Your Guide for Using CBD for Dogs

Your Guide for Using CBD for Dogs

In today’s time, more people choose to use natural remedies for their health problems. One of the most popular of these is cannabidiol, better known as CBD. The legality of CBD varies state by state. So, here is your guide for using CBD for dogs.

Above all, CBD oil is legal in all 50 states. As it turns out, CBD is not just good for man. It is also good for man’s best friend. Here is your guide for using CBD oil for dogs.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

The cannabis plant is a member of the class called cannabinoids. This group has greater than one hundred chemical compounds. These compounds differ in several ways. One of the more well known of the compounds in this class is cannabidiol or CBD.

How Do Cannabinoids Work?

Within the human body is the endocannabinoid system. This biological system is made up of special receptors. These receptors determine how the body responds to cannabinoids. The ECS (endocannabinoid system) is responsible for both the psychological and physical effects associated with cannabis use.

This is only one of its several essential functions,. However, it is the one most important to our discussion today. If you wish to know more about the ECS, go here for a tour. http://www.phytecs.com/tour-the-ecs/

Endocannabinoid Deficiency

Many researchers and physicians have researched endocannabinoid deficiency. They now believe this deficiency may be the cause of several chronic medical conditions. Some of these conditions are pain, nausea, or an abnormally low seizure threshold. These conditions may be due to an endocannabinoid deficiency.

You can probably imagine quite a few illnesses that fit such a pattern. For instance, fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome are good examples. If you have one of these, you are more likely to develop another one in the future.

If you wish to know more about endocannabinoid deficiency, here is an article on this topic. https://www.projectcbd.org/science/dr-ethan-russo-cbd-clinical-endocannabinoid-deficiency

These, and other chronic medical conditions, have something in common with several others. They are hyperalgesic. This means that the person has more pain than you would expect them to have under the circumstances. However, despite appearances, there is a biochemical drive causing extreme pain.

CBD Is Not Just For People So You Need A Guide for Using CBD for Dogs

Dogs are like humans and any other animal with a spine. They all have an ECS. This includes mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and amphibians, whether exotic or domesticated. Therefore, any of these animals may also have an endocannabinoid deficiency. 

Your veterinarian may not have brought this to your attention. Many were not taught this in Vet School. Further, they receive very little post-graduate information on this topic. Apparently, Vets also need a copy of “Your Guide for Using CBD for Dogs”.

However, this is changing, just as it is for physicians caring for humans. In most states, vets are not included in their laws concerning cannabis.

Veterinarians are allowed to discuss CBD only if you bring up the subject. They are not legally allowed to start a conversation on this topic. One exception is California. Legislation passed in this state, not long ago, will allow vets to start a discussion about CBD.

What Are Veterinarians Saying When Asked About CBD        

Humans frequently use CBD oil to improve their medical conditions. They are successfully treating anxiety, arthritis, seizures, and chronic pain with CBD oil.

They now wish to treat their dogs with it as well. Because the topic is such an important one, a survey was recently conducted by the Veterinary Information Network.

This online community of veterinarians was surveyed about their practices and CBD. Almost 2/3 of those responding to this survey indicated that they were asked about cannabis one or more times a month.

The majority of the respondents either “agreed or strongly agreed “that cannabinoid products provide benefits for humans. They further expressed support for the use of CBD therapy for animals.

Vets who had experience in treating animals with CBD were asked about guidance from their veterinary organizations. Some of the questions focused on state and federal laws. About 80% stated they did not receive enough guidance on how to stay compliant with the law.

Just about the same number of vets said that medically and morally, cannabinoids should be permitted for pets. https://www.projectcbd.org/news/quick-hits/what-do-vets-know-about-cbd

Let’s Look At Some Of The Research

While many dog lovers believe that CBD helps their dogs, researchers are still learning which doses work best. There is more anecdotal information than actual evidence provided by researchers at this point. However, that is changing. More research is taking place at this time.

Colorado State Clinical Trial

In 2018, the preliminary findings of a study on canine epilepsy and the use of CBD were revealed in a press release. The primary conclusion is that CBD reduces seizures in dogs. 89% of the dogs treated in this trial with CBD saw a reduction in how often they had seizures. This should come as no surprise as many children are now taking CBD to successfully treat their seizures.

It was a small trial, but still, the results were promising. You can read more about it here if you wish. Epilepsy  

https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/preliminary-data-from-cbd-clinical-trials-promising/

Cornell University

Also, in 2018, another study with promising results on the use of CBD in dogs was conducted. This time, the researchers were looking at dogs with OA (osteoarthritis). The arthritic dogs were given twice daily doses of 2 mg/kg of CBD oil. Both comfort and level of activity were increased at this dose.

For more details on this study, you can follow the link below. Other studies have tested much higher doses and found them to be safe.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full

Treating senior dogs with CBD, aka, Geriatric Canine Care

There are many health problems related to old age in a dog. These conditions include anxiety, inflammation, osteoarthritis, cognitive dysfunction, and symptoms of cancer. Many consider these illnesses to be best treated palliatively.

Medical palliative care is designed to improve the patient’s quality of life and to manage their symptoms. Not only does it improve pain, but it also helps to meet the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.

It is not meant to be curative but evidence shows that CBD oil may have curative benefits. Treating dogs with CBD oil is considered to be both safe and effective by many veterinarians. Practitioners of animal medicine have not previously been known to endorse alternative medicine. So, this is a significant finding.

Most have come to this approach of treating their canine patients because their clients insist upon trying it. They consider it to be safe and effective. Several studies support its safety profile but fewer with strong evidence of its efficacy. Investigations are ongoing in this area.

There Is Much More We Need To Know

The evidence so far is very supportive. Especially regarding its safety and use for a few specific medical conditions. However, we need to know more about which other illnesses it may successfully treat. Until that data is available, here is what you need to know before initiating canine CBD therapy.

Your Guide for Using CBD for Dogs Includes the Following Basic Facts

Just as with humans, if your dog is taking any supplements or medications, you should speak with your veterinarian. Ask them if there is any potential for interactions between them and CBD.

Some anti-seizure drugs are known to interact with CBD. This fact does not necessarily mean you cannot use CBD products. However, the dosing may be changed.

Like many medications, cannabinoids are metabolized through the liver. So, combining CBD with other drugs may enhance the effects of those medications.

CBD frequently increases the effect of anti-seizure medications. Veterinarians often see tremendous improvement in seizure control when CBD is added. This improvement is due to the Cytochrome P450 effect. Sometimes, they can reduce the dose of anti-seizure medication. This is a very good thing.

Cytochrome P450

Certain enzymes can cause medications to work either more or less strongly when exposed to another drug. Here is a brief video clip that explains this very well. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-itm-001&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=itm&p=cytochrome+p450#id=8&vid=2d5165053f8f2714d906bba0e3bd4017&action=view

You can also Google this topic if you wish.  Verify whether your dog’s medications (or your own) are among those that the Cytochrome P450 enzymes will affect.

More Facts You Need For A Complete Guide for Using CBD for Dogs

• Your dog will not get high on CBD. You should select a product that either does not contain THC or one in which the amount is very low. However, any product with a high level of THC can cause serious problems for your dog. Try to avoid giving THC to your dog.
• The type of CBD products recommended for dogs is usually hemp-based. They are created with little or no THC component. Some companies make products specifically designed for dogs.
• Always look for a 3rd Party Evaluation of the product. There should be a certificate of the product’s analysis available from any reputable manufacturer. This certificate is called the COA.  It should show how much CBD (and THC, if any) the product contains. Tests for contaminants such as fungicides and heavy metals should be included as well. If there is no COA, do not purchase from them.
• Use a tincture instead of a gummy bear style of CBD. This makes it easier to adjust the dose up or down.
• Store CBD oil carefully as it is can break down in sunlight or bright lights. Extreme heat or cold can also change its chemical make-up significantly. If you notice that a CBD oil’s color has changed recently, it is likely to have been damaged. Throw it away.

Dosing Details: Start Low and Go Slow

As far as dosing goes, it is better to start with a low dose. Then, gradually increase the dose as needed. The first time you give your dog any new medication, you should keep an eye on them for an hour or so. You need to make sure they do not have any adverse reactions.

It is highly unlikely that this will occur with CBD oil. However, if they are taking other medications, the other med can become more or less effective.

Many vets recommend that you start off giving your dog 1 mg per 10 pounds of body weight morning and night. Obviously, you should monitor your dog’s reaction. Then, you adjust the dose up or down depending on his response.

What if you want more guidance than your vet can provide due to a lack of knowledge?

Despite Vets knowing little about CBD oil for dogs, dog owners are definitely interested.  They want to more about the use of CBD for their canine companions. If you are unable to get the answers you desire at your vet’s office, check out this site. https://www.veterinarycannabis.org/