How CBD for dogs can help with anxiety
Are you looking for a natural way to calm to your dog?
As a pet parent, it’s difficult to see your dog struggling with stress and anxiety. You may be wondering if cannabis-based therapies like CBD oil can actually be an effective way of providing relief of your dog’s symptoms.
As a certified Veterinary Cannabis Counselor, I am here to walk you through what you need to know about treating anxiety with CBD.
Dealing with Dog Anxiety
A car ride. A thunderstorm. An extended stay with the pet sitter. These are all situations that can cause your dog to feel scared and anxious.The most common form of anxiety in dogs is a result of being alone, also known as separation anxiety. Whether your dog suffers from generalized or situational anxiety, it can be debilitating.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to unfamiliar situations. But as a pet parent, it’s deeply emotional to witness your dog suffering — especially if your dog’s anxiety is frequently affecting their quality of life. Chronic anxiety can cause more serious long-term effects.
It can also be hard for you to cope with the negative behaviours associated with these emotions. It’s common for dogs to show their anxiety through everything from barking and pacing to destructive behaviour or even aggression.
For pet parents searching for solutions, there have traditionally been several options available:
Training strategies like counterconditioning and desensitization.
Natural products that contain pheromones and aromatherapy.
Prescription medications like tranquilizers and antidepressants.
It’s important to mention that there are no “quick fixes.” When possible, determining the root cause and taking a multi-modal approach to complex behaviour issues will increase the chances for long-lasting solutions.
An alternative option: CBD for dogs
In recent years, cannabis (including CBD) has emerged as a promising new way to treat anxiety disorders. As a plant-based therapy, it appeals to pet parents who are looking for natural products for their dog’s anxiety.
But as with any new product on the market, it’s common for pet parents to ask: Does it actually work? And is it safe?
Does CBD for dogs really help with anxiety?
It’s a question I hear it all the time in my line of work: “How can CBD possibly treat so many different health conditions?” At first, it sounds too good to be true.
Once you become familiar with how medicinal cannabis works, however, the therapeutic potential for CBD to treat a broad range of health conditions starts to make more sense.
CBD is one of many phytocannabinoids (the naturally-occurring chemical compounds) produced by the cannabis plant. All mammals produce endogenous cannabinoids naturally in our bodies, which stimulate our endocannabinoid system (ECS).
This is important because the ECS is widespread, linked to processes throughout our bodies like appetite, metabolism, chronic pain, cardiovascular function and many more.
When we use cannabis treatments, we are stimulating our own natural ECS system with a plant-based therapy. This is the foundation for why CBD can be used to treat so many conditions — this vast biological system affects our entire bodies.
(Visit my CBD for Pets page for more background information).
As research findings surrounding medicinal cannabis continue to be released, it’s becoming clear that CBD has incredible potential to treat anxiety disorders.
For example, a study in 2019 found that 79% of people who suffered from anxiety reported an improvement in their symptoms after only one month of taking CBD treatments.
Veterinary professionals can also attest to the benefits of CBD for animals suffering from anxiety. As Dr. Elizabeth Mironchik-Frankenberg writes:
“With the huge interest shown by society in general, the preponderance of anecdotal reports, the sheer numbers of ongoing studies, and the wide array of products being marketed for this purpose, it’s no wonder that people are seeking to use CBD for anxiety-related issues — not only for themselves, but for their pets as well. Whether it’s for an ongoing, chronic issue such as separation anxiety; or periodic, situational issues like thunderstorm anxiety, CBD has the potential to be of huge benefit and a strong tool in the treatment options available to pet parents.”
Research on cannabis (including CBD) and dogs is still in its early stages, but preliminary findings are promising. And there are many pet parents who have witnessed significant improvements in their animal’s health after using CBD.
Is CBD safe for my dog?
You may hesitate to try CBD because you’ve heard that marijuana is toxic to dogs. It’s absolutely true that dogs can experience marijuana toxicity. This can happen if a dog has been exposed to human marijuana products via inhalation or ingestion.
What pet parents need to understand is that THC, not CBD, is the molecule of the cannabis plant that can cause potential toxicity in dogs. Fortunately, cases of cannabis intoxication are seldom fatal.
Both THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are chemical compounds produced by the cannabis plant. THC is the chemical that produces psychoactive effects, or the “high” associated with marijuana use. CBD, on the other hand, does not have any psychoactive properties.
However, this doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind when it comes to giving your dog CBD. It's incredibly important to use the right product, at the right dosage for your dog’s specific health concerns.
It’s advisable to seek professional help from your veterinarian or a veterinary cannabis counselor to ensure you are using cannabis safely.
This is especially important if your dog is taking any pharmaceutical medications or supplements as there are risks for potential drug interactions with cannabis that can be harmful to your pet.
A report issued by the World Health Organization in 2017, which included both human and animal studies, concluded that:
“CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. Reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications”
Finally, you need to use caution when it comes to the amount of CBD you give your dog. Even though too much CBD won’t cause toxicity as with THC, improper dosing can lead to adverse effects or ineffective results. Cannabis requires a dosing paradigm of “start low and go slow.”
Equally important is selecting a quality product. Not all products are created alike as there is no governance on cannabis products for pets. Products need to be evaluated for good manufacturer practices and safety measures (including third-party lab testing) in order to substantiate their claims.
Treating dog anxiety with CBD
If you want to explore the potential of cannabis therapy as an option for treating your dog’s anxiety or behavioural condition, I am here to offer guidance and support. Keep in mind, cannabis can be an additional tool to a multi-modal approach.
My role as a Veterinary Cannabis Counselor is to help you understand and navigate cannabis therapy safely. Through virtual consultations, I work closely with pet parents to develop individualized cannabis guidance plans. Together, we can ensure the best results for your pet.
To learn more about what I offer, visit my Services page.
