June 30, 2022 9 min read

Medical cannabis is an alternative option in some states for people suffering from conditions such as distress, anxiousness, seizures, and cancer.

Pet owners and vets alike are naturally curious about whether medical sciences for CBD for dogs, in the form of goods like CBD oil dogs, can provide the same advantages.

What is CBD oil? 

Medical marijuana is one of several naturally present cannabinoids found in cannabis. It is a 21-carbon terpene phenolic compound that is formed when a cannabidiolic acid precursor is decarboxylated but can also be synthesized.

CBD is medical marijuana and herbal compounds that will not get your dog high. Furthermore, CBD can be derived from hemp as well as the marijuana plant. Hemp is a marijuana variety grown as a crop.

THC vs. CBD in Dogs

CBD vs THC

CBD is one of more than 80 different chemical substances known as "cannabinoids" inferred from the marijuana plant. CBD, apart from tetrahydrocannabinol being the most well-known cannabinoid, is not highly addictive.

CBD shares key metabolic paths with NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and Rimadyl. These paths regulate a wide range of bodily functions, from inflammation responses to blood clotting.

Do not give dogs cannabis or any item comprising tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's principal psychoactive element. There is simply insufficient research to justify its medicinal use. CBD-based items, on the other hand, may boost your dog's life quality when combined with other therapies.

CBD oil has recently gained popularity. Many pet owners are discovering how CBD oil can cure their dogs with liver issues. Here we will discuss liver health and how CBD oil can help with canine liver disease.

 

The Liver Function

The skin is the first and the largest organ in a dog's body. The skin comes second.  The liver is important in metabolism because it screens out waste and toxins from meds and food products.

It is in charge of over 1500 biological systems, including:

  • Producing bile to improve digestion and fat breakup
  • Vitamin and nutritional supplements, carbs, protein, and fat are all metabolized.
  • Blood filtration
  • Amino acid regulation in the body
  • Generating proteins that are involved in blood coagulation
  • Iron storage for use in the formation of hemoglobin
  • Filtering microbes from the blood to combat infectious diseases

Liver Damage

When your dog suffers from liver disease or liver cancer, it weakens. It may struggle to carry out all or some of the biological functions. This can be harmful to the dog's health and wellbeing.

In dogs, there are various types of liver problems. For example, liver tumors can put a lot of pressure on your pup's liver and nearby organs. A bile duct blockage occurs when the tubes that transport bile from the liver to the bile duct get blocked.

Some dogs might just have a portosystemic shunt, also known as a liver shunt. Blood from the abdomen, stomach, adrenal glands, and intestine bypass the liver, resulting in improper detoxification.

 

Can You Give CBD Products to Dogs?

CBD drops for dogs

Even though there are few topical therapies, CBD oil is usually given to dogs orally, and the accurate dosage is critical for their development. CBD for dogs with joint pain or seizures is usually used at a dose of 2-8 mg/kg two times daily. 

This amount is both comfortable and somewhat productive for the conditions under consideration.  More research is required to determine the appropriate CBD doses for treating other circumstances.

The FDA has discovered that many CBD products contain little if any, CBD, complicating attempts to properly dose dogs with CBD.

Epidiolex is one FDA-approved cannabinoid product that could be advised by a vet for epilepsy in animals, though this would most likely be prohibitively expensive. 

However, because it is approved by the U.S. food and drug administration, the CBD concentration of this product would be precise, unlike the majority of other CBD products on the market.

Why Do Dogs Need CBD?

Dog with Toy

CBD is frequently mentioned as an effective treatment for a broad spectrum of ailments, including pain control, osteoporosis, anxiousness, epilepsy, and even cancer. Although the use of CBD in trying to treat all of these circumstances is understudied, each situation has different levels of scientific proof. 

Osteoporosis

One of the most popular inflammatory diseases in dogs is osteoarthritis. One in every four dogs suffers from arthritis during their lifetime, and some figures say that up to 60% of dogs have some form of the disease.

Dogs taking CBD oil have shown significant pain control with joint pain when administered twice every day at recommended doses.

Liver Diseases

The signs of your dog's liver disease will differ depending on the specific. It is critical to take your dog to the vet regularly. During such visits, have your dog's blood levels tested and closely investigated by the vet. Remember to provide your dog only with prescription medication.

It is critical to be conscious of these signs. Go for regular exams and stop putting your dog to sleep too soon, as you may not notice any signs at first. By the time you start noticing it, the liver disease might well have advanced to the point where it is no longer treatable.

If you notice any discoloration in your dog's eyes, tongue, skin, or mucous, it could be an indication that his liver isn't working properly. Other signs of dog liver disease include:

  • Puking
  • Appetite loss
  • Abdominal swell
  • Dysentery
  • Lethargy
  • Unsteady walking speed or loss of equilibrium
  • Spasm
  • Fever

CBD oil can help treat the liver disease of your dog if he or she is suffering from liver problems. CBD oil for dogs' liver disease can be used as a food supplement, in the diet, and under veterinarian oversight.

Pet parents should not dismiss CBD oil as a treatment method because it has significant benefits for dogs with liver problems. CBD oil aids in the management of liver failure and the alleviation of liver problem symptoms.

The dog's body contains an endocannabinoid system, where cannabinoid receptors assist in the management of their health and wellbeing. When dogs consume CBD oil, their bodies can better control their cannabinoids.

For dogs with liver problems, many veterinarians will also require high-quality CBD oil that has been carefully procured, with organic produce, and thoroughly tested. CBD oil has a plethora of advantages.

The following are some of the advantages of using CBD oil:

  • Relieve symptoms such as diarrhea, puking, dizziness, and vertigo.
  • Maintain a good appetite, particularly if weight loss is a concern for your dog.
  • Improved sleep lessens pain and swelling
  • Stop or slow the growth of tumors
  • There are no negative side effects.
  • Simple to digest
  • Seizures can be reduced or avoided.
  • Enhance your dog's mood and physical well-being.
  • Increase your dog's level of energy.
  • Resolve digestive issues
  • Give nutrients

It can help control liver failure and symptomatology by reducing the inflammatory response that is causing damage to the liver.

Pain

The anti-inflammatory advantages of CBD oil noticed in dogs suffering from arthritis can also be seen in dogs suffering from other types of diseases. Particularly in back pain caused by intervertebral disc illness.

Preliminary human studies have shown that combination goods containing both THC and CBD are more effective for pain management than either drug alone. However, no such research has been performed on dogs, so THC must not be administered to them.

Seizures

Seizures are likely the most researched application of CBD products in humans, but there is little research being done with respect to pets. Seizures in dogs can be influenced by several underlying medical conditions.

In the case of idiopathic epilepsy, some studies suggest that CBD may help reduce seizure recurrence in these dogs. However, these advantages are only seen in dogs who are also given conventional anti-seizure medications.

4 types of CBD oil for animals with liver disease.

Dog with Liver disease

The best part is that there are four different types of CBD oil for dogs with liver problems. If one does not bring in results for your dog, the others might.

Capsules

You can put capsules in the dog's healthy appetite or directly into their mouth. Your dog will not taste it, making it easier to get them to eat it.

Extract concentrates

When it refers to extract concentrates, the recommended dose varies based on your dog's size and the disease stage. Inquire with your veterinarian about the proper dosage quantity.

Tinctures of essential oils

Oil tinctures are available with either a spray bottle or a dropper. The oil is then directly applied to the dog's mouth or mixed into their food. Luckily, it is flavored, so your dog will not detect any hemp flavor.

Dog Treats

Treats are enjoyable, so you can substitute CBD treats for your dog's current treat. Before giving these nibbles to your dog, double-check the ingredients.

How to Choose a CBD Oil for your Dog

Look for a Broad Spectrum Cbd oil.

Read the label of your CBD product to ensure that it has a full or broad range.

This implies that your dog's CBD oil includes not only CBD but also other essential cannabinoids found in full-spectrum hemp. This does include CBC (Cannabichromene) and CBG (Cannabidiol) (Cannabigerol). Researchers investigated CBC for its...

  • Cancer-fighting initiatives
  • Capability to inhibit pain and inflammation
  • Beneficial effect on neurons

CBG is also being researched for medicinal purposes. It has the ability to reduce the inflammatory response in the digestive system as well as preserve nerve fibers and the eyes. It also promotes healthy bladder function and inhibits the growth of cancer cells. 

Terpenes like alpha-pinene, limonene, and beta-pinene are also found in full-spectrum CBD oil. These are naturally occurring pharmacological substances that can be found in all hemp.

The entourage effect is created by cannabinoids and terpenes working together. This occurs when the compounds in hemp oil work together to enhance the positive benefits of hemp oil.

CBD retrieved with CO2 pulverizes the terpenes. This makes them difficult to detect in test results, and they will not appear on the Certificate of Analysis, but they will still be present and donate to the medical properties of CBD oil.

CBD obtained with organic solvent will retain the terpenes better. As a result, they will be mentioned on the Certificate of Analysis.

Look for an Analysis Certificate.

If your pet CBD oil lacks a certificate of analysis, avoid it!

A certificate of analysis is a record that indicates the type and quantity of cannabinoids present in a CBD product. COAs help shield your dog from low-quality products and, therefore should be provided by the producer for each pack of hemp. If there isn't a COA on the company site, you should request one before purchasing any CBD oil.

There are five key things to look for when inspecting the COA.

  • It shouldn't have too much (or too little) THC.
  • Is CBD Work Truly Full Spectrum?
  • CBD Is Exactly As Advertised
  • The tests were carried out by a third party.
  • There are no sources of contamination present.

Check that your dog's CBD is extracted using CO2.

There are mainly two ways to obtain the CBD oil from a hemp plant:

Extraction of CO2

Carbon dioxide extraction, as you might expect, carbon dioxide extraction uses co2 to extract oil from plants. CO2 applies pressure to the hemp in an increased pressure chamber. This causes the hemp to degrade and the oil to be released.

This extraction method yields CBD oil with a maximum density. That implies your dog will benefit from this CBD supplement more. Of course, this raises the price of the product. However, it is preferable to the substitute.

Extraction of Solvents

Solvents are an inexpensive way of extracting oil from the hemp plant. Some popular solvents are: 

  • Propane products
  • Butane products
  • Petroleum products

However, sediment from these solvents will be present in the CBD product and may be toxic for your furry friend. Some CBD extraction techniques make use of organic solvents like olive oil or ethanol. That's much safer for your dog, but these CBD oils can destabilize the oils in the hemp plant, resulting in a less useful oil.

 

CBD's Potential Side Effects for Dogs

Overall, CBD appears to be extremely safe in cats and dogs. However, countless scientific papers have discovered that when CBD is administered at the prescribed levels, it causes an increase in an essential liver value on bloodwork termed alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

The following were the most common side effects observed:

  • Sedation 19%
  • Insufficiency of energy 4%
  • Excessive appetite 5%
  • Panic reactions 2.7%
  • Excessive drinking for dry mouth 2.3%
  • Nausea 1.7%
  • Vomit 1.7%
  • 0.69% increase in seizures
  • 0.68% impaired mental functioning

This means that the most probable secondary effect you will notice is that your pet will become sleepy. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Particularly if your dog tends to suffer from epilepsy, anxiousness, or distress and you want to try CBD oil. However, some CBD oils may contain harmful additives.

You want to make sure that the product you buy contains no artificial ingredients or additives. Even if the hemp is organically grown, these will negate the medical benefits.

We are unsure if the increase in this liver value has any medical importance. It could mean that CBD irritates or damages the liver. Put another way; it could be an artifact caused by the drug interfering with how the lab measures the liver value.

There have been reports of dogs becoming lethargic or sedated after receiving high doses of CBD, but those impacts seem to resolve on their own with time. 

Conclusion

Overall, it is critical to recognize that studies on CBD in pets are limited. Because the FDA does not currently govern CBD, there may be safety problems if products are mislabeled. Anecdotal information and research objective suggest that CBD prescription medications may be effective in such situations.

If you decide to give CBD to your dog, consult with your veterinarian first. Then, begin with a low dose and carefully monitor your pet for any beneficial or harmful effects.