Supplementing your dog’s diet with CBD oil can improve their quality of life dramatically. Many scientists, experts and manufacturers of a wide variety of CBD-related products for dogs would agree. While growing in popularity, there is great demand for CBD oil manufactured specifically for dogs. The result? CBD dog treats.
Where did this trend come from? What are some health benefits of CBD oil? And, what is CBD anyway?
CBD dog treats entered the market on the coattails of legalized marijuana. Currently over half of the United States now have some form of legalized weed and more are in the process. The scope of this trend is staggering and nothing shy of the birth of a new industry. Faster than you can say “medible”, entrepreneurs began molding the future of this trade in products derived from the amazing plant, Cannabis Sativa.
Cannabis Sativa is the proper botanical name for this widely misunderstood plant which is correctly both “marijuana” and “hemp”. And “weed” conveniently may refer to either. The difference lies within the strain of Cannabis Sativa being grown, and more importantly, for what purpose.
“Marijuana” is slang for strains of Cannabis Sativa bred to produce high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active component that yields euphoric psychoactivity when smoked or ingested. “Hemp” refers to entirely different strains of Cannabis Sativa that are grown for more industrial uses, from textiles to dog treats.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is also derived from Cannabis Sativa (in the form of CBD oil) and there is a trend among growers to focus on strains that yield high levels of this byproduct. Why? Because the demand for CBD is now in lockstep with the demand for THC.
The value of the potential health benefits of CBD are now matching the value of THC’s promise of a euphoric “high."
And for Cannabis Sativa--a plant mostly known for partying--this is big news, if not a renaissance. Hemp was widely cultivated in the United States in the 19th Century for all of its industrial and medicinal purposes. By the 1930s, hemp was lumped-in with marijuana and became either illegal or subject to strict regulation in every state.
Thankfully, in the 21st century, we are enjoying a resurgence of respect and interest in this “weed”.
How CBD oil works in dogs
How CBD oil works in the bodies of both dogs and humans is a lesson in chemistry. Put more simply, here is the short list of conditions CBD oil has been shown to treat:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic Pain
- Nausea
- Epilepsy
- Cancer
- Sleep Disorders
- Skin Conditions
- Poor Appetite
- Poor Metabolism
- Arthritis
Given a list such as this it’s no wonder that the CBD oil trend is as big for dogs as it is for humans.
CBD oil has been undergoing clinical trials in humans for some time and recently clinical trials in dogs are happening as well. It seems that scientific, medical and veterinary professionals are taking CBD oil seriously and are working to legitimize or de-legitimize the claims that have surfaced.
Clinical trials take time (often years) to determine short-term effects. Studies on long-term effects can take decades. Meanwhile, your dog is getting older and may be suffering from one or more ailments.
While science catches up to the claims, one important takeaway from these studies is that while some mild side-effects are reported, no side effects in any of the dogs were significant enough to remove a dog from the trial. That says a lot!
CBD Dog Treats
Colorado Dog Company's CBD dog treats are designed specifically for certain conditions and combine CBD oil with other active ingredients to maximize their efficacy.
For instance, if your dog suffers from an inflammatory condition like arthritis, the addition of turmeric--another substance that has been shown to treat inflammation--can boost the effectiveness of the treat. If your dog suffers from anxiety, the addition of chamomile may enhance the already soothing CBD oil in the same way. Digestion issues can be aided with with addition of probiotics. The idea here is to support the entire body as a whole and approach good health from the perspective of common sense and progressive medicine.
CBD dog treats are a convenient way to introduce CBD oil into your dog’s diet. And since there are infinite potential benefits of CBD oil and no potential side-effects, then isn’t CBD oil for your dog worth exploring?
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information contained or made available through the ColoradoDog website is not intended to constitute or substitute for legal advice or veterinary advice.
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