What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Pets?

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of CBD oil for pets? For pet owners, cats and dogs aren’t just their pets. They’re an invaluable part of the family. And as such, they want to give their furry little pals the best care they can provide.

As a fur parent, you’ve probably heard about other cat and dog owners giving their beloved canines CBD products, including CBD oil for dogs.

Now, let us discuss the potential benefits of CBD oils for our animal friends.

What Is CBD?

To fully understand the potential benefits of CBD oils, it is necessary to learn a few things about CBD.

So what exactly is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound that is found in marijuana and hemp plants.

Usually, CBD is extracted and sold in oil form. But besides CBD oils, CBD is also available in various forms, including vape liquids, oil-based capsules, and CBD-infused products ranging from food and drinks to cosmetic products.

CBD vs. THC

One of the major concerns some people have regarding CBD products, including CBD oils, is whether these can get them high.

The short answer is no. CBD can’t get you high, but THC can.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is another major chemical compound found in hemp and marijuana plants and is responsible for the high associated with marijuana use.

Even the World Health Organization WHO has said that the use of CBD does not lead to substance abuse or dependence.

But aside from that, most of the CBD products currently available in the market are extracted from hemp.

Is CBD legal?

Although there are still places in the world where the use and sale of marijuana, hemp, and related products are still illegal, the United States has moved in the opposite direction.

This turnaround started in 2015 with the FDA’s relaxing requirements regarding CBD research. This was followed by the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp legal.

Essentially, the Farm Bill changed the status of hemp-derived products from being a controlled substance. A controlled substance status means that possession of that substance is a criminal offense.

Full-spectrum CBD vs. CBD isolate

CBD is available in three types: CBD isolate, full-spectrum CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD.

Among the three, CBD isolate is considered the purest form of CBD. CBD isolate is usually available in crystal form and sold in powder form. Compared to the other types of CBD, CBD isolate doesn’t contain other chemical compounds derived from CBD.

On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD contains other chemical compounds, including terpenes and THC. However, the THC content of full-spectrum CBD is marginal and doesn’t cause you to feel high.

Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum CBD because it also contains other chemical compounds, including THC. The THC content of broad-spectrum CBD can range from zero to trace amounts.

According to some studies, full-spectrum CBD oil and broad-spectrum CBD oil may be better than CBD isolate because of the phenomenon known as the entourage effect.

What Is CBD Oil?

Once CBD is extracted from hemp plants, it is diluted by using oil, the most popular of which are olive and coconut oil. These oils are used to make CBD bioavailable.

The term bioavailability means the ability of the substance to be absorbed and used by the body.

How is CBD oil made?

Curious about how CBD oils are made?

Everything starts with the extraction of CBD from hemp plants. For most hemp-derived CBD products, extraction involves the use of a solvent.

Solvents are essential for separating CBD from the other compounds contained in the hemp plant.

Once the CBD is separated from the other compounds, it will then be purified into a solution. The purification process happens when the solvent evaporates, leaving pure CBD.

CBD oil extraction methods

CBD can be extracted from hemp plants through a couple of methods.

CO2 extraction

One such method is CO2 extraction. This extraction method uses equipment known as the closed-loop extractor. This equipment is also used for the extraction of essential oils.

The hemp plant is put inside a chamber filled with carbon dioxide to extract CBD. The carbon dioxide is then converted into liquid form using pressure.

Once in liquid form, CO2 can absorb hemp’s oils and flavors. To purify this liquid solution, it must go through a different chamber where the CO2 is once again converted into its gas form.

Alcohol is then added to the mixture to refine the CBD into an isolate or distillate form.

Alcohol extraction

CBD can also be extracted by using different types of alcohol, including ethanol and isopropyl.

Compared to CO2 extraction, alcohol extraction is more straightforward.

Many manufacturers prefer using ethanol alcohol because of its ability to help hemp retain its property while being processed.

However, the alcohol extraction method has a few downsides. For one, alcohol leaves residues, even after evaporation. Second, some alcohols can alter the taste of CBD oil.

Dry ice method

Extracting CBD using the dry ice method entails chopping the plant into smaller pieces before flash-freezing these with dry ice.

Once frozen, the trichomes are then placed into a mesh bag.

DIY-ers usually use this method because the results are inconsistent due to the lack of standard measurement.

Olive oil extraction

Olive oil extraction is another CBD extraction method used by home brewers.

With this method, you’ll need to chop the hemp superfine. Afterward, the plant is heated until it reaches a specific temperature.

Heating alters the chemical composition of hemp. Some say that the temperature change also makes hemp more potent and easier to work with.

After heating the hemp, olive oil is added before heating the mixture again.

Winterization

CBD oil must undergo winterization if it is extracted using high-pressure or high-temperature methods.

Winterization is a process where unnecessary plant materials like fats and waxes are removed.

In winterization, 200-proof alcohol is used to purify the crude oil. Once the alcohol is added to the crude oil, the solution is stirred to create a mixture.

After mixing, the solution is frozen overnight. Then, the solution is filtered to remove impurities.

Short path distillation

To get high-quality CBD oil, the solution needs to undergo another short-path distillation round.

Like winterization, short-path distillation entails the application of heat to the mixture until the imperfections are removed.

The result is CBD isolate.

Benefits of CBD Oil for Pets

You’ve probably heard some pet owners rave about CBD pet products like CBD oil. But how can products like hemp-derived CBD oil benefit your furry little pal?

Joint pain

Large dog breeds are genetically predisposed to succumb to joint problems like arthritis, hip dysplasia, sprains, and torn ligaments.

These joint problems can hamper your dog’s mobility and overall quality of life.

For these issues, veterinarians often prescribe pain medications. However, these medications can potentially harm your pet. Among the common side effects of these is kidney damage.

Instead of managing your pet’s joint problems with pain medications, you can try using the best CBD oil. CBD helps your pooch or cat deal with his joint issues without dealing with the potential risks associated with pain medications.

CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for managing joint and pain issues.

CBD oil works by binding with your pet’s CB1 receptors. Once the CBD is bound, it alters your pet’s pain response.

Furthermore, some studies indicate that CBD can also bind with CB2 receptors. When that happens, your pet can produce cannabinoids in his body. This can help your pet reduce his pain and inflammation symptoms.

Pain management

If your pet has been dealing with pain due to a disorder or other veterinary medicine issue, you can give him CBD oil or other CBD products for pain management.

Once CBD is bound to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your pet’s brain, he can find pain relief due to the alteration of his pain response.

But aside from pain relief management, CBD oil can also help with related issues like nausea and sleeplessness.

Allergies

If your pet has been dealing with allergies and you haven’t found a solution that truly works, you can try CBD oil for dogs.

Some breeds of dogs and cats are prone to allergies, especially skin allergies.

Dogs, in particular, can benefit from CBD oil because of the endocannabinoid system in their skins.

CBD products like CBD oil can provide relief from itchiness and other related symptoms like dry skin. Additionally, CBD oil for dogs promotes healthy skin regeneration.

Anxiety

If your dog exhibits fear, separation anxiety, or noise phobia, he might suffer from anxiety.

Like people, dogs can also suffer from anxiety and related mental conditions.

According to some studies, CBD can help manage the symptoms of anxiety without worrying about adverse side effects.

Your pet can also benefit from using CBD oil for dogs to help them better deal with the symptoms of anxiety.

Studies suggest that CBD works by regulating serotonin in pets. Serotonin is the hormone associated with moods, behavior, digestion, and more.

Seizures and epilepsy

Although seizures and epilepsy affect a small percentage of pets, it can be nerve-wracking to witness your pet suffer from an episode of either condition.

Your vet may prescribe your pet medications like phenobarbital to manage both conditions. While these medications effectively manage seizures and epilepsy, they carry considerable risks, including damage to the internal organs.

Additionally, these medications may not work for some animals.

If your pooch is suffering from either condition, you may want to consider using CBD oil. In one study conducted by researchers from Colorado State University, it was discovered that CBD could effectively reduce seizure incidents.

But aside from reducing the number of seizures in pets, CBD oils can also reduce the severity of the seizures.

Is CBD Safe for Pets?

Now that you are aware of the benefits of CBD oils for dogs, you are probably wondering if these CBD products are safe for your furry little pal.

To date, there is little research surrounding the safety and risks involved in using CBD oil for dogs.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t provided a dosing chart for CBD products. As such, it can be difficult to determine how much CBD is toxic to pets.

If you are considering the idea of giving your pet CBD oil to help manage his condition, consult first with his vet.

Although veterinarians won’t prescribe CBD products, they can provide you with helpful information about them.

And as with any medication or supplement, it is best to start with a small dose and observe your pet’s reaction.

Although there is no information regarding the side effects of CBD oil for dogs, it is possible to glean information from studies on the effects of CBD on humans.

For pets, potential side effects of CBD oil can include dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, and drowsiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for CBD oil to work on pets?

That depends on a few factors, but on average, it can take between 20 to 90 minutes for CBD oils to work on animals.

Take note that animals react differently to CBD products. Factors like your pet’s medical condition, weight, breed, and activity level can influence how soon the CBD oil will work.

The effects of CBD oils can last between four and eight hours.

Does CBD help dogs calm down?

Anxiety and other related conditions can arise due to a variety of reasons. Perhaps, you’re in between moving houses. Or maybe you adopted a pet with a traumatic background.

For short and long-term anxiety solutions, CBD products like CBD oil can be used to help your pet calm down and settle into a new routine.

But aside from using CBD products, there are a few other things that you can do to help your pet. That includes training, regular exercise, and establishing a solid routine.

How does CBD oil make a dog feel?

The effects of CBD oil vary from one pet to another. Among the most common side effects are dry mouth, lethargy, itching, and vomiting.

Help your dog counter these side effects. There are a few things that you can do to help.

First, make sure that he has plenty to drink. Next, consider giving your dog a bland diet if he has an upset stomach due to CBD.

If your pet seems to be lethargic or drowsy, let him sleep it off until the effects of CBD wear off.

Thinking of trying CBD oils for your pet? Harbor City Hemp has a discount program available for people with low income, veterans, and those with long-term medical disability benefits.

Check this page for more details.