When to Use CBD-Based Dog Treats and Why You Should

Jake February 13, 2022

0 204 4 minutes read

Cannabidiol. Also known as CBD, is a compound that can be found in the hemp plant, a derivation of the cannabis plant that contains only 0.3% of THC, the main compound providing the plant with its psychoactive capacities.

This means that all cannabidiol-based products only contain 0.3% of THC, making it pretty much effective for most beings, and this of course also includes animals. For dogs, this is essential since dogs can get easily overwhelmed by THC.

This is the main reason why cannabidiol has become as popular as it is nowadays, since it is proclaimed as a great alternative to deal with a lot of pain-inducing physical conditions that can also affect dogs. And for pet owners, an alternative that is easy to obtain and handle is nothing but a blessing, and you can find many presentations of it, such as oils and treats!

Still, a lot of people might feel reluctant from trying out CBD, especially since its research is in its early stages and there’s much to learn about it. Despite that, cannabidiol products are often considered as a very safe alternative to more traditional medications such as pain-killers and anti-inflammatories, since it doesn’t cause as much damage to the liver.

That being said, there are some side effects still present in its use, and in this article, we will talk about how to use cannabidiol and on which occasions you might want to use. But before we get into that, let’s talk about why CBD products like the Holistapet dog treats can positively influence dogs, and why THC is considered toxic for them in comparison to CBD.

Dogs and Their Endocannabinoid System

The reason why medicinal cannabis and cannabinoid-based products can influence the body is mainly because of the endocannabinoid system, also referred to as the ECS. The endocannabinoid system can be described as a very complex system of neurotransmitters located in the body which can influence, either directly or indirectly, multiple physiological functions.

These physiological functions can be manipulated positively thanks to medicinal cannabis and CBD-based products to bring benefits to both people and animal’s health. However, the difference between CBD-products and medicinal cannabis lies in its THC content.

You see, the endocannabinoid system of animals is a lot different to the one humans have. To summarize things up, their ECS is a lot stronger and more sensitive. THC can easily overwhelm their neurotransmitters because of these reasons, mainly because THC is both psychoactive and a lot more aggressive.

This often results in a level of intoxication that can last for surprisingly a lot of time, including even weeks depending on the amount of THC consumed. On the other side of the coin, CBD is both non-psychoactive and a lot more gentle, bringing all the benefits of medicinal cannabis without this particular side effect.

The Benefits of CBD

Now, you might be wondering in which way cannabidiol can influence the ECS in order to bring positive benefits.

Well, as mentioned at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system, there’s still a lot to learn about the endocannabinoid system, thus it can be difficult to provide factual scientific reasons to believe in the benefits of CBD. However, according to research, cannabidiol has been proven to influence physiological functions and responses related to the ECS, which include:

Depth and quality of sleep
Stress levels
Anxiety and panic attacks
Appetite
Inflammatory responses
Pain generation

Thus, cannabidiol can be used for a wide range of things, most commonly being used as a form of analgesic to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, as well as a soporific to fight off sleeping disorders, and a relaxing medication to deal with anxiety, stress and panic attacks.

When it comes to dogs, oils and treats can be used for the same purposes, and they both are often recommended for beginner pet owners exploring the benefits of CBD to help their pets deal with afflictions that induce pain, inflammation, and anxiety.

How and When to Use It

The biggest complication when we talk about CBD is knowing how much to use. The biggest reason for this is the fact that CBD can cause some uncomfortable side effects if too much is administered. Some of the side effects might include things like diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. In some cases, loss of appetite might also be present.

The good news is that these side effects can be easily avoided through proper administration, which is the reason why you can usually find charts with information regarding the proper dosage for your dog based on factors like its age, weight, size, and the affliction you want to handle. The more severe the affliction, the more you should use, of course.

Nevertheless, it is often recommended to start with small dosages to help your dog get used to it, and this will help you determine what is the right dose to go for.

Now, when to use CBD is fairly situational. If your dog suffers from pain-inducing conditions, inflammatory diseases, anxiety and stress, you want it to help reduce some of its symptoms. On the other hand, there are other situations in which you might want to use it as well, as shown over here. These might include: