The short answer is: “No.”

The long answer is: “It’s slightly complicated.”

So let’s get you the long answer: Is cannabis safe for dogs? Here’s what you need to know.

Cannabis is a plant with potentially high levels of the high-inducing chemical THC. Some cannabis plants are low in THC and often high in other cannabinoids, like CBD. We generally call that second type of cannabis “hemp.” 

But it’s all the same plant.

Generally speaking, most Americans likely don’t have a bunch of hemp lying around the house. Still, there’s a good chance they may have a product containing CBD derived from that low-THC cannabis plant we call “hemp.”

CBD is proven to have medical benefits for people and animals with certain seizure disorders, and many believe it is effective at combating anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and even helping with some neurological disorders.

And there is no shortage of pet-focused CBD products on store shelves or on the web. Products with CBD derived from this cannabis type are generally safe when you administer them as a veterinarian or the package labeling directs. 

What Americans are more likely to have lying around the house is a bag of high-inducing cannabis. It might be in flower (plant) form or could be in edible forms, like gummies, chocolates, or cookies.

Every dog owner knows pets could easily woof down any of those things—and that’s where we could get into some serious trouble.

While no human death has ever been attributed to a cannabis overdose, fatalities, and severe sicknesses are attributed to cannabis in pets. 

They call it “marijuana toxicity.”

In a 2019 news article, NPR says that a Colorado study “found that two dogs who had ingested chocolate baked goods made with marijuana-infused butter had died.”

Of course, chocolate is toxic to dogs—and so is butter. So the exact cause of death was uncertain. None of the vets NPR interviewed said they had seen any animal die because of marijuana exposure.

VCA Animal Hospitals—a national chain of veterinarians—is more succinct: “Deaths have been noted after ingestion of foods containing highly concentrated cannabis such as medical-grade THC.”

Fatalities were unusual, VCA notes, until the medical cannabis market began producing high-dose products.

Veterinarian John de Jong, now president of the World Veterinary Association, told NPR that states with legal cannabis are seeing more incidents of marijuana toxicity. At the same time, the story mentions that calls to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center have jumped 7X over the previous year. In 2019, only 10 states legalized adult-use cannabis. Today, the number is at 19 and growing.

What does marijuana toxicity look like in a dog?

VCA says that “many of the signs of intoxication are neurological.” Keep an eye out for wobbly, uncoordinated pets. At the same time, your dog may become hyperactive or disoriented with dilated pupils, “giving them a wild-eyed appearance,” according to VCA. Keep an eye out for excessive droop, vomit, and incontinence.

“In severe cases, tremors, seizures and coma can result,” VCA warns.

Dogs could also pass out and choke on their own vomit.

What should I do if my dog got into my stash?

Go to the vet immediately. If it’s a holiday or weekend, max out that credit card if you have to and find emergency vet services.

What does treatment look like?

“When a toxin enters the body, often the first line of defense is to get it out,” according to VCA. Essentially, the first step is inducing vomiting. However, if your dog is already showing signs of marijuana toxicity, odds are the THC has already been absorbed and puking isn’t gonna help. 

Stomach pumping may happen, and vets may administer activated charcoal regularly to neutralize the THC, according to VCA.

Otherwise, it’s all about harm reduction and seeing the dog through what might be a really bad trip: Vets may administer anti-anxiety medications or IV fluids and pay careful attention to the pet’s breathing, body temperature, and heart rate, according to the VCA.

What’s the bottom line?

Unless it’s a CBD product developed specifically for dogs, keep all your cannabis away from it (and any other pets). Be a responsible pet parent, and don’t get your dog high. It also could save you more than $1,000.

By Rebecca Victoria Olmos | TheCannifornian.com Correspondent

Just like humans, our pets have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). In both humans and animals, this biological system is comprised of enzymes, receptors, and endocannabinoids. The ECS helps regulate various functions, including sleep, appetite, and pain sensation. It also responds to the cannabinoids consumed through the cannabis plant. 

The significant difference between humans and animals is that THC, by itself or in high doses, is toxic to them. While it may not be lethal, it can be harmful. Our furry friends respond much better to CBD. CBD can help pets with a variety of issues including, separation anxiety, arthritis, skin disorders, pain, and behavior issues, according to Dr. Patrick Mahaney, VMD, CVA, CVJ.

Suppose you’re considering giving your pet cannabis for any health issue. In that case, it’s best to start this journey by talking to your vet, especially if there are any other conditions or medications involved. Californian veterinarians cannot prescribe cannabis, but beginning in 2019, they are permitted to discuss cannabis with their patients. 

Once you feel comfortable giving your animal companion a little cannabis, you can head to the store. You can purchase pet-friendly hemp-derived CBD products at pet shops and cannabis-derived varieties at dispensaries. They come in the form of treats, tinctures/drops, and topicals. 

The plethora of brands, ratios, and dosages in which you can find these products can make it hard to figure out the right choice. Wherever you choose to make your purchase, make sure the product’s company is reputable and has the lowest concentration of THC possible. Most brands will have a dosage chart based on the animal’s weight.

And just like humans, it’s best to start low and go slow. Start with one dosage, one treat, or a small layer of topical. Then you can increase based on you and your pal’s level of comfortability. 

Whether it’s relieving anxiety and depression or providing a better alternative to melatonin to combat insomnia, there’s no shortage of the physical and mental benefits provided by CBD. However, understanding the difference of CBD verses CBD with THC is something you should know.

As you’re perusing CBD products online or in brick and mortar stores, you may notice that some items contain various amounts of THC. Should you consider these options, and what are the pros and cons?

Let’s get down to brass tacks to give you an understanding of standalone CBD products versus CBD with THC options.

CBD: What You Need to Know

If you’re new to the world of cannabidiol, let’s quickly clear up some misconceptions. Unlike its THC counterpart, CBD is not a psychoactive agent providing a “high” sensation. It’s extracted from cannabis plants, often diluted with coconut or hemp seed oil, and can provide relief for everything from muscle soreness to cancer medication side effects.

Your dog can even take it.

In a nutshell, CBD “supports the natural neurotransmitter in our bodies. CBD binds to a receptor that triggers serotonin release leading to a reduction in stress and anxiousness, which balances moods.”

CBD is legal in the United States, so it’s perfectly kosher to have it shipped to your doorstep or purchased at major retailers like Whole Foods. You can even travel with it domestically.

The benefits of cannabidiol can’t be overstated, but what about CBD items possessing THC as well?

CBD with THC: What You Need to Know

CBD products with THC should be treated differently than CBD-only items.

Depending on how much THC is in each product, you could find yourself relatively “high,” euphoric, or sleepy, making the CBD-THC combo ideal for falling asleep or back to sleep.

It can also be an excellent way to unwind at the end of the day, similar to a glass of red wine (but without the unwanted calories and red teeth).

CBD with THC can also provide a one-two punch considering research has shown they both help with anxiety, nausea, and various types of pain and discomfort.

There are a few issues to keep in mind if you decide THC with CBD is right for you. Cannabinoids store in your body fat so that the THC can show up on potential drug tests, which could cost you your job depending on your state’s laws.   

You’ll also want to adhere to the cannabis maxim of “You can always have more, but you can never have less.” That is to say, start with a minimal amount versus eating a 50-milligram chocolate bar right out of the gate. Not sure how many milligrams to begin with? Consult your doctor, and dispensaries always have experts to assist you online, over the phone, and in the store.

Most importantly, it’s critical to check your state laws regarding THC products of any amount because what’s perfectly legal in one state could be highly illegal in another.

Dogs tend to become a part of the family quickly. We are very connected to our furry friends, and we tend to notice everything that happens to them.

Most dog owners are always on the lookout for tips to keep their pets healthy and in a good mood. CBD is the latest thing in dog food supplementation and many are still unsure when and why to add this to their dog’s diet.

We’re going to discuss the benefits, potential side effects, and right dosage of CBD for your dog so you can use it safely and without worry. To see an example of a specialized dog CBD product, click here.

For another interesting article on this topic Click Here

Since dogs have, more or less, the same endocannabinoid system as humans, they can reap the same benefits as us. Here are the conditions that CBD may help dogs overcome or at least keep under control.

1. Pain relief – One of the primary uses of CBD in humans and dogs is to assist with managing chronic pain. This is especially true when talking about neuropathic pain. If your dog has a condition he/she deals with daily, CBD use should be a serious consideration.
2. Anti-Anxiety – Dogs can develop anxiety due to multiple reasons. For example, they may have survived abuse or were abandoned, so they develop separation anxiety. If you notice your dog experiencing excessive fear and anxiety CBD can help manage that.
3. Seizures and spasms – CBD is a natural anticonvulsant, and as such, it can be suitable for treatment and prevention of spasms, tics, seizures, and tremors of various sorts.
4. Improved appetite – This is a commonly discussed benefit of CBD use. Keep in mind, if your dog gets its appetite back and starts getting overweight, you should stop using CBD as they no longer need it.
5. Insomnia – Sleeplessness is a dreadful condition making dogs lose focus, unable to hold their temper, making them irritable, etc. CBD is often used to improve sleep and can help with long-term sleep regulation.
6. Skin conditions – Due to the connection between the endocannabinoid system and skin regulation, CBD can help with rashes, scar healing, etc.

There are numerous other possible benefits, but we wanted to show you the most widespread reasons animal lovers consider using CBD with their dogs. Let’s see what some of the potential downsides of CBD use are.

The most well known side-effect of using CBD to treat dogs is possible sleepiness (which is the desired effect in some cases).

Keep in mind that cannabis is not typically considered safe for your dog, and the reason is that it contains THC. However, a dog targeted CBD hemp oil does not have dangerous THC levels, even though some human variants might. In a lot of cases, people give their dogs CBD oil intended for human use, and the THC levels are not always appropriate for animal use, so keep in mind that they can’t always be used interchangeably.

The reason why people tend to do this is that dog CBD products tend to be more expensive, but in most cases, the money isn’t worth the hustle of worrying if you did everything right.

This is where it gets a bit tricky.

The right dosage for your dog will depend on two things:

1. Your dog’s weight;
2. The strength of the formula you are giving them;

The math you should be doing when calculating for your dog’s weight is this: 0.2mg of CBD per pound.

Most CBD products have a specific formula strength, and it is usually displayed on the label. This shows how many mg of CBD the liquid contains per ml. For example, a 75 mg formula usually contains 2.5 mg of CBD per ml. However, there can be other variations of formula strength and these should be considered before actually giving any CBD product to your dog.

This means that a dog that weighing 25 pounds, using a 75 mg formula should get 2 ml of CBD to hit that 5 mg sweet spot intended for its weight.

The general advice is to start with a dosage smaller than the proposed dosage and take it from there. Sometimes you won’t even need to max out the suggested dosage to get the benefits you are after. This is especially true if you are giving your dog CBD just for the general benefits.

For more information on how to better understand dosage Click Here

We hope we managed to make the use of CBD for dogs a bit less of a mystery. Of course, before you give your dog CBD, you should consult a vet and see if your dog can manage the therapy.

The CBD products intended for dogs make things quite a bit easier as the treats and oils come with dosage instructions and don’t contain anything that may harm your dog. Good luck!

The usage of CBD is growing nowadays. Lots of people are using CBD just to get relief from all kinds of anxiety due to an increase in depression. In modern times, even animals are taking the CBD isolate, capsules or oil. The CBD is mainly given by the owners to their pets just to provide them some relief from the anxiety. There are lots of dogs and cats who are taking the non-toxic CBD.

CBD has really become one of the hottest consumer products. In a survey, it has shown that customer purchases for Cannabis products for themselves or for their pets have increased since the Cannabis chemical company received its license. CBD is being added to lots of things just for pets. This includes tea, body lotion and even meatballs.

It has also been noted that Americans have spent $33 billion on pet foods that are made of CBD. In the year 2018, the purchasing of CBD pet products has been increased to $32 million but in 2017, it was just $2 million.

Why CBD should be used by pets?

The owners are just giving CBD to reduce the seizures in their pets. In a study, it has been shown that the usage of the CBD has reduced the seizure in dogs who are suffering from epilepsy and provide relief to dogs who have osteoarthritis. The Department of the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of product for human or pets use. It is against giving CBD to pets. The FDA said that there may be some harmful effects if you are giving CBD to your dogs or cats.

What are the diseases that can be cured by using CBD?

Anxiety

Seizure

Epilepsy

Osteoarthritis