CBD Oil for Dogs: As its popularity grows, so do the scams

The dietary supplement industry is full of unsupported health claims, mysterious ingredients, and trending controversy. With most wellness products unregulated by the FDA, the market can be a bit of a Wild West for consumers who have to rely largely on their own wits and research.

For the past year we’ve talked to dog owners, read enough studies to melt our eyes, and kept up with the latest in cannabis research. All of this allows us to confidently say that CBD actually works for dogs – with some caveats. Here’s what we found

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CBD is a legitimate, bioactive compound

When properly made (extracted from organic hemp and combined with a safe carrier oil), CBD is both safe and legal in the United States. Studies of the toxicity of CBD suggest that side effects only appear at extremely high concentrations, more than 100 times the recommended amount, which is generally 0.2-0.5 mg per pound of body weight.

RELATED: 5 Things You Should Know About Hemp CBD In Pet Products

With the amendments to the Federal Agriculture Act in 2018, industrial hemp used to make CBD for pets can be legally grown, sold and bought across state lines, so you don’t have to worry about the legality of selling hemp products for pets have to.

RELATED: Some CBD pet products actually contain no CBD

Finally, the repeated use and investigation of CBD in humans shows a clear bioactive effect in the vast majority of situations. Like all cannabinoid compounds from the cannabis plant, CBD can affect the endocannabinoid system, which is an important regulator of inflammation and homeostasis in humans, dogs, mice and pretty much all mammals. Although extensive studies have not been conducted, anecdotal evidence about CBD oil for dogs suggests the oil’s potential.

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But not all CBD products are created equal

While CBD is safe even for dogs, the booming CBD industry has produced a fair share of bad players and seedy retailers offering products that don’t live up to owners’ expectations. As a consumer, there are a few things you can do to ensure your dog is consuming only the best CBD products:

Look for CO2 extraction.

When it comes to extracting CBD from hemp plants, the quality is more important than the type of method. But of all types of extraction, CO2 is generally considered to be the safest and most professional method.

Always choose CBD made from hemp.

By law, industrial hemp must have less than 0.3 percent THC content, which means it can’t get your dog high. As a result, the majority of CBD pet products are made from hemp plants – but there are a minority of non-hemp CBD oils. While CBD from other types of cannabis may be safe for your dog, we don’t recommend taking the risk.

Never buy CBD on Amazon.

Although thousands of search results appear under “CBD for Dogs” on its marketplace, Amazon officially bans the sale of CBD products on its website. Because of this, it is not possible to verify the legitimacy of products sold through Amazon.

There aren’t many studies on dogs, but the ones that do show promise

The ethics of conducting testing on dogs, as well as traditional scientific practices, mean that studies of CBD in dogs are few and far between. However, that does not mean that there is no science in this area. Researchers tested the effects of CBD in dogs on a number of conditions, including osteoarthritis and seizures – two of the most common problems affecting puppies today.

In studies of these two conditions, dogs taking CBD orally and topically showed significant symptom improvements, with one study on arthritis showing positive effects for two weeks after stopping CBD treatment!

RELATED: How CBD Can Help Dogs With Osteoarthritis

More broadly, there are numerous clinical studies of the use of CBD in humans and mice, overwhelmingly stacking in favor of CBD’s ability to suppress inflammation, prevent seizures, and more. In fact, a CBD seizure relief product remains one of the few FDA approved uses for cannabis supplements.

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Dogs are not good at communicating complaints

While the scientific and anecdotal evidence about CBD and dogs is definitely there, knowing when to use CBD on your dog – and knowing whether it works or not can be a different story.

As a species, dogs tend to hide feelings of pain and discomfort for as long as possible and only show symptoms such as whimpering or limping when the conditions are significantly advanced. Many experts believe that this behavior is due to a wolf pack mentality, in which an injured wolf is viewed as a danger by other pack members.

RELATED: Michigan Now Allows Veterinarians to Discuss CBD Treatment With Pet Owners

Whatever the reasons for their behavior, dogs’ reluctance to communicate complaints means that the effects of CBD are subtle and easy to miss. While you are likely to notice a decrease in seizures or severe anxiety, many owners have reported only a slight increase in mobility or a decrease in apparent stress. Some do not report anything.

CBD works for most, but not all, dogs

All dogs have endocannabinoid systems, but like humans, some puppies just don’t seem to be affected by CBD regardless of the correct dosage. The reasons for this are unclear as research into cannabis and its effects on the body is still very early.

CBD won’t work the same on every dog ​​either. Some owners claim that CBD started showing its effects just twenty minutes after a dog’s first dose. More likely, however, the benefits will become apparent after about a week of steady, consistent treatment with CBD.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and was republished with permission.