A sick dog can be a stressful time for both you and your furry baby. Despite constant visits to the veterinarian and intake of multiple prescription drugs, there is only so much that mainstream medicine can do for pain and anxiety. If your dog has epilepsy, seizures, cancer, anxiety, or experiences chronic pain, then it may be a good idea to look into alternative medicinal options.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component found in hemp and its derivatives. It has been gaining popularity for its medicinal properties and its ability to ease chronic pain and other difficult-to-treat ailments. It is often commercially sold as oil, and its effectivity is so well-praised that you can even find cbd oil for dogs in the market.
CBD found in hemp became legal in the US in 2018 due to the Farm Bill. As long as the manufacturing company maintains legal standards and only produces derivatives with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are eligible to sell CBD oils online and in stores. These are dog-friendly and safe for their consumption, but you may be worried about exactly how much you should be giving your pups. Here are some tips to help you out.
How CBD Can Help Your Dogs
You might be wondering about how full-spectrum CBD can help your dogs. The secret lies primarily in the substances found in hemp and cannabis. These include cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG). They are cannabinoids that have been proven to contain anti-tumor, anti-pain, and anti-inflammation properties. They prevent cancer cells from growing and contribute to the immune system’s efforts to kill tumorous cells. Moreover, their positive effect on brain cells helps relieve anxiety and noise phobias.
How Much CBD Can You Give Your Dogs?
CBD calculations can be confusing, but companies often sell bottles of oil with the same weight but contain different potencies. For instance, a 30mL bottle of cbd oil for dogs can have anywhere between 125-500mg of cannabidiol. The differences in strengths account for variations in dogs’ sizes. A 125mg potency is advisable for dogs under 25lbs, while 250mg is the perfect amount for dogs between 25 and 50lbs, and dogs 50lbs and more can take the 500mg derivative.
You have to divide the total CBD content (in mg) to the total weight of the oil (in mL). Using this formula, 125mg/30mL would mean that each mL contains 4.17mg of CBD. The exact dosage you give your dog varies depending on their condition or needs. To be safe, you can allot 0.2mg per pound of your dog’s weight. If they weigh about 20lbs, then they should be getting 4mg of CBD every eight or so hours for chronic pain, and less often for anxiety or other intermittent conditions. That is about 1mL of oil, which means that a 30mL bottle is usable 30 times.
You can adjust the dosage accordingly. Start with small amounts and observe your dog’s behavior before gradually increasing the dosage when needed. But keep their intake between 1mg to 6mg of CBD for every 10lbs of weight; otherwise, you may be overdosing your dog.
How Long Does It Take for CBD To Work?
CBD oil is often ingested indirectly by infusing it into treats, dog food, or other consumable products. Some dogs may find slight differences in the taste of their treats to be an instant turn-off, so consider trying a completely new recipe to reward your excellent dog. Remember to keep your dog’s ideal dosage in mind at all times and do not give them more than they should take. Any additional treats should not be CBD-infused as overdosing can be highly dangerous.
Once your dog consumes infused food, treats, or medicine with the oil, it would take about 30 to 90 minutes for the CBD’s medicinal effects to take effect. But if your pup is a brave one, then directly feeding them the CBD oil will merit results in as little as five minutes, which is useful in case of emergencies.
CBD is an excellent alternative to traditional medicine, but ensure that you are responsibly administering the drug so that your furry friend can get better soon. If you are still unsure about how to go about giving your dog CBD oil, then you can always contact stores that sell the product, as they will be able to answer any of your inquiries.
