Is CBD Good for Dogs? What We Tell Our Clients
CBD products for humans have been all the rage in recent years. It seems that you can’t go into any kind of store without seeing at least one or two items that are promoting the benefits of CBD.
Naturally, that trend has extended to dogs. Pet stores now have a similar growing supply of CBD items to consider, and you might have even tried one or two of them out already. But are they useful for your pet? And are they safe? We’ll take a closer look at those important questions on this page.
If your dog is struggling with mobility or trying to recover from an injury or surgery, CBD products alone aren’t going to make a meaningful difference. For that, proper canine rehabilitation therapy is what’s required. Place a call today to the Austin Canine Rehab team, or drop us a line through our site, and let’s discuss how we can get your dog back to full speed as soon as possible.
What is CBD and How Does It Work in Dogs?
First, let’s back up for a minute to make sure you are clear on what CBD is and what it is not. The abbreviation CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a compound found in the hemp plant. While THC – or tetrahydrocannabinol – is also found in the hemp plant, these two are not the same thing. THC is capable of producing a high, but CBD is non-psychoactive and will not generate that high.
Instead, CBD interacts with receptors in the body that help to regulate things like mood, pain, and inflammation. This is true in humans and in dogs, as well. So, the goal when giving a dog CBD products is to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. Research is far from conclusive on the effectiveness of CBD, however, so you shouldn’t expect this to be any kind of a cure-all solution.
Why Dog Owners Are Turning to CBD
As mentioned earlier, you have probably seen plenty of CBD products available in your local pet store. You might even know some other pet owners who have given these products to their dogs. So, why are so many people trying this approach? The following points highlight some of the potential CBD benefits for dogs.
Dealing with arthritis and joint pain
Addressing general nervousness or separation anxiety
Calming chronic pain or inflammation
Often, it is simply the choice of a pet owner to give their dog CBD in various forms, rather than the direction coming from a vet. These products are easy to get from a number of stores and suppliers, and they come with plenty of impressive marketing claims.
What We Recommend as Canine Rehab Specialists
We are not in the CBD business at Austin Canine Rehab. Our focus is on helping dogs achieve long-term recovery through the development of improved mobility and functional strength. With that said, we do get a lot of questions about CBD products, so it’s important for us to share our input with clients.
If a dog is dealing with pain or inflammation as part of the rehab process, we have seen the use of a quality CBD product provide some benefit. At a recent veterinary rehab conference, the brand ElleVet (vet formulated product) was recommended, so that’s an option to explore. Also, a recommended dosage of 2 mg/kg was provided as a general guideline.
We always encourage our clients to work directly with their vet on the decision to provide their dog with CBD products. Your vet will be able to provide insight into what benefits might be available, or what alternatives might be a better choice for what you hope to achieve.
Why Quality and Dosing Matter
It is critical that you purchase quality CBD products and get the dosing right if you are going to get the desired results for your dog. Low-quality products in the CBD niche may contain no CBD at all. Or, even worse, they could be created with filler ingredients that might actually be harmful to your pet.
This is why working with your vet makes so much sense. You can get input into the products you should purchase, and you can get a specific dosage to use with your dog. Underdosing will result in no benefits being achieved, while overdosing can cause some unwanted side effects like diarrhea. Basically, if you are going to get into the CBD world, be sure to do it right with a quality product and the right dose.
CBD Can Be Support, Not a Standalone Solution
So, is CBD good for dogs? The choice of whether or not to use CBD products for your dog is a personal decision. There isn’t necessarily strong evidence that they are particularly helpful, but you can decide if you feel there is a useful application of one of these products that can help your pet.
To learn more about how canine rehabilitation therapy can help your dog deal with the issues that he or she may be facing, please take a moment today to connect with us at Austin Canine Rehab. We’ll be happy to take the time to get to know you and your pet so we can craft a treatment plan that serves your dog perfectly. We are excited to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
-
When used properly, it is generally believed that CBD is safe for use in dogs. Not all dogs will respond the same way, however, so it’s always important to remain in communication with your vet and stop the use of any products that seem to be causing unexpected side effects.
-
There is no one right dosage of CBD for dogs, as each situation is different based on a dog’s needs, size, breed, etc. Discuss any questions with your vet directly to get an informed answer to this question.
-
No – we do not provide or sell CBD. Our focus is on offering the best possible rehabilitation therapy services to our clients.
-
There is no reason to believe that CBD will help your dog recover faster, although it could potentially help your pet remain more comfortable and relaxed. To build the kind of strength and coordination that supports recovery, explore a structured rehab program.
