Things to know before buying CBD products for your dog

It is one of the two most potent chemical substances in the marijuana plant besides THC. CBD directly impacts the endocannabinoid system of a body, which can trigger an immune system
response or other responses in the body when stimulated by CBD.

CBD can help restore equilibrium in the Endocannabinoid system. Meanwhile, CBD is unlike THC, the chemical substance in the plant that is psychoactive and gives you a high feeling.

Once you have decided that you need CBD for your dog, the ideal way to purchase CBD products would be to go online and look for the best products. However, you must conduct thorough research before choosing the products, and there are multiple factors to consider.

Here are five crucial things you should know about CBD and dogs.
1. Check the lab tests

Before considering a CBD product, you must check whether it has cleared independent lab testing. While browsing the website, you must look out for the Certificate of Analysis on the website and the label of the products.

Certificate of Analysis is issued to a brand once they clear microbial trial, heavy metals test, and pesticides test. But, if you cannot find any lab tests or COA on the brand’s website, it is a red flag. You must buy CBD products only from sources that have been through definitive lab tests and have gathered a COA.

If you are confused, you must seek advice from your fellow pet parents who have used CBD for their dogs, or you must discuss it with the veterinarian.

2. You must choose CBD products that do not contain THC

As you might know, THC is a psychoactive chemical that can induce the feeling of being high. It is a chemical compound in the plant that is highly potent, but it is used for pain management and rejuvenation for humans, and there are little to no studies done about THC on dogs. On the other hand, the benefits of CBD have been explored, and currently, researchers are working to find more plausible use-cases for the natural substance.

However, a small percentage of THC in CBD extracted from the plants is well-contained within the legal limit of 0.3 percent. However, even the slightest CBD is harmful to dogs, and you must check appropriately if the CBD products have zero THC content. Do not ever give your dogs any product that has THC content.

3. Do not use hemp oil
CBD is a substance that is in the hemp plant, and the extracted compound is bent with fish oil for proper ingestion. The fish oil serves as a carrier for your CBD oil. On the other hand, some brands might sell you hemp oil that contains no CBD. Hemp oil does not have any health benefits for your dogs, unlike CBD. As long as the hemp oil contains some content of CBD, it will be beneficial for your dog’s health.

4. Read up on the spectrum of CBD
CBD is a complex substance. There are multiple spectrums that it comes in. But, for your dogs, you must only choose the CBD product that is a broad-spectrum CBD. It is the primary form of cannabidiol, rich with all the naturally occurring compounds derived from the plant, without any THC concentration.

5. Consider the dosage
The dosage you must administer to your dog depends on the pet’s weight. For instance, you can give up to 0.20ml of CBD oil to large dog breeds only if they weigh above 50lbs. You must seek consultation from the veterinarian to determine the adequate amount of dose for the dog.

• Pain
  While CBD is not a cure for severe illnesses, it is an excellent substance for managing pain. As your dog is going through pain, it will hamper their ability to perform their daily activities. CBD can help dogs alleviate the distress caused by inflammation, anxiety, post-surgery symptoms, migraines, and other such things. In the long run, CBD can be an alternative to opioid-concentrated medicines.
• Seizures
  Many conditions can trigger seizures. While CBD is not a sure shot treatment for seizures, it is somewhat beneficial in reducing the frequency of attacks.
• Anxiety
  Dogs are very emotional creatures, and they do not leave a chance to express their emotions. Anxiety in dogs can be triggered to respond to their external behaviors or situations. Moreover, whenever you adopt a dog from the shelter, there are high chances of them being abused or neglected in the past, which can induce anxiety. The symptoms in dogs present themselves in excessive barking, loss of appetite, loss of interest, aggression, whimpering, and other odd behaviors. While CBD is not a psychoactive substance, it helps your dogs feel calmer and relaxed, and it will not make your dog tired but relatively calmer.

The most common type of CBD you can buy for your dog is oil. If you have been wondering how to give CBD to your dogs, you will be happy to know that there are multiple ways to administer it.

• Apply it inside your dog’s mouth
  While CBD oil is a wonderful thing, dogs do not like to try out medications directly. However, if your dog tolerates it, you must put a few drops of the oil directly into their mouth. If they take it without creating any fuss, you must reinforce the behavior by giving them treats afterward.
• Put it on their treats
  Dogs love to eat their treats, and you can infuse these treats with CBD oil as well. All you have to do is put the dosage of the CBD oil over the treats and once the oil has been soaked, give the treats to them.

If you have a smaller dog who requires smaller dosages, this is the best way to administer CBD. Often, the older dogs are not big fans of the usual dog treats. So, you can also mix the CBD with peanut butter or yogurt.
As long as these products are organic, you can infuse CBD in them and give them to your dog.

• Put it in their food
  It is an effective way to administer CBD to your dog when giving them a higher dosage. You can simply add the required dosage directly into their food. Ensure you mix the food afterward so that the taste of CBD gets infused uniformly.

Best kinds of CBD products you can buy

• CBD oil
  They are the most common CBD products for dogs, These oils come in different sizes and even different strains wherein each strain solve another purpose. For instance, you can buy CBD oil to induce appetite or pain relief.
• CBD Dog Treats
  As the name suggests, these treats are made from CBD, so you do not have to infuse normal treats with CBD. You can buy these treats from various websites. Like CBD oil, different types of CBD treats solve different purposes. For instance, if your dog is suffering from joint pain, you can buy a CBD treat to treat joint pain only.
• CBD salve
  CBD salve or ointment is only meant for topical application, and they are the most effective form of CBD when it comes to treating any skin-related problems. For instance, if your dog has rashes, you can simply apply a CBD salve topically over the rashes to relieve the irritation and treat the inflammation.

So, if you are planning to give your dog CBD, carefully research and choose the correct product, consult with the veterinarian, and ensure you give them the correct dosage.