How to Use Hemp Extract for Pets: A Guide to Dosing and Benefits

The focus on pet wellness is increasing, with 25% (1) of pet owners surveyed by Pet Market Outlook saying they have expanded their spending on veterinary care in 2020. About a third of these pet owners revealed that preventative care is very important for their pets, and nearly half agree that providing healthier options for their four-legged friends is one of their goals.

Because of its many health-balancing benefits, CBD oil is now used by nearly one in four (2) pet owners, and about 13% of adults with dogs give it to their canine companions. Let's take a look at why this natural compound found in the hemp plant has become such a popular choice.  

How Safe is Hemp Extract for Pets?

CBD,  Cannabidiol, works naturally with your pet's own Endocannabinoid System (ECS) (3), which is why it's considered one of the safest options you can choose for pet wellness. The ECS helps to keep your pet's main mental and physical processes in a healthy state of balance, including their appetite, digestion, immune responses, mood, and hormonal functions.

The ECS is made up of:

• signaling compounds called endocannabinoids

• the CB1 and CB2 receptors that these compounds attach to and

• enzymes to break down these compounds when they're done working

CBD is also considered a cannabinoid, much like the body's naturally produced endocannabinoids. Because it works to keep these endocannabinoids in a healthy state of balance inside your pet's body, it's considered a safe and effective alternative therapy with few side effects (4).

What to Know if You Want to Give Your Dog CBD Hemp Oil for Pets

Pets all have their own unique personalities and "personal preferences". For instance, bacon flavored CBD for dogs and CBD for cats is a big hit with many canine friends. Whatever your pet's personal palette preferences, you should always look for a few key quality standards when choosing CBD pet wellness products to ensure you are getting the highest quality CBD products:

• Organically Grown Hemp or organic growing practices

• Third-Party Lab Tested and Verified Products

• Non-GMO Ingredients

• Toxin, Heavy Metal, and Pesticide Free Blends

• FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Next, consider the type of CBD forms (5) that's right for your pet. Some forms contain trace amounts of the psychoactive ingredient THC, but in such small amounts that your pets won't experience any "high". Other forms are THC free CBD oil. Here are the three forms of CBD extract.

• Full Spectrum CBD – combines CBD with other healthy hemp plant compounds that help boost each other's positive effects, including terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other cannabinoids. Full Spectrum hemp extract contain trace amounts (less than .3%) of THC, and they pack the biggest punch because all of hemp's healthy elements and compounds work together to improve your pet's health.

• Broad Spectrum CBD - combines all the healthy ingredients found in Full Spectrum blends, but without the trace amounts of THC. This is a great option for pet parents who prefer a THC-free hemp extract.

• Isolate – pure CBD, without any of the other hemp compounds that work in synergy together. Pets who are highly sensitive to terpenes and flavonoids would benefit from using isolates.

Types of Premium CBD Products

Finally, when choosing (6) your CBD products, consider their absorption rates bioavailability (7), how long before they take effect, and how long will they last. All of the product types below may either be full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate, so check the label to be sure.

CBD Wellness Pet Tinctures

When CBD hemp oil for pets is combined with a healthy carrier oil, such as MCT coconut oil, it is called a CBD tinctures. The carrier oil helps improve delivery and absorption rates, and since the liquid is absorbed directly into the bloodstream when taken orally, tinctures tend to begin helping with your pet's symptoms more quickly than capsules or edibles.  

The great feature of tinctures is that they can also be added right to your pet's food, like bacon flavor CBD, if you'd prefer a more gradual absorption, with effects that can last longer. 

Tinctures also provide more flexibility in adjusting your pet's dose, since they come with a dropper that's typically labeled with milliliter (mL) increments.

CBD Premium Capsules

With capsules, pets can't taste the oil or feel its texture on their tongues, so some tolerate this CBD option better. Capsules do have to go through what's known as "first-pass metabolism" when swallowed, which decreases absorption rates of medicinal therapies such as CBD. Because of this, your pet may benefit from a higher than normal dose when taking capsules.

One of the major benefits of CBD premium capsules is the pre-measured dosing and convenient packaging, which means you can take them with you on the go – to the dog park, pet daycare, or even to fun-filled "play" dates.

CBD Pet Wellness Edibles

Just like CBD premium capsules, pet edibles such as treats and snacks have lower absorption rates than tinctures that are given orally, but also more gradual effects that can last longer. And similar to flavored tinctures, some pets appreciate the tasty flavors!

How Much Hemp Extract Oil for Pets does a Dog Need Daily?

Whenever you begin giving your pet any natural remedy, you should start small, and increase the dose gradually. The amount of CBD oil you give your dog, cbd for cats,  or other pet will typically depend on five main factors:

• The condition you're treating

• The concentration of CBD in the product

• The size of your pet

• How well your pet responds to the initial (smaller) dose

• How active your pet is

Research shows that with some conditions, such as arthritis, pets respond better to higher serving size of CBD oil while other conditions may require lesser amounts. It's recommended to consult your veterinarian before giving hemp extract for pets and check out the serving size guidelines below.

 

Serving Size: How Much Should I Give My Dog?

Generally speaking, it's recommended (8) to give your pet 0.2-.25 mg of CBD for every pound they weigh. You can start once a day, and increase dosing to twice a day if it's well-tolerated and recommended by your vet.
Remember that CBD wellness pet tincture generally have better absorbency rates than CBD capsules and edibles, so you can adjust the dose accordingly.

 

Calculating Your Dose

First, calculate the milligrams (mg) that you'll need to give your pet using their weight.

EXAMPLE: Your dog weighs 30lbs. Multiply 30 by 0.2 = 6mg of CBD

For tinctures, you'll then determine the amount of liquid you'll need to give them to get to 6mg of CBD. To do this, divide the total milligrams of CBD in the bottle by the total mL of the bottle. This gives you the concentration of CBD.

EXAMPLE: A 250mg CBD product that is 30 mL would have 8.33mg of CBD per mL.

Finally, CBD oil tinctures will have a measuring dropper that's divided into different mL segments. In this example, you'd give your 30-pound pet 6mg of CBD, or about three-quarters of a mL. Many CBD wellness pet tincture labels also give the recommended mL dose based on your pet's weight.

Can You Give Your Pet Too Much CBD Pet Wellness?

While some pets experience mild side effects with CBD, the ASPCA reports (9) that over ingestion of premium CBD products usually requires no special treatment.

Occasionally, if pets get a hold of products with higher amounts of THC, it may be good to have their water and electrolyte levels monitored by your vet. CBD oil may counteract certain anti-seizure or other medicines that your pet is taking, which is why consulting with your vet prior to giving the first dose is so important.

Benefits of CBD Hemp Oil for Pets:

Arthritis, Pain, and Mobility

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, in which joint cartilage starts to break down and bones rub together, causing your pet pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. It affects about 20% of dogs (10) aged one year or older. Many cats also suffer from the condition, with at least one study indicating that 90% (11) of cats aged 12 and older may have degenerative joint issues.

One recent study (12) by Baylor revealed that high doses of CBD showed positive results quickly for dogs, with increased mobility and decreased pain levels - even two weeks after stopping the therapy.

Separation Anxiety

There are several pathways (13) that CBD uses to help ease anxiety in people and pets alike, including by helping maintain healthy levels of the anandamide (14). Since this molecule is responsible for regulating the mood-boosting hormone serotonin and other endorphins, it can help reduce anxiety and keep your pets calmer, more content, and happier - even during times of separation.

Itching and Scratching

Recent research reveals that dogs prone to allergic reactions (15) have stronger CB1 and CB2 sensitivity, making treatments that target their ECS a good option. Since CBD oil helps regulate your ECS, it can be a great choice for reducing allergy symptoms. This powerful essential oil also fights inflammation (16) to assist with itching and irritation issues.

Sleep Issues

Several studies (17) have highlighted CBD's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, including by keeping cortisone levels in check to help with relaxation. In humans, medium to high doses seemed to work best for grabbing some Zs.

Appetite

PetMD states (18) that CBD's anti-inflammatory properties can help improve your pet's appetite, and it's been shown to decrease (19) nausea and vomiting in cancer patients as well.  You can simply it to their food in a delicious bacon flavor pet CBD or other flavor they enjoy.

Infections

If your pet develops strep throat or other bacterial infection, CBD oil may help when traditional antibiotics come up short. That's because the cannabinoid has been shown (20) to effectively fight antibiotic-resistant “superbugs".

Our bacon flavor pet CBD and CBD premium capsules are specially formulated with your pet's health and wellness in mind, using industry-leading quality standards, organic hemp sourced in the U.S.A., and all the amazing benefits of the highest quality CBD products to help uplift your pet's wellness scorecard.

In Conclusion

CBD oil, cannabidiol can be a very helpful natural way to create pet wellness for your dog or CBD for cats.  It can be used for various reasons and ways; from chronic ongoing issues to events like 4th of July fireworks nights or road trips.  It works on the same mechanism of the endocannabinoid systems as humans, starting with a lower serving size, increasing as needed to find the best efficacy.  We discussed various consumption methods and dosing or serving size related to size and weigh of your pet and gave a background of the type of CBD hemp oil for pets available (Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum and Isolate).  Many people have turned to hemp extract oil for pets as a natural option for helping their fury friend cope with a variety of issues.  To ensure you are getting the highest quality CBD products look for verified, tested, clean and safe product you can visit Eli Ruby learn more and purchase some hemp extract for pets like our popular bacon flavor CBD tinctures!

References

1.) Pet Food Industry “Health and Wellness Top Concerns For Pet Owners” Published: June 2021

2.) Forbes “New Report Reveals Huge Market For CBD Pet Products” Published: Feb 18, 2020. Author: Iris Dorbian

3.)  NCBI | US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health “The Endocannabinoid System of Animals” Published: September 16, 2019.  Author: Robert J. Silver

4.)  CFAH “CBD Dosage for Dogs: How Much Should I Give My Dog?” Published: July 29, 2021 Author: Nina Julia

5.) Eli Ruby “A Beginners Guide to Buying the Best CBD Oil” Published: March 9, 2021 Author: Eli Ruby

6.) Project CBD “Best Way To Take CBD” Author: Adrian Devitt-Lee

7.) NCBI US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health “A Systematic Review on the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol in Humans”  Published: November 26, 2018 Authors: Sophie A. Millar, Nicole L Stone, Andrew S. Yates and Saoirse E. O’Sullivan

8.) CFAH “CBD Dosage for Dogs: How Much Should I Give My Dog?”  Published: July 29, 2021 Author: Nina Julia

9.) ASPECA “FAQs about CBD Use in Pets”

10.) Forbes “CBD For Dogs? New Research Backs Canine Cannabis Use For Osteoarthritis”  Published: July 1. 2020 Author: Emily Earlenbaugh

11.) International Cat Care “Arthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats” Published: July 26, 2018

12.) PAIN | The journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain”  Published: September 2020  Authors: Verrico, Chris D.; Wesson, Shonda; Konduri, Vanaja; Hofferek, Colby J.; Vazquez-Perez, Jonathan; Blair, Emek; Dunner, Kenneth Jr; Salimpour, Pedram; Decker, William K.; Halpert, Matthew M. 

13.) Very Well Health “Using CBD Oil for Treating Anxiety” Published: May 7, 2020  Author: Cathy Wong

14.) Cannabis Law Report “Understanding anandamide, and how it’s influenced by CBD”

15.) NCBI National Library of Medicine “Cannabinoid receptor type 1 and 2 expression in the skin of healthy dogs and dogs with atopic dermatitis”  Published: July 2021  Authors: Luca Capora, Vincenzo Miragliotta, Emanuele Ricci, Luigia Cristino, Vincenzo Di Marzo, Francesco Albanese, Maria Federica Della Valle, Francesca Abramo.

16.) Project CBD “How CBD Works”

17.) Medical News Today “What to know about CBD and sleep”  Publsihed: June 3, 2020  Author: Jessica Caporuscio. Pharm D.

18.) Pet MD “6 Appetite Stimulants for Dogs”  Published: August 31, 2020 Author” Sarah Wooten DVM

19.) National Cancer Institute “Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version”

20.) University of Queensland “Cannabis compound could be powerful new antibiotic”  Published: June 24, 2019