let’s sink our teeth into this.

Anxiety

So, can you use CBD to manage canine behavioral problems? Can it be used for anxiety, for example, when your dog gets too hyped up during thunderstorms or when new people are coming to visit? And what about when your beloved pet is hyperactive and has to pee/walk/eat, and they always have to do it ASAP?

Let’s look at what credible sources say.

Some studies suggest that CBD can help control anxiety, hyperactivity, and even aggression and depression in dogs. It's like a natural dog toy!

How CBD does this is not yet clear. Yet what experts do know so far is that it does this by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain. It has less to do with it directly affecting these receptors and more with how it responds to the serotonin already in your pet’s system.

Let’s glance at a few relevant studies:

A 2014 animal study found that CBD can have both antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, contributing to better emotional balance in animals.

According to the American Kennel Club, dogs suffering from hyperactivity can show symptoms that border with those we typically put into the anxiety bundle of symptoms. Research indicates that CBD won’t treat the condition; it will regulate your pet’s stress response, helping them assume calmer behavior even when exposed to typical triggers.

According to a study from the University of Western Australia, CBD can help shelter dogs with aggressive tendencies, and teach them to exhibit less aggressive behavior towards humans.

Arthritis

According to preliminary studies, there’s the potential therapeutic use of CBD for dogs with arthritis. Hopefully, you’ll be able to do something for your ailing friend instead of just watching them struggle. Age-related pain and immobility can be a significant stressor that’s equally hard on you as it is on your pet.

That said, it’s critical to watch out for any out-of-the-ordinary behavior so you can visit the vet on time. But can CBD help once your pet can’t follow you to the kitchen, washroom, or balcony as eagerly as they used to due to pain?

A double-blind, cross-over trial on dogs with osteoarthritis reported “a significant decrease in pain and increase in activity” in dogs administered with CBD oil.

With doses of 2 to 8 milligrams of CBD per kilogram of body weight, researchers have observed increased comfort and activity in these dogs and improved scores on the canine brief pain inventory and the Hudson activity scale.

Cancer

So, is there reason to believe we can use CBD for dogs with cancer? CBD has been the subject of a growing body of human studies where researchers examined its effectiveness in treating tumors directly and the secondary symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy.

While research in canines has been limited, the ongoing research shows promise that CBD can be used effectively in dogs suffering from cancer.

In a recent Cornell University study of CBD for dogs, scientists have confirmed its potential in reducing cancer cell proliferation. They suspect this is down to CBD’s ability to affect the cells’ signaling events and rapid mitochondrial permeability.

There are also some anecdotal reports from veterinarians suggesting the effectiveness of CBD for cancer pain management in dogs. One example is a vet who’s effectively prescribed CBD as an alternative therapy to a narcotic pain drug to dogs suffering from incurable cancer.

On top of that, research on rats and ferrets has found that CBD can have beneficial therapeutic value in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea. This gives hope that CBD can have anti-nausea effects in dog cancer patients, just like it does in humans.

However, more research is necessary to understand appropriate doses and the safe usage of CBD pharmaceuticals in dog oncology patients.

Seizures

Although there hasn’t been much research on CBD and seizure in pets, we’re currently testifying to some groundbreaking discoveries. A 2018 study that assessed the use of CBD in dogs with epilepsy found that 89% of dogs who received CBD in a clinical trial had less frequent seizures.

Although there is not enough knowledge in scientific terms to explain the mechanisms of how cannabidiol works to relieve seizures in dogs, the new study has had some fascinating insight into the administration of different dosages.

Here’s what Dr. Stephanie McGrath, DVM, a neurologist at Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, who conducted the research, says on the topic.

“We saw a correlation between how high the levels of CBD were in these dogs with how great the seizure reduction was. It’s really exciting that perhaps we can start looking at CBD in the future as an alternative to existing anticonvulsive drugs.” Source: Science Daily

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Safely Dose Your Pet?

So, how much CBD can you give to your dog safely? Generally speaking, 1 MG of CBD per 10 lbs of dog's weight is considered a safe dose for your pet.

Now, if you want to get the desired therapeutic effects while going around the adverse effects, you need to get more precise than that.

The predetermined dose of Dad Grass Dog Bones makes the dosage straightforward—each bone contains smack dab 4 MG of full-spectrum CBD oil. Each bone is also tested for purity, potency, and CBD contents, so you know you get equal amounts of CBD every time.

To ensure you’re administering CBD safely to your pooch, start approximately with 1 MG CBD per 10 lbs, split into a morning and evening dose. Then work your way up until you gauge the correct CBD dosage for your dog.

How does this translate to some real-life number crunching? It’s easy. Let’s say you’re administering CBD to your small dog weighing 20 lbs. To get 2 MG of CBD, as recommended for a 20 lbs dog, break the dog-friendly bone into half. Next, break these halves into two more halves to split this into the 1 MG morning and the 1 MG evening dose, and serve your pet two times daily.

To make sure your pooch is safe while you’re trying to hit the sweet spot with CBD dosage, follow the steps below:

Start low and slow.
Monitor your dog’s reactions.
Increase doses slowly if need be.

Note: You can use CBD treats and oil for cats, too (that is, if your canine friend can share his fave treats with their natural feline adversary). The dosage guide for CBD oil for cats remains the same—1 MG of CBD for 10 lbs.

Can My Dog Take CBD Every Day?

So, can you use CBD as an all-natural canine wellness daily ritual? Yes, but some dogs will need multiple daily doses to calm their nerves or ease the pain. Just be mindful of how you dose your hemp seed oil or CBD treats, making sure to time the dosages within an eight to twelve-hour window, as needed.

Always stay within the recommended dosage guidelines, starting at 1 MG of CBD per 10 lbs of dog’s weight, working your way up to 5 MG per 10 lbs—going no higher than that.

Dad Grass Dog Bones are created under federal guidelines, containing no more than 0.3% of THC per serving—meaning they won’t get your dog “high” even when given in multiple scrumptious daily chunks.

How Long Do the CBD Effects Last?

You can expect to see the first effects of CBD in your dog 40-60 minutes after ingesting, as that’s how long it takes for the CBD to enter the bloodstream. The effects will last between 6-8 hours, as this is how much it takes the CBD to exit your pup’s system.

Use this as a general rule of thumb to figure out when best to administer CBD to your dog.

Equally important is how long you’ll have to wait until the first effects kick in. This largely depends on what you’re trying to treat with CBD. If you’re looking to help your pooch loosen up or taper their anxiety attack, CBD for dogs may show benefits from day one.

Conversely, if you’re trying to target chronic pain issues, it may take 2 to 4 weeks until your dog starts experiencing relief.

That being said, the wisest thing to do is stay consistent. 30 days is generally considered as the timeframe needed to allow the beneficial CBD properties to build up in your pet’s system.

How to Pick the Best Dog CBD Oil?

Your cuddly pet deserves the best treatment (just like it’s always true the other way around), so how do you find the best CBD oil or treats out there?

It’s easy. Look for transparent and straightforward CBD brands—that’s how you’ll have an insight into the quality and safety of their products. Also, when looking for a high-quality CBD product, keep the following factors in mind:

Hemp Source. When shopping for pet CBD oil, make sure you shop for the best active ingredients. Also, ensure your CBD product is extracted from organic hemp crops—that’s how you’ll know the end product is safe and free of harmful chemicals and impurities. This is super important for our canine friends, who are more susceptible to concentrated contaminants in CBD oils and treats.
CBD Content. Next, ensure you’ve checked how many milligrams of CBD there is in a hemp seed oil or treat you’re buying. Like with any other pet products you buy, safety is paramount. Always read the labels to give your dog the safe dosage of CBD relative to their size.
THC Content. Be mindful of the THC content and cross-check your sources, so you’re positive the product you’re buying is legal. When considering CBD oil for dogs, you can either settle on CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD oil, or full-spectrum oil. In the CBD isolate and broad-spectrum product, you’ll have no THC whatsoever. And while full-spectrum CBD will have trace amounts of THC (those that are legally compliant), they also contain the powerhouse of other beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids which may be helpful for your dog.
Third-Party Certifications. A third-party certification will give you independent testing results regarding the active ingredients in CBD products, like CBD and THC concentrations, as well as quality testing of any potential contaminants. This will give you peace of mind as you’ll know the precise concentrations of CBD and THC in the product, and if they’re free of harmful chemicals and impurities.

Dad Grass for Dogs? Sure Thing!

When reviewing your CBD options, your primary concern is the lack of regulation and all the risks that stem from it. The market is rife with sub-par CBD products that may contain unlisted ingredients or, worse still—heavy metals, pesticides, and unacceptable levels of THC.

That said, Dad Grass Dog Bones are a great way to give your pet a safe and pawesome dose of CBD whenever they feel sore or edgy (think fireworks and birthday parties).

It’s just that they tick all the boxes. Dad Grass Dog Bones are pawsitively primo for pups of all breeds, ages, and sizes, and here’s why. They:

Contain 100% USDA Certified Organic hemp oil tested for quality in small, controlled batches.

Are tested by certified third-party labs for purity, potency, and safety. You’ll get quality assurance that brings you the closest you can get to a safe pet-friendly CBD product. This also means the product comes in safe CBD and THC dosages. Each bone comes with 0.03% of THC, the legally acceptable amount of THC that applies to all hemp-derived CBD products.

Are infused with full-spectrum organic CBD oil, meaning that your pup gets to feel all the mellow goodness of the cannabis plant more so than they would with a CBD isolate.

Are made sustainably and responsibly. We foster 1:1 relationships with responsible hemp farmers, use sustainable CBD extraction methods, use ladybugs instead of pesticides, and more.

And the best part. Dad Grass Dog Bones are the dog’s food with that extra special something. We tell ya’, your pet is in for some freaking pawsome treat here. We put real pumpkins into our wholesome batter of 100% organic ingredients and worked our ass off to fine-tune the bones’ taste to the dog’s palate (just wait until you see them eat).

But not to toot our own horn—check this out.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All Dad Grass Dog Bones contain less than the legal limit of 0.3% THC.

There are very few known interactions with CBD and prescription medications. However, if your pet is on medications, it is always best to consult with a holistic vet prior to starting CBD.

And while you totally can get away with munchin' on our top quality Dog Bones, we recommend heading over to dadgrass.com and checking out our human treats like our Dog Grass Dad Hat or our CBD joints, flower and tinctures.

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