CBD is generating interest for animal use as well as human use, as we have written about before. There are many potential uses for dogs, among other animals, but even though humans and dogs both stand to benefit from CBD, it may pose more of a risk to the highly sensitive bodies of our canine friends.
How Do Canines Respond Differently Than Humans To Cannabinoids?
This paper goes into detail about what we do and do not know regarding animals and cannabinoids at this stage in the research. It highlights the scarcity of research on the topic, but it also states that one of the few things we do seem to know at this time is that canines appear to have a greater number of cannabinoid receptors in their brains when compared to humans. It is thought that this may lead to a greater sensitivity to cannabis toxicity in a way that humans do not experience.
This comes as no surprise, really, when we consider how some very commonplace items for humans are toxic to dogs. Most people know that dogs can’t have chocolates, but dogs are also very sensitive to things like xylitol, a common sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and dental health additive in many commercial gums, and as a sweetener in many CBD edibles.
This is just one example, but essentially if you are a pet owner you are likely already aware of how careful and conscious you have to be of what you feed your dog.
While dogs do have CB1 and CB2 receptors, the way these receptors react to cannabinoids and the way their metabolism processes them is different from humans.
What Products Should I Avoid At All Costs?
Regardless of the whether or not CBD is right for pets, or your pet in general, there are a few things that should be avoided at all costs, and simply put anything with THC in it, or anything labeled as full-spectrum CBD is harmful to dogs in even the smallest quantity, and this includes delta-8 THC.
CBD products containing any additional ingredients or sweeteners should also be avoided or checked thoroughly before consideration, and anything you do consider for your dog should be talked over with your veterinarian provider, or a veterinary authority if you do not have a regular veterinarian.
What About “Safe” CBD Products?
Even with safe CBD products for pets it’s good to keep an eye on how your pet responds to small doses first before increasing the dose. This could mean cutting edibles up into small pieces, or measuring out tiny doses of oils and extracts, as long as you keep track of the doses and how your dog responds to them.
Dogs have very sensitive metabolisms and even the safe products may cause your dog to experience side effects such as lethargy, nausea or diarrhea. While these aren’t necessarily life-threatening symptoms they are uncomfortable for your dog and may mean CBD is not right for them.
For this reason, we reiterate that it’s still best to consult your veterinary care provider before you give any CBD product to your dog so you and your veterinary care provider can keep an eye on your dog’s health.
Find Certified CBD Only Products With Real Tested CBD
While you should consult with you veterinarian before using any of these products, Real Tested CBD will give you a quality guaranteed starting point for a variety of CBD oils, edibles, and supplements. Remember to look for products that contain only CBD and no other cannabinoids or food additives. Real Tested CBD tests hundreds of CBD products at independent labs for a bias free analysis. We publish the Certificates of Analysis to all these products and you can read the latest on our website.
Most Recent Tested products
Leave a Comment