Dude, Where’s My Crate

Myths and facts about CBD oil for dogs

“So, it started very innocently with a need to protect my house”, said Chili, a 10 year old Nova Scotia Ducktolling Retriever. What started as a bad habit soon turned into an obsession built around anxiety. She really knew there was no reason for this behaviour, yet could help herself. What made things worse was that her owner would chastise her for the behaviour, which only seemed to heighten the anxiety.

Someone had suggested to her owner to try CBD oil, extracted from hemp plants. Having heard this, the first thought that went through Chili’s parent’s mind was, “am I just making my dog stoned”?

Myth – CBD Oil Will Make Your Dog Stoned

Cannabidiol, or CBD as it known, is a natural compound found in both hemp and cannabis, but it has no psychoactive properties, unless there is the presence to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is bad for dogs and can have some very bad side effects or in some cases can cause death. The CBD oils for dogs are just CBD oil, meaning the beneficial CBD without the THC. They are almost exclusively made from from hemp, not marijuana. That means your pup won’t get stoned, or even a bit high from CBD oil. He’ll just get the relaxation effects without intoxication.

Since starting Chili on CBD oil, she has begun to notice that people walking by her window just don’t bother her as much as they once did. Looks like this old dog is learning some new tricks. Her preference is for cookies containing CBD, as she has always been treat motivated.

Fact – CBD Oil Can Reduce Dog Anxiety

There have been extensive studies done on CBD and its effect on stress and anxiety in humans. It was found to not only reduce anxiety in both healthy people and people with anxiety disorders, but also reduced the anxiety caused by public speaking. It was also effective for panic and post-traumatic stress disorders. No studies have been published on the anti-anxiety effects for dogs…yet, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence on top of the correlation between dogs and humans that people will draw.

Let’s look at a few others….

Myth – CBD Oil is 100% Legal

Recently in the US, CBD oil extracted from hemp plants were made legal. This occurred due to the efforts of some lobby groups that garnered strong support with the US Congress. This led to both Republican and Democratic lawmakers introducing measures to have this changed.

In Canada, CBD oil is still classified within the same family as THC, which means it is considered a controlled substance. That means it’s legal, but requires a prescription. But recent changes have made it legal for individuals in Canada to produce it for their own personal use. So, the short answer is yes, it is legal in Canada and can be purchased online and through retail dispensaries.

Fact – CBD Oil Helps Treat More Than Anxiety in Dogs

Although the first studies are just being conducted, dog owners and some veterinarians point to CBD oil as a natural option to treat seizures, arthritis, back pain, symptoms of cancer, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and stress in dogs.

A dog with anxiety problems uses CBD oil products from hemp to help calm him down.

Myth – CBD Oil is 100% Safe for Dogs

The major concern with CBD oil is appropriate dosing levels. For CBD oil that does not contain THC, or has trace levels, there appear to be no life-threatening side effects, like you might see in prescription medications, but overdosing can lead to potential risks. Unfortunately, the research needed to determine the correct dosage of CBD oil in dogs simply hasn’t been done yet, so a little trial and error is required. Here is a great place to start your research.

Fact – CBD Oil Products are More Art Than Science

A search of Google or Youtube will yield a number of resources to teach you how to make CBD oil at home. This then leads to individuals producing their own “home” products and selling them. Some are really good, while others may contain very little, if any CBD, according to FDA testing. The best options today are to find a supplier that is trusted by other dog owners, or find a veterinarian who has experience with pets being treated with CBD oil for recommendations on reputable manufacturers.

This is a new, but promising product that can help relieve many issues and ailments affecting your dog, while giving you peace of mind. It is still early days, but this pup can certainly attest to some positive results.

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