Is CBD Safe For My Dog?
Cannabidiol (aka CBD) is becoming super popular for both people and pets. You may have noticed a ton of dog CBD products popping up, and youre probably wondering if theyre actually safe for your pup. The Dodo spoke with Dr. Megan Dundas, a veterinarian and practice owner of Lincolndale Veterinary Center in New York, for the truth about the safety of CBD for dogs. The short answer: It depends. CBD is safe to use in dogs, assuming you are purchasing a product from a reputable source, Dr. Dundas told The Dodo. Be cautious about which product you purchase.  You should always make sure anything youre giving your dog is from a reputable source, but this is especially important with CBD. Thats because testing is still very limited for dog CBD products. Herbal products and dietary supplements don't have any premarket testing required by law, Dr. Dundas explained. Quality, safety and efficacy of the product cannot be assured.  Now, this doesnt necessarily mean that CBD is bad for your dog, it just means that testing isnt extensive enough to guarantee one way or another which products could help or hurt your pup. People are also usually somewhat familiar with medicinal uses of CBD in humans, which may make them more comfortable with use of these products in their pets, Dr. Dundas said. As interest grows, more studies are published that support the efficacy of CBD, and reputable products are entering the market, I expect CBD will be integrated into treatment plans more often.  Potential benefits of CBD for dogs  CBD is popular in the pet world, I assume, because people are often looking for a treatment that will actually work [and] that carries little risk for side effects, Dr. Dundas said. The hope is that, similarly to how it helps humans, dog CBD would help with things like:  Seizures  Inflammatory diseases (like osteoarthritis and skin allergies)  Pain  Anxiety  Decreased or lack of appetite  Vomiting  Tumors    Potential risks of CBD for dogs  All these things sound super promising, but keep in mind that the research is still ongoing.If youre worried that CBD will get your dog high, thats one concern you can cross off the list. CBD is extracted from cannabis, and it does not have the psychotropic or hallucinogenic properties known to be present in THC [aka the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis], Dr. Dundas explained. It will not alter the mental state of pets or humans.  However, some CBD dog products might actually contain a percentage of THC, which is the risk you take when giving your pet a product with little to no regulations in place. So if your dog consumes a large amount of those products, there is a chance he could experience some THC toxicity. Signs of THC toxicity in dogs include:  Vomiting  Lethargy  Inappetance  Diarrhea  Your dog might also experience ataxia (aka impaired coordination). [Ataxia] is more commonly seen in dogs and is a temporary effect, Dr. Dundas said. It does not cause permanent harm to the dog.  When it comes to CBD toxicity in dogs, according to Dr. Dundas, any serious adverse effects are dependent on how much CBD your pup ingests. Side effects, including possible death, are seen ... when very concentrated doses are given, Dr. Dundas explained. And its important to remember that the biggest risk in giving your dog CBD is that you could be giving him something that hasnt been extensively tested (yet). Things to give your dog that arent CBD  Since choosing a reputable product is so important when it comes to giving your dog CBD, it makes sense if youre feeling a bit overwhelmed by the idea. So, until youve done your research and figured out which CBD products to get your pup, there are always non-CBD options to try. If your dog struggles with an inflammatory condition or joint pain, try giving him a hip and joint supplement.