The use of CBD oil and CBD products in general for animals is fairly recent. While more and more studies tend to confirm the health benefits and effects of CBD on humans, there are still few official studies on the effects of CBD hemp oil on animals. Feedback is mainly based on observations by vets and pet owners.
To date, there are more studies on the effects of CBD on dogs than on any other pets. They recently got summarised for a report issued by Health Canada. We will therefore base this article on the Health Canada study in order to provide you with all the information currently available if you are planning to use CBD for your dog. However, we would still strongly recommend you please consult a vet before giving a CBD product like CBD oil to your dog.
Best CBD Oil for Dogs: Is it Safe for Dogs?
Health Canada agrees that CBD oil is safe for dogs. However, the study recommends to buy CBD oil with as few additives as possible and choosing unflavoured over flavoured CBD oils for dogs [1].
Dosage of CBD for Dogs
The maximum quantity of CBD oil to be administered varies according to each animal. What needs to be taken into account is its weight, age and often veterinary advice relating to its state of health. The Health Canada study currently recommends giving very low doses of CBD, between 0.2 and 2 mg/kg, orally twice a day [1].
How to Give your Dog CBD
Ideally, you can give CBD oil products directly to your dog by placing a few drops directly into the dog's mouth for better absorption. Alternatively, you can mix the drops of CBD oil with your dog's food.
Benefits of CBD on Pain
According to the Health Canada study, the use of a CBD product like CBD oil may be effective in treating the pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. However, the use of CBD for this purpose requires a confirmed diagnosis of osteoarthritis by a veterinarian [1].
A number of observations and reports from vets and pet owners indicate that CBD can also be used to treat other chronic and acute pains. However, these claims have not been scientifically proven yet.
Can CBD oil Help my Dog with Anxiety?
More and more scientific studies are highlighting the benefits of CBD oil in combating stress [2] and improving sleep [3] in humans. As animals have an endocannabinoid system just like humans, they too could be sensitive to the effects of cannabidiol. However, research on this subject is still in its infancy.
Encouraging preliminary reports on the use of CBD oil in dogs indicate that CBD has a positive effect on behavioural problems such as nervousness and stress. It also seems like CBD oil may have a calming effect and reduce aggression [1]. These reported benefits come from observations by owners and vets that also report on the reduction of seizures in dogs. However, to date, there is no clinical or scientific evidence of a correlation between CBD and a reduction in anxiety in dogs or an improvement in aggression.
CBD Oil for Dogs and the Vet
We strongly recommend that you consult your vet before giving your dog CBD oil. As we have seen, is a lot of anecdotal evidence on the benefits of CBD oil for dogs, but there is still little scientific evidence on this point.
Find the Best CBD Oil for your Dog
To give your dog the best, we advise you to choose a top-quality CBD oil. There are many players on the market and the prices, compositions and concentrations of CBD oils vary enormously - this can sometimes make the choice difficult.
The Health Canada study points out that it is preferable to administer unflavoured CBD oil to your dog. You should also prevent your dog from ingesting THC, so choose a broad-spectrum CBD oil that does not contain THC over full-spectrum CBD oil products. We would also recommend that you choose an organic CBD oil to avoid pesticide residues.
The Harmony range of CBD oils contains quality ingredients and organically grown CBD. We incorporate broad spectrum CBD that also contains other natural components of the plant such as CBG and other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids - but absolutely no THC. Our unflavoured natural hemp CBD oil does not contain other plant essential oils, aromas or sweeteners, making it the best choice.
Depending on your dog's build, choose the concentration of CBD oil that will give you the right dosage. As a reminder, the current recommendation is to give between 0.2 and 2 mg/kg twice daily.
"The Mild" 300 mg CBD: One half dropper (0.5 ml) contains 5mg CBD
"The Strong" 1000 mg CBD: One half dropper (0.5 ml) contains 16mg CBD
"The Very Strong" 3000 mg CBD: One half dropper (0.5 ml) contains 50mg CBD
In the UK and EU, you can find our CBD oil in our online shop or in specialist outlets and select pharmacies.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you to better understand the benefits of CBD for dogs. As you can see - CBD use in dogs is becoming more and more common! However, there are still only very few scientific studies on the subject. We'll keep you updated with more information as new research becomes available.
written by
anna falk - head of product
As the Head of Product at Harmony, Dr Anna Falk leads the development of our products and provides expert tips for your wellness. With over 10 years of experience in the research and development of natural products, her work is based on rigorous scientific studies.
Anna is an award-winning, internationally published researcher with a PhD in Organic Chemistry. She applies her expertise to develop Harmony's certified products that support your overall well-being. From research to development, she ensures that our products are of the highest quality and meet the highest standards.
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[1] REVIEW OF CANNABIDIOL - Report of the Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis. — link to source
[2] Blessing EM, Steenkamp MM, Manzanares J, Marmar CR. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015 Oct;12(4):825-36. — link to source
[3] Saleska JL, Bryant C, Kolobaric A, D'Adamo CR, Colwell CS, Loewy D, Chen J, Pauli EK. The Safety and Comparative Effectiveness of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Formulations for the Improvement of Sleep: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2023 May 10:1-11. — link to source
