Everywhere you look, it’s CBD-this and CBD-that. People seem to think that CBD (an abbreviation for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive extract from the cannabis plant) is the magic cure-all for just about anything and everything. And although there is much anecdotal evidence that this substance has a beneficial effect on many different conditions, there are no definitive studies that show CBD truly helps all of the things it is purported to help.
Factors to Consider
Of course, with every new discovery, and with so many people trying to cash in on it, there are bound to be plenty of products around of questionable quality and provenance. Some factors you should consider before buying any CBD products for your pet are:
- How reputable is the company that is selling the product you are considering?
- How was it grown?
- Were pesticides used in growing the plants? If so, they will end up being ingested along with the CBD.
- Is it pure CBD, or does it contain any THC?
THC, which is chemically known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the stuff in marijuana that gets you high. Did you know that THC is toxic to dogs? Never give your dog any product that contains even the smallest amount of THC.
Plenty of Research, but It’s Subjective
Research on the use of CBD is readily available, with a multitude of studies (mostly of limited quality, I might add) showing what the folks funding the study want to show. Here’s an interesting snippet of information I obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) Critical Report on CBD in 2018:
One study has shown that orally ingested CBD, in the presence of stomach acid, can be converted into THC. Another study showed that although this can happen, the conversion is so low that it doesn’t produce any noticeable THC (psychoactive) effects.
Guess what? The first study was funded by a company developing a transdermal (absorbed through the skin so as to avoid the digestive tract) patch, while the second study was funded by another company working on an oral CBD product. Both, therefore, had ample reason to prove the particular theories they put forward, which is easy to do if you’re leaving out other critical information.
CBD Side Effects
CBD in and of itself is not without its side effects, either. Light-headedness, as a result of lowered blood pressure, and drowsiness are two. We humans might be able to understand what is going on in that case, but how will your dog? In addition, the safety of using CBD on dogs has not been well researched. It is still unknown if there is a toxic dose for CBD in dogs.
Some companies are making CBD dog cookies, which may be an easy way to give CBD to your dog. However, there are two potential problems with this delivery form as I see it. First, it’s questionable whether CBD’s potency is even retained during the baking process. The other is that these cookies, like CBD gummies made for people, can easily be overeaten.
My Last Word
As I mentioned above, it is still unknown if there is a toxic dose of CBD in dogs. One of my dogs is a notorious counter-surfer. I’d hate to find out the hard way if there is one! The ingredients in all MaxWell Pet products have been well-researched to ensure they are safe and effective, with no known side effects.
Bottom line, CBD may in fact have medicinal properties, but right now it’s still the Wild West in CBD-land. When it comes to my best friends, I’d rather err on the side of caution until we know more. A lot more.
Consider the calming benefits of Dr. Garber’s Canine Calm & Happy bioformula
