Why Pet Owners Across Canada are Choosing CBD Oil for Their Dogs

At this moment in time, it would be safe to say that the secret of CBD oil’s potential health benefits are mainstream knowledge in Canada.

This driven by a new body of scientific evidence that seems to be constantly revealing more of CBD’s seemingly endless therapeutic uses.

The market in CBD products has exploded in Canada, with companies like CBDNorth, including several options for dogs and other pets. In the beginning, if you wanted to take CBD, you used to have to take it pure, oil or isolate. You can now find CBD in almost anything and the list options keep growing.

In this post, we take a look at why an increasing number of dog owners are starting to feed their faithful friend’s CBD products. We will briefly outline what you should look for in CBD oil products for dogs.

What Is CBD?

Commonly known by its acronym CBD, cannabidiol is one of the 113 different compounds known as ‘cannabinoids’ that occur naturally in the cannabis plant.

The most famous cannabinoid other than CBD is undoubtedly THC, the compound that is responsible for the ‘high’ sensation that is enjoyed by recreational users of cannabis. However, unlike THC, CBD has no known psychoactive effects, and when taken, users will not notice any dramatic cognitive effects.

Up until very recently, CBD and most other cannabis-derived substances had been illegal under US law for decades. However, a new piece of legislation that came into effect in a couple of years ago now legalized products containing THC and CBD. As a result, it is now legal to buy, sell and consume CBD almost every state.

The Benefits of CBD for Dogs

CBD is used to treat a similar range of ailments in dogs as it is in humans. This is because it interacts with their bodies through a cell-signalling system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that is common to all mammalian species.

The discovery of the ECS in the early 1990s initially baffled scientists because it revealed that the body already produces its own cannabinoids internally.

Indeed, there are receptors located in the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and in cells that have evolved to react in a specific way when cannabinoids enter into the bloodstream. These cannabinoids are not found anywhere else in nature than in bodies of mammals and the cannabis plant.

The ECS is now understood to play a vital role in maintaining a healthy equilibrium in the bodies of mammals, including humans and dogs. Among these bodily functions are pain, inflammation, appetite, stress, reproductive function and immune function. Introducing CBD is believed to stimulate the ECS, strengthening it and helping it to regulate these functions to boost health.

How Are Dog Owners Using CBD?

Among the various canine conditions that dog owners are using CBD to treat are the following:

Anxiety

Dogs are prone to fits of anxiety in much the same way as humans are. At times of the year when people are letting off fireworks, every dog owner is familiar with the sight of their dog cowering under table whimpering and shivering as they wait for it all to be over.

Many dog owners are now preempting their dogs’ fits of anxiety and counteracting them by adding some CBD to their food.

Pain and Inflammation

Certain breeds of dogs are prone to developing arthritis and osteoporosis as they get older. After going for a swim or a long walk, Labradors and golden retrievers can often com back looking a bit rickety and obviously in pain.

In the same way that CBD is used to treat symptoms of pain and inflammation in humans, it can also be used to alleviate these symptoms in dogs.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is surprisingly common in canines. If your dog suffers from the condition, it can be heartbreaking to watch it struggle through attack after attack. Fortunately, CBD may offer a solution.

When taken in combination with THC, CBD is widely recognized for its ability to reduce the frequency of seizures among human sufferers of epilepsy. This has led to some dog owners using CBD to treat their dog’s conditions.

What to Look for In a CBD Product for Dogs

Before you give CBD to your dog, it is a good idea to ask your veterinarian whether it is a suitable treatment for the dog’s condition. If you then decide together to move forward, there are certain things that you should look out for in a good CBD product for dogs.

Transparent Lab Results – Since CBD has only recently been legalized, the regulation surrounding CBD products for humans is still pretty weak. When it comes to CBD for pets, however, government regulation is basically non-existent. As a result, you will want to make sure that any products come with a third-party lab test certificate that proves that there are no high levels of heavy metals, pesticides or things that could be harmful to your dog.

Get Organic – The health of your dog is obviously your main concern if you are prepared to invest in CBD oil for it. If you are going out of your way to get CBD for your dog, you will want to make sure that the oil is of the highest standard possible. Look for an oil that is organic and made from 100% natural ingredients.

Buy Quality CBD Oil – Price is obviously important when it comes to pets but CBD oil for dogs is reasonably priced in Canada. For best results and like anything else you buy, you should not always go for the cheapest option available. It is likely to contain fewer cannabinoids and will not be as effective as a more reputable product.

The Final Word

CBD products for dogs is a fast growing area of the CBD market in Toronto and the rest of Canada. As well as oils and tinctures, you can now find a wide range of other innovations, such as treats, chews and dog food. CBD is safe for dogs and has very few side effects, so if your dog needs sufferers from poor health, there is nothing to stop experimenting to see how your pooch reacts.

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