Caring for pets is a round-the-clock job and one that not everyone can commit to. It requires a degree of responsibility that many aren’t ready to assume. That said, pet parents will agree that every bit of the hassle is worth it. Time spent with dogs is fun and exciting, especially for those that have very active breeds.
It’s not news that dogs have more than enough love to share with their family. They are loyal, perhaps, the most loyal domesticated animals. Little wonder we call them man’s best friend. But as pet parents, do we match the same love these lovely creatures show towards us? Most probably do, which is why we go out of our way to ensure they are as healthy and happy as they can be.
Like us humans, our pets also get sick, sometimes mentally. Yes, don’t be surprised. There are breeds that tend to be more attached to their human parents than others. These dogs crave attention and love and quite often suffer anxiety whenever they’re away from their family. Experts often advise that only individuals with enough time take in these breeds. The French Bulldog, Brussels Griffon, Labrador Retriever, and Border Collie are a few examples of breeds that need a lot of attention. Visit https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/border-collie/ to learn more about the Border Collie breed.
If your pet suffers from anxiety, one treatment you may want to consider is CBD. Many pet owners have turned to CBD because it has been found to be effective in treating anxiety, among other canine-related illnesses. In this article we’ll explain what CBD is, its benefits, and some of the ways you can administer it to your canine friend.
What is CBD?
CBD means cannabidiol. It is one of many different chemicals that occur naturally in the plant called cannabis. To be more exact, cannabidiol is a cannabinoid and there are over 100 of them that can be extracted from cannabis. However, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most popular cannabinoids now.
Cannabidiol has become quite popular because it has many health benefits that both us humans and our pets enjoy. Initially, CBD use and consumption was exclusive to humans but over time entered animal diet as well. Being a very potent chemical, CBD is used today to treat several dog illnesses including anxiety, arthritis, seizures, and epilepsy. Some studies have even shown that it can slow down the growth of cancer cells in dogs.
How Are Weed and CBD Related?
The only relationship between weed and cannabidiol is that they are both connected to the cannabis plant. Having said that, we should clear the misconception that many people have about cannabidiol because of this relationship with weed.
In an actual sense, they are both very different from each other. Cannabidiol is only a chemical while weed or marijuana is a plant, one of two popular strains of cannabis. Hemp is the other strain that is quite popular because CBD is primarily extracted from it.
So, what many people believe is that cannabidiol is psychoactive like marijuana since they have some connection. However, this isn’t the case. Unlike its cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol won’t get you high because it doesn’t have the psychoactive properties that THC has. One may be wondering how marijuana intoxicates and hemp doesn’t even though they are species of these same plant. Click here to learn more about THC.
This is because marijuana has a high concentration of THC and a low concentration of CBD, 0.3% to be exact. Hemp on other hand is mostly composed of CBD and has a low concentration of THC, about 0.3% as well. Cannabidiol is mainly extracted from hemp because the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol it contains is too small to cause a high.
So, rest assured that giving your pet CBD won’t make it go crazy and start acting funny. Cannabidiol treatment is generally considered safe if it is administered in the right dosage.
What are the Side Effects?
If CBD is administered to dogs in the right dosage, there are hardly any side effects as most dogs have a strong tolerance for it. That said, there are a few side effects that have been reported by pet parents. They are dizziness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, and vomiting.
These side effects are not life-threatening, which reiterates the fact that CBD treatment is mostly safe. That said, they can make your pet uncomfortable which defeats the purpose for which the chemical was administered in the first place. So, make sure your pet receives only the appropriate dose every time.
Which CBD Treatment Should I Go for?
There are several ways in which you can administer this cannabinoid to your dog. There’s no telling which option will be the most suitable right off the bat, so, you may have to try out a few of them to see how your pet responds. However, these two options are the most popular:
CBD Oils
This method of consumption is one of the most popular CBD products on the market. The oil is extracted from hemp and there are two types: full-spectrum and broad-spectrum cannabidiol oils. The latter contains THC, which is toxic to dogs, so, avoid CBD for dogs that contain THC.
CBD Dog Treats
Your pet will thank you for this because dogs generally enjoy treats because they are delicious and can be gobbled in a snap. Also, because the taste and flavor of the treat mask the raw taste of cannabidiol which many dogs tend to dislike.
Final Thoughts
It is important that you know that there are many CBD brands in the market today, thanks to how well people are receiving the chemical. However, all brands are not the same when it comes to the quality of their products. Before purchasing any product for your pet, ensure the company has had a third-party lab test it for THC concentration.
This is important because many low-quality brands don’t really disclose all these types of important information because they haven’t done what needs to be done. More established brands have all the necessary information on their products for customers to see and know what they are buying for their pets.
