How to Properly Give CBD Oil to Your Dog
Cannabis has come a long way.
Fifty years ago, the thought of administering any part of the cannabis plant to your dog would imply you two were heading to Woodstock together.
But these days, cannabis — specifically CBD — has garnered attention for being very beneficial to dogs.
Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is an organic compound that stems from the cannabis plant. Perhaps because they are both acronyms from the same plant, CBD and THC often get confused with one another. THC is the component of the cannabis plant that is the primary factor in giving off intoxicating and psychoactive effects.
Unlike its psychedelic counterpart, CBD does not trigger any psychoactive effects and is therefore not only safe for dogs, but it has been proven to have a slew of health benefits.
Like humans, dogs have the same endocannabinoid system that is part of their nervous systems, which makes CBD a valuable go-to. One of the main benefits of CBD is the compound’s anti-inflammatory effects. Since human-grade medicines like Tylenol and Aspirin are highly toxic to canines, owners have to rely too-heavily on veterinarian-given prescriptions when it comes to helping their dog’s inflammation. Luckily, CBD has emerged in the past near-decade as a safe and all-natural alternative.
Secondarily, CBD is known to serve as a calming supplement for dogs. According to The Canadian Veterinary Journal, CBD seems to be “equally or more effective than conventional medications” for treating a dog’s anxiety, restlessness, and stress.
What’s equally encouraging is that because cannabis is an all-natural compound that stems from the ground with zero synthetics or chemicals added, no amount of CBD is too much for dogs. Now, while you’re going to want to monitor your dog’s dosage, if they accidentally ingest too much, it won’t be fatal.
When it comes to dosage, however, it’s important to understand that there is no universal dose. CBD oil dosage differs based on a dog’s weight, diet, and exercise. The general rule of thumb is 1 to 3 milligrams of CBD per 10 pounds of a dog’s weight. For example, a 30-pound pooch can start off with 3 mg of CBD oil and scale up to 9 mg, if needed.
The larger your dog is, the more CBD it can handle, but with so many more factors at play it’s best to review this comprehensive guide from CBD Oil for Dogs.
Understanding CBD’s effects and benefits are one thing but getting your dog to eat it is another aspect entirely. Here are a few ways to properly and effectively administer CBD into your dog’s diet.
Direct to Mouth
While CBD comes in a variety of forms, CBD oil is the most common and easiest to deal with when it comes to administering it to dogs. Traditionally, CBD oil comes in tinctures. Once you draw the correct dosage, carefully move your dog’s tongue to the side, and squirt the recommended dosage directly into your dog’s mouth. You’ll want to ensure to avoid making your dog gag as feelings of discomfort won’t likely mean your dog will enjoy the experience. A bad experience means your dog won’t be prone to wanting another squirt in the future.
Using the dropper, slowly squeeze the recommended amount directly into your dog’s mouth. Have a dog treat on hand and offer it immediately squirting to ensure that all of the concentrates were swallowed and so your dog associates a treat with the feeling of having something squirted into its mouth.
Canna-Bonez, a Lowcountry based company, has a variety of oils from full spectrum to bacon flavored oils. Click the image to visit their on-line shop
Mix the CBD Oil with Food
If there’s one thing that all dogs can agree upon, it’s mealtime.
If using a dropper to squirt oil directly into your dog’s mouth makes either one of you uncomfortable, mixing the CBD oil into your dog’s wet or dry food might be your best option.
It’s also a great way to ensure that your dog ingests all of the CBD content.
Dry foods tend to be better at masking the texture and taste of the CBD oil but wet foods are easier to mix both contents together.
Because dogs are creatures of habit, they could notice that something is askew with their regular mealtime. With that said, you’re going to want to make sure that the food looks as normal as possible. We’d recommend starting off with a smaller dosage to slowly build up both your mixing skills and your dog’s perception. Keep in mind, a dog’s sense of smell is fantastic and it can easily notice if something differs from its usual routine so you’ll want to be sneaky.
Take note that CBD oil takes a few minutes to thoroughly soak into another compound so let your dog’s meal rest for about five minutes before you serve.
Once both dogs and owners start to feel comfortable mixing the food and CBD oil together, you can gradually increase the dosage.
Fuse the CBD Oil with a Treat
Depending on your dog’s diet, some type of foods might prove to be more difficult to mix with CBD. Some types of dog food contain different molecules and the organic makeup of CBD might not blend properly with your dog’s food molecules.
With that said, the oil can easily be mixed with doggy treats for simple and quick ingestion. Because they’re both oils, CBD and peanut butter are a popular duo.
Canna-Bonez now offers CBD infused Peanut Butter, click image to see more products.
You’re best off choosing an organic peanut butter since various mainstream spreads have chemicals and sweeteners that might upset your dog’s stomach.
Once you’ve chosen a good — albeit probably expensive — organic peanut butter, stir the two mixes together in a bowl and spoon it to your dog. Because treats are obviously more appealing, your dog might be more prone to scarfing down a treat versus a meal, especially if it knows the dish had been tampered with.
You can also consider mixing the CBD oil with sweet potatoes and berries for a tasty CBD-infused treat.
Dilute with water
Besides administering CBD oil in food, you can also opt to mix the compound into your dog’s water. Since CBD oil is odorless and mostly tasteless, you can add the recommended dosage into your dog’s water without them even knowing. As always, ensure it’s the correct dosage.
Homemade treats
If you’re really feeling keen, making your own CBD-infused homemade dog treats might be the best way to get your pet to ingest CBD oil. As an owner, you’re going to know what your dog likes best and can, therefore, cater a treat exactly to them to ensure they’ll eat it. Simply substitute the CBD oil for any other homemade treat that calls for regular cooking oil or butter. Treat maker hopefuls should be wary that baking CBD oil will result in evaporation of some of the compound’s concentrate, making it less effective.
Lowcountry Dog’s Chief Canine Officer Peanut’s favorite treats are the original Canna-Bonez dog treats. We haven’t told her they have peanut butter flavor cookies yet, she may think they are named after her! Click the images below to see all the treats Canna-Bonez offers.
As aforementioned, administering CBD oil into your dog’s daily routine has a learning curve and it might take both the owner and the dog a few weeks to become accustomed to the new compound. Stay diligent and always remain calm when trying to add something new to your dog’s life.
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