Dogs are quite important animals. They are loyal companions, useful, and friendly. They are also versatile and can be used in many capacities such as for security, work, as guides and helpers especially for handicapped people or even as exercise buddies. You can learn more about how helpful these creatures are to humans here. Because of all these, they are dear to humans and pet owners do all they can to ensure their wellbeing.
The Use of CBD
Cannabidiol is a drug that can be used to treat various ailments that can plague dogs. It is a compound gotten from the cannabis plant, hemp, along with other substances such as flavonoids, terpenes, omega fatty acids, essential oils, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Note that hemp that is legally consumable by humans and animals will contain little or no traces of THC which is the substance that gives hemp its psychoactive effect that causes the user to get high. In fact, the legally allowable limit in the United States is 0.03%.
CBD can be made into products such as CBD oil, chews, treats, pills, and capsules for dogs and this also determines how it is absorbed into the body of your pet. The most popular and effective way of using it is via the oil which can be administered through tinctures that you drop into your pet’s mouth.
Cannabidiol has numerous benefits for your pet as it can be used to treat both minor and severe ailments. Some common ailments it can be used for include:
- Anxiety and stress
- Pain and inflammation
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Allergies
- Insomnia
CBD can also be used to treat more severe dog ailments such as:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Canine distemper
- Rabies
- Leptospirosis, etc.
What Dosage is Right for Your Pet?
When it comes to administering cannabidiol, there is no specific dosage to give to your dog but manufacturers and retailers usually provide guidelines for its use.This is usually based on factors such as your pet’s weight, age, and the ailment that you want to treat.
This is some way is because it is a medication that is relatively recently available because it was previously illegal to use before now and it is still a subject of many on-going studies. Another factor is that there are lots of cannabidiol products available and you cannot use a blanket dosage for every product.
There are CBD charts and calculators that you can use to determine the amount of cannabidiol that you should give to your canine. Charts are tables that show the quantity of cannabidiol that you should use for your pet based on the CBD product that you are administering, the ailment to be treated, and the age as well as the weight of your canine.
There are different CBD products that can be administered to your dog. CBD oil comes in tincture bottles of varying size and whatever size of the product you buy should be in relation to your dog’s weight, age, and size.
While small pets under 20 lbs. will use a 150mg of CBD oil, medium-sized ones of between 20 to 60 lbs. will require 300mg while those over 60 lbs. will use a product size of 600mg. Note that the sizing here refers more to the cannabidiol content than the actual physical size.
Different dosage charts exist for different products and their sizes. This means that the dosing chart for a 150mg tincture bottle differs from that of 300mg and this also differs from a 600mg product. You can see this article https://www.holistapet.com/cbd-dosing-chart-for-pets/ for different charts based on product sizes.
You can also use capsules and pills but these are straight forward as manufacturers already let you know the number of pills or capsules to use based on your pet’s size. For treats, a 150mg pack of these are mostly used for pets.
What all these do is it to help you know appropriate quantities to administer to your dog instead of overdosing or giving an ineffective dose.
Can Your Dog Overdose on CBD?
There are no actual reports about overdosing on cannabidiol but it is always a good thing to use any medication moderately. You should also ensure that you only buy high-quality CBD product to avoid harming your pet.Seek out reputable sources and retailers and buy from them so you can be sure your dog is fully covered.
It is not common to experience side effects when you use cannabidiol for your dog except if probably you are using a poor-quality product. In some cases, when using it for the first time, you may notice symptoms such as:
- Restlessness
- Dry mouth
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Lethargy and so on
If you experience any of these, it is probably an indication that your canine is getting used to the medication and these symptoms should wear off in a few days. If they do persist, you should stop its use and consult your vet immediately.
Conclusion
Knowing the right dosage to administer to your dog per time is crucial to getting the right results. You do not want to administer doses that are ineffectual as this will make using it futile. Conversely, you do not want to use more than you have to.
We have in this article provided you with simple information that will help you find that right balance that will ensure that your pet gets the right dose of this highly beneficial medication at all times.
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