Hemp oil for dogs is gaining popularity as a health item used in the pet industry. It has likely effects of reducing anxiety, pain relief, reduction in seizures and offers the dogs with anti-inflammatory effects.
It is impossible to ignore the beneficial effects of hemp oil in dogs but does the hemp oil work? Where to buy it and is it safe to use for dogs’ anxiety and seizures?
As the ongoing research continues regarding the use of hemp oil for dogs suffering from anxiety and seizures, the veterinarians and pet parents are finding hemp oil as the perfect natural alternative which provides positive effects to the dogs.
Whether a dog is suffering from seizures, anxiety or any other serious condition such as cancer. Hemp oil serves as the best, natural alternative medicine for treating the symptoms.
Hemp Oil
Hemp oil serves as a robust anticonvulsant agent that has been used on animals for tackling epilepsy, seizures, and anxiety.
It is a terrifying scenario while you need to watch your dog suffer a full-blown seizure. It is a helpless experience to see your dog twitching frantically over his back or his eyes peeling over.
In general, the dogs are prescribed Phenobarbital for the treatment of epileptic seizures which has severe adverse effects such as lethargy, dizziness, increased appetite, confusion, along with severe liver damage.
However, in some cases, the Phenobarbital or Potassium Bromide are ineffective for use in dogs or other animals. So, it is best to use hemp oil as the safest alternative.
Uses and benefits of hemp oil
Hemp oil is gaining attention by the veterinarians and pet owners as it has nutritional value. The oil is loaded with omega-6 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and proteins.
- Anxiety
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Appetite
- Cancer
- Fatty tumors
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Glaucoma
- Seizures
- Moreover, many others
Hemp oil for dog anxiety and seizures
According to statistics, 1-5% of the total dog population suffers from seizures. They either suffer from symptomatic or idiopathic seizures.
Symptomatic seizures occur due to lead poisoning, head trauma, metabolic health problems or encephalitis. However, idiopathic seizures, on the other hand, occur without any underlying cause.
The dog breeds which are prone to experience seizures include Collies, Border Dogs, Irish, English Springer, Wolfhounds, and many others.
Many pet owners along with the veterans have claimed that using Hemp oil for dogs helped in improving the medical condition and the symptoms experienced by the dogs.
The symptoms of seizures in dogs include:
- Excessive panting
- Drooling
- Chomping
- Tongue chewing
- Loss of consciousness
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Collapsing
- Muscle twitching
- Stiffening
- Fluttering with eyes and paddling with all the limbs
Experience shared by a user
A person took his 14-year old dog for a regular checkup to the vet. The vet thought that the dog might be suffering from arthritis and cataracts due to its age.
However, the vet was amazed to see that the dog had no such illness due to the use of hemp oil.
Hemp oil is legal in almost all the states of the US and many other countries. It is safe and comfortable to use on dogs for treating various illnesses.
How does the hemp oil work?
The hemp oil has cannabinoids which help in producing the positive effects on the dog’s body. The cannabinoids are the type of chemical compounds primarily CBD and very slight content of THC.
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive agent and might result in high feelings while CBD, on the other hand, is a non-psychoactive agent.
The hemp oil contains an extra amount of CBD and very less content of THC which makes it legal. The hemp oil is derived from the industrial hemp.
These cannabinoids work on the receptors present in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system serves as an essential physiologic system that maintains the health of an animal body as it does in the human body.
The endocannabinoids are present all over the body which includes immune cells, glands, tissues, and brains.
The endocannabinoid system maintains the homeostasis,i.e., the stable internal body environment.
The cannabinoids prevent the pro-inflammatory response of the body when an injury occurs. The endocannabinoid system has CB1 and CB2 receptors all over the body which help in the maintenance of homeostasis.
Delivery methods of hemp oil
Humans consume hemp oil in the form of smoking or ingestion. However, these two methods cannot be used by the dogs, so the only option available for dogs is the intake one.
The dogs can ingest hemp in the form of edibles such as cookies, dog biscuits or hemp oil. The method of consumption depends on the effects desired by you for the dog.
It is advised to place the hemp oil under the dog’s tongue if possible although it has sharp teeth.
It is the best option because the cannabinoids and terpenes present in the hemp oil are absorbed directly into the dog’s bloodstream as soon as it is consumed.
Some of the delivery methods used for dogs include the following:
- Edibles
The hemp edibles are either baked or cooked such as the candy-like items.
Choose the edibles which are safe for the dogs, because most of the edibles are available for humans and might contain ingredients that are not safe for dogs. Avoid buying chocolates or edibles with a sweetener such as xylitol.
- Hemp oil
It is the safest and efficient method for dosing the dog. The hemp oil allows you to measure the content precisely and administration is simple.
Some owners recommend using the hemp oil as a dressing over the foods served to the dogs.
While others prefer dosing the dogs with a small syringe and squirting the required dose into the dog’s mouth.
- Tinctures
The tinctures are the liquid extracts of the hemp plant. The liquid is hemp oil, and then flavorings and other ingredients are included in the tinctures.
Tinctures are natural to dose and can be easily administered in the same way as hemp oil.
- Topicals
The topical hemp products are the perfect choice for specific conditions. It can be used for dogs who are suffering from skin allergies.
A small amount of hemp topical aids in the prevention of scratching for at least 4-8 hours. The hemp topical is efficiently used for skin problems but not as effective as ingestion methods.
The side effects of using hemp topical are comparatively less when compared to the ingestion methods with hemp.
Where can you purchase the hemp oil for dogs?
The hemp oil can easily be purchased by the pet owners or veterinarians from:
- Online stores:
There are many online companies that offer the hemp products for dogs in the form of oils, tinctures, edibles and many others. The reputable suppliers of hemp oil for dogs include:
- Canna-Pet
- Canna4pets
- Treat Well
- Auntie Dolores Treatable
- CannaCompanion
- Mortar and brick stores
- Health food stores or any local markets
- Dispensaries
How to find the correct dosage of hemp oil for use in dogs?
The effective therapeutic dose for pets or dogs, in particular, has not worked out yet. It is advised to begin with the lowest dose of hemp oil and increase it after every five days or till the desired effects are achieved.
The dosing part is the trickiest one while using hemp oil on dogs. It all depends on your delivery method of hemp oil and how it was derived.
It is hard to gauge the dosage of hemp oil, so you need to perform the trial and error approach to achieve the best dosage for your dogs.
When you begin with dosing, start with the lowest dosage of hemp oil and increase it accordingly.
Start with 0.5- 1 mg, it is the appropriate dose to benefit the dog without any side effects. The first dosage might take 2-3 hours for the results to be felt and lasts for 7-8 hours.
If the dose of hemp oil is not enough for your dog then you might increase it so that your dog can enjoy the benefits of hemp oil.
Avoid overdosing your dog as it might lead to unpleasant effects such as excitement, disorientation, sedation, vomiting.
The dog might get spacey and wobbly or develop a symptom termed as “static ataxia” in which the dogs remain still when such adverse symptoms are experienced by the dogs so immediately stop the consumption of hemp oil.
According to different studies and research which were conducted on dogs, mentioned in the Journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, it was concluded that dogs who consumed THC in high amounts resulted in death.
If the edibles are given in proper dosage and do not contain THC, then it is beneficial for the dogs.
According to Richter, if you accurately dose your pets, then they will achieve the positive effect which you desire without any side effects.
Calculate the beginning dose of the hemp oil for dogs by measuring your pet’s weight in kg or kilograms, determine the concentration if hemp oil or hemp product which is to be used.
Now divide the dose across multiple hemp oil administration consumed the entire day. The ideal beginning dose would be 0.05 mg/kg/day and then further on.
Establish the best dosage for dogs by calculating it and follow this dosage guideline:
- Five drops of dogs which weigh up to 25 lbs.
- Ten drops of dogs which weigh between 26-50 pounds.
- 15-20 drops of hemp oil for dogs over 50 lbs.
There are very few studies and research regarding the exact dose of hemp oil in pets. However, according to an analysis conducted over rats, by the University of Utah which showed that Hemp oil offers anti-convulsant effects at 0.3-0.5 mg/kg.
It compared the use of hemp oil and pharmaceutical drugs for seizures, and it was concluded that Hemp oil is more beneficial for treating convulsions or seizures and anxiety.
Is hemp oil good for reducing seizures and anxiety in dogs?
It all depends on your decision. Purchase hemp oil from legal access and dose your dogs with the smallest amount in the beginning and visualize the dog for enjoyable effects. If the results are not felt, then you might increase it accordingly.
The industrial hemp products have a high medicinal value with no or trace content of THC along with other types of non-psychotropic cannabinoids, terpenoids, and terpenes.
Avoid using hemp products for dogs that are safe for humans because they might contain ingredients such as chocolate, macadamia nuts, and xylitol.
According to the European Journal of Epilepsy which was quoted by Jones, in which they studied the effects of hemp oil as an anticonvulsant agent where it helped in treating the seizures in animals.
The cannabinoids in the hemp oil exert an anticonvulsant effect by modulating the number of CBD receptors present in the endocannabinoid system or aids in the prevention of epileptic neuronal hyperexcitability.
Hemp oil is the best natural remedy resulting in mild side effects and is very cheap when compared to the pharmaceutical medicines available in the market.
According to Shu, the hemp oil does not damage the liver, kidney or GI tract. It does not result in high or sedated feelings.
Unlike the standard pharmaceutical medications, the hemp oil comes without any life-threatening adverse effects if used in an appropriate dosage in dogs.
So, to conclude, hemp oil is safer to use in dogs for anxiety and seizures if consumed in proper dosage due to the trace amount of THC present in it.
Conclusion
There are a variety of hemp products available in the market, but hemp oil is the safest and most effective method to use in dogs.
However, you need to perform complete research regarding the hemp products before using them on your dogs and consult the vet for appropriate use and dosage of hemp oil for reducing anxiety and seizures.