Sometimes, customers have a difficult time determining whether their CBD oil is having an impact. It often takes weeks of experimentation with different dosages before people clearly understand how CBD affects them. 

If it’s tough trying to get a read on CBD for humans, then it may seem impossible to gauge the efficacy of pet-approved CBD treats. No matter how great your “dog whispering” skills are, pets don’t speak English! Pet owners often question whether their dog has had “enough” CBD pet treats to feel this cannabinoid. 

Although there’s no precise way to “know” when CBD affects a dog, there are a few clues pet owners could watch for. Keeping detailed notes in a “pet CBD journal” can help determine whether hemp extract suits your husky. 

Monitoring CBD For Dogs — Ways To Tell If CBD Pet Treats Are Working 

There’s no “standard” time when every dog absorbs CBD. Therefore, it’s impossible to say when your pup will start to feel CBD’s effects. 

Generally, pet owners should pay attention to their dogs 30 minutes after they feed them CBD. Just keep in mind that smaller dogs with a faster metabolism may feel CBD slightly sooner. By contrast, CBD may not enter an older & larger dog’s endocannabinoid system for about an hour. 

You also have to consider the type of CBD product you’re feeding your pet. If you get a pet-approved CBD tincture under your dog’s tongue, chances are higher they’ll feel CBD’s effects in a few minutes. 

Like humans, dogs have sublingual glands under their tongues that can absorb CBD into their bloodstream. On the other hand, people who feed pet-approved CBD treats or mix CBD oil into food probably won’t notice CBD’s effects as quickly as a sublingual CBD dose. 

OK, now that you know when to look for CBD’s effects, you’re probably wondering what to watch out for. This is where monitoring your CBD’s effects get a bit more subjective. You should be super familiar with your dog’s temperament and routine before giving them CBD to note any significant changes. 

For example, many people use CBD oil to help with anxiety. In these cases, you should notice the most profound difference during stressful events like nearby fireworks or thunderstorms. If you know there will be loud noises at a specific time, give your dog a dose of CBD oil at least 30 minutes before the fireworks display. During the event, you should get a good sense of whether CBD soothes your pup’s subconscious. 

People who have pets with separation anxiety or arthritis should take note of their body behavior before and after taking CBD oil. Does your dog whimper as much with CBD? Is their tail all curled up? Do they have more joie de vivre? 

Sure, these terms aren’t “technical,” but pet owners should be able to pick up a few of these differences pre and post-CBD. The more you know about your dog’s typical behaviors, the better able you’ll be able to see a “CBD contrast.” 

After giving your pup a CBD dose, you should record symptoms in a journal. By comparing these records with your dog’s standard behavior, you should get a sense of how much CBD oil it takes to have an effect. 

Are There More Precise Ways To Test CBD For Pets?

For those who crave scientific precision, you could speak with your veterinarian. While there aren’t diagnostic tests specific to CBD, vets can monitor your dog’s bone health and inflammation. In fact, this is what researchers at Cornell did as they evaluated CBD’s effect on arthritis. The scientists in this preliminary trial found that arthritic dogs who took CBD seemed to have lower inflammation versus the placebo group. 

If you’re giving CBD oil to your dog consistently, you may notice these changes in inflammation or bone density when you visit your vet. Hopefully, as CBD oil becomes more common in the pet care industry, vets will have more ways to figure out the ideal CBD dosage for each dog breed. 

Please Stick With Pet-Approved CBD For Your Doggie! 

Finally, customers should remember there’s a big difference between “regular” CBD and pet-approved CBD products. Only the latter items have been screened for secondary ingredients that could harm dogs. For instance, xylitol may be OK in human-grade CBD edibles, but it’s toxic for pets! 

Please never start using CBD pet treats until you speak with your veterinarian. Also, when shopping for “pet-approved CBD oils near me,” always insist on getting third-party lab results. Without Certificates of Analysis (COAs), there’s no way to verify the advertised claims on your hemp extracts. 

You can also look at Real Tested CBD’s picks for the best pet-approved CBD oils.