Contributor: Robert Wallace
One of the biggest crazes in the cannabis community these days has got to be the onslaught of CBD products that are finding their way onto shelves across the country. And it’s not only in dispensaries. Regular storefronts, ones that have absolutely nothing to do with cannabis, in any regard, are starting to sell these non-psychoactive products to their customers. However, as useful as it can be for humans, it turns out that CBD for pets (specifically dogs) can be just as beneficial.
Which may sound sketchy, but trust me, it’s abundantly true.
CBD for dogs, and other products of that nature, are one of the top selling-items in cannabis clubs these days, and it’s easy to see why. These serenely peaceful cannabinoid supplements help your once-frantic, over-anxious dog get some much-needed rest and relaxation.
What To Know Before Giving Your Dog CBD
Dogs, much like their “Man” best friend, have endocannabinoid systems that can utilize the therapeutic powers and calming relief of CBD. Pretty cool, right? I mean, I certainly think so.
Now, seeing as how your pup is fully equipped with an endocannabinoid system, that also means they can be affected by THC, as well. But, please, do NOT – I repeat, DO NOT – give your dog, or any other animal for that matter, any sort of THC – ever! That will only serve to heighten their mental distress and physical discomfort. In short, that would only make matters worse, and it would place your pup in an undesirable panicked state of mind, that could prove to be disastrous.
However, that said, you should feel free to administer lab-tested CBD products to your pooch. But you should only do so in small doses, of course, as these items won’t create any negative effects. In fact, CBD would only mellow out your mutt in ways they wouldn’t have been able to on their own, which results in a happier, more tranquil pet. And, at the end of the day, that’s the main thing we are trying to accomplish, as dog-loving animal owners.
Just because CBD is so widely available, that doesn’t mean you should just mosey into a corner store, check out their CBD selection, and buy whatever seems best. That methodology, though successful in rare instances, isn’t the smartest route to take, as far as shopping for pet-friendly CBD is concerned. Actually, it’s not a smart way to go about buying any CBD whatsoever.
You see, the CBD market is severely unregulated these days. That means, companies can say, basically, anything they want on their labels. They could promise the world with their effects, and high CBD percentages, but without regulation, they don’t have to prove it, via lab tests. Also, in skimming past that all-too important testing step, they can get away with impurities and chemicals in their CBD products, which could eventually hurt the consumer, be they human or animal.
SEE ALSO: Beginner’s Guide: What To Expect On Your First Trip To The Dispensary
That is why I always urge my fellow cannabis enthusiasts to do all of their shopping at a local, trusted dispensary. These government-sanctioned establishments are legally required to know everything about the products they are selling to their customers, through a series of regulated lab tests and stipulations. This, in turn, assures the consumer that they are getting pure, untainted products, that they can rely on for cannabinoid-related relief.
So, don’t go for some cheap CBD knockoff from a gas station, or something like that. Take the time out to get your pup some high-quality CBD products, and I promise you, they will thank you for it. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’re not giving your dog anything that would make matters worse.
Now, that said, even if you decide to take the “smart route” and only buy your CBD products from fully-vetted dispensaries and cannabis clubs, that doesn’t exactly simplify things, as far as the wealth of options that lay before you in the CBD realm of products. There’s a ton of dog-friendly CBD items to pick from, so it can be a bit of a daunting task trying to decipher which product is the best one for your pup.
Well, that’s why we’re here. We’ve gone ahead, done a bit of research, and collected some of the most successful, most reliable CBD products for dogs that can be found at most dispensaries.
Obviously, these are just a collection of some of our suggestions, so if you happen to fall in love with one of these following items, by all means, go for it. But, if none of these seem good enough to buy, you can just as easily use these items as a jumping off point, and ask your local budtender about their given selection, and I’m confident that they’ll be able to use their expertise to find an ideal CBD item for your pet.
The first product we’d like to highlight comes from Phyto Animal Health, and it’s their Vitality 100 CBD liquid. This bottle, as you could probably already assume, comes packed with 100mg of CBD, which was gently processed with organic coconut oil, so you know there’s nothing but healthy ingredients inside. Then, with just a microdose of roughly 1-2mg per serving, your pup will start to take on a much calmer, more mellow demeanor. Which, in turn, helps them live a more fulfilling, stress-free life.
The next item that we feel deserves a bit of the spotlight, are the CBD Soft Chew Bites from GoGreen Hemp. These babies advertise themselves as “CBD Soft Chews for K-9 Health,” and, boy, do they ever live up to that promise. Each bite is already packed with a moderate 2mg of CBD, which makes the dosing for your dog an already-completed chore.
So, if you have an event coming up wherein you anticipate your dog reacting nervously to its surroundings (i.e. fireworks, construction, etc.), you should give them 1-2 of these treats as a preemptive measure, and they should be able to endure any sort of noisey event that would’ve otherwise launched them into a spiral of panic and anxiety.
Lastly, we’d like to recommend Hard Chews by Treatibles. While there are other products of this nature that look like standard dog treats, these are probably the closest to the “real thing,” in my opinion. Each bone-shaped dog treat is sporting anywhere between 1mg-4mg worth of CBD, which is the ideal amount for your pup to enjoy, in a microdose type of fashion. I enjoy buying these for my pooch, because they look like a typical dog treat, but they deliver more consistent results, especially when compared to substandard products in this category of cannabis for canines.
And that’s that, party people. Those are a few of the most desired CBD products for dogs that you can readily find at most dispensaries.
If any of these items sound good to you (and your dog), you should definitely pull the trigger, and make the purchase. But, again, only if it’s from a licensed, completely “above board” cannabis club or dispensary. And, if it is, your dog will be living a more serene lifestyle in no time, and it’ll all be thanks to CBD.
