With CBD products on the rise, CBD products for dogs have become more common. With the growth of these products comes questions: Are they safe for my dog? What benefits do they have? What’s the dosing like? Has there been any testing or studies?
All of these questions are valid concerns to have. We want what’s best for our pets, and CBD supplements may have benefits for our dogs that we’ve been looking for.
The makers of these supplements, and anecdotal evidence, claim that CBD may reduce anxiety in dogs, help with sleep, help with pain relief or lessen the frequency of seizures. There are also claims that it can reduce cancer growth.
The main issue with CBD supplements for dogs is that there are no regulations for them. No testing is required and the quality and amount of CBD in the product isn’t regulated. There have been studies to test its efficacy in symptom solving, but no concrete results have been found. With the legal usage of CBD and other marijuana related supplements as restricted as they are, studies and testing are difficult to do.
Many veterinarians stray away from, or won’t recommend, CBD products because of this. Without testing or evidence that the products are safe and effective, they are hesitant to refer patients to use them.
The side effects associated with CBD for dogs are diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth and lowered blood pressure.
The first thing you should do is ask your veterinarian what they recommend for your dog. The things to look for as you search for CBD products for your dog are products that have undergone lab testing, or have a Certificate of Analysis. You should also look at the concentration of CBD and its source.
Different brands of CBD supplements have different dosing recommendations, based on the differences in product strength between brands. There are also some brands that have dog or human specific products, and some that are for both humans and canines. With such variance in dosing, asking your veterinarian for assistance in determining what’s best for your dog would be advisable.
Hyaluronic acid, however, has been proven to help pets with joint pain. Check out LubriSyn HA’s products here.
