There’s no doubt that CBD is the buzziest wellness product of the moment.

Everyone is getting into it! Tea rooms are selling CBD herbal teas, spas are offering CBD facials, top cosmetic brands are rushing to create creams containing CBD or hemp oils in their formulas…

And you may even have heard about the benefits of CBD from your most anxious friend, a family member with arthritis, or a coworker struggling with an eating disorder.

So after all this praise for this molecule naturally present in hemp, you may have wondered if you could give it to your dog … And you did well!

Because yes, why shouldn’t our canine friends have the right to enjoy all the benefits of CBD for dogs ?

Today, pet owners are increasingly giving their companions CBD.

Veterinarians are also now recommending CBD products to treat some common pains and conditions in dogs.

But despite everything, you may still have some questions about CBD for dogs .

Botaneo , a specialist in CBD products for animals, has taken a look at the issue to help you better understand this global enthusiasm and lift the veil on CBD for our canine friends.

 

WHAT IS CBD?

Let’s start at the beginning before we approach the subject from the perspective of our four-legged companions, dogs. Cannabidiol , also known as CBD, is one of the natural cannabinoids found in Cannabis, or hemp, a herbaceous flowering plant.

CBD is indeed an organic substance formed in the secretions of the plant. Until recently, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC , was the best – known and most-studied cannabinoid due to its abundance in the cannabis plant.

However, as the second most prevalent cannabinoid and the first non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp, CBD is gaining traction in the scientific community and media.

The CBD found in human products is therefore the same as in CBD-infused products for dogs .

CBD products for dogs are simply adapted to the needs of our companions.

Chicken, beef, spray , treats , etc. everything is done so that our furry friends accept without grumbling that we give them CBD for dogs.

 

HEMP, CANNABIS, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

In the purely scientific sense of the term, hemp is a variety of Cannabis (Cannabis L. which is a botanical genus that brings together plants from the Cannabaceae family).

More commonly, Hemp is often defined as a plant containing almost no psychoactive principle (less than 0.2% THC – TetraHydroCannabinol).

Thus, over time, hemp varieties have been shaped by Man (selection, hybridization, etc.) to meet a very specific demand; depending on the use that one wishes to make of them or the local regulations in force.

We can note several characteristics often sought after by Man: the quality of their fibers, their richness in oil, their low THC level or, on the contrary, their high concentration of cannabinoids (in the context of medicinal uses).

The THC-rich version of Cannabis (often called “weed” or “marijuana” in the United States) has undergone the same process of shaping by man. Initially composed of 3 main varieties:

– Cultivated Hemp (Sativa) : variety from equatorial regions which has the particularity of having a strong growth and a high THC rate particularly prized for its recreational use. Its flowering is longer (sometimes exceeding 120 days).

– Indian Hemp (Indica) : a variety of Asian origin, this plant has wider and shorter leaves than Sativa. Smaller and more fertile, its flowering time is also shorter compared to sativa.

– Wild Hemp (Ruderalis) : a variety from Eurasia, and often growing in the wild, it gives very weak psychotropic effects and is cultivated mainly for its fibers. It is characterized by its early flowering, some even flowering independently of the photoperiod.

 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THC AND CBD?

Cannabis is a plant composed of over 100 cannabinoids. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis products.

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula – 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.

The only difference is in the way the atoms are arranged. This gives CBD and THC different chemical properties that affect your body differently.

CBD and THC both work with receptors that release neurotransmitters in your brain. They can both affect things like pain, mood, sleep, and memory.

Moreover, since THC can be toxic to animals, serious brands that make CBD for dogs do not contain it. So when you choose a CBD for dogs, choose one whose only cannabinoid is CBD.

 

HOW DOES CBD ACT ON THE BODY?

We have two types of cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. THC binds to receptors (mainly in the brain) that control pain, mood, and other feelings. This is why THC can make you feel euphoric and high.

CBD, on the other hand, binds indirectly to cellular receptors to moderate the signaling and flow of other chemicals for a wide variety of positive effects .

Going further, research over the past 40 years has identified a large and complex system in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

According to many studies , the ECS helps regulate many things, including:

• brain function
• the mood
• the immune response
• the sleep
• inflammation
• the stress
• pain

This system is made up of endocannabinoids (chemicals naturally produced in the body), cellular receptors, cannabinoids, and enzymes that break down cannabinoids.

ECS receptors are distributed throughout the body and are one of the main signaling channels that allow the body to respond to stimuli.

In addition to cannabinoids produced by the body, plant cannabinoids (like CBD) can also act on the endocannabinoid system. When a person consumes CBD, it interacts with ECS receptors throughout the body.

More specifically, CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors:

• CB1s are highly concentrated in the brain and central nervous system, with some receptors also found in the glands, spleen, heart, and other locations.
• CB2s are found in peripheral tissues and cells of the immune system.

These two types of receptors are recognized as signaling pathways for pain perception , anxiety , stress , and inflammatory responses .

Research thus shows that CBD acts indirectly on these receptors, by moderating the signals sent to the brain, which can significantly reduce pain or inflammation .

This particularity can also significantly alleviate the symptoms of many health problems related to pain and inflammation.

These conditions include pain from overexertion , skin conditions such as acne , sports injuries , general inflammation and more.

 

AND IN ANIMALS? HOW DOES CBD WORK?

As mammals, humans, dogs, and cats all have an endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The main purpose of the animal ECS is the same: to regulate bodily functions and keep them in a state of balance .

This includes their mood , appetite , response to pain and more.

When pets ingest CBD, the additional cannabinoids also add to their internal endocannabinoid count, boosting the effectiveness of the overall endocannabinoid system.

CBD for dogs actually binds to cannabinoid receptors in the same way that humans do to treat any imbalance issues .

So if your dog or cat has appetite problems , CBD for animals helps the ECS to stimulate it.

Alternatively, if he is afraid of a thunderstorm, CBD for dogs helps the ECS to calm him down.

Depending on the issue your pet is facing, CBD for dogs binds to specific receptors, including vanilloid, adenosine, and serotonin receptors .

 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CBD FOR HUMANS AND CBD FOR ANIMALS?

CAN I GIVE CBD FOR HUMANS TO MY DOG?
To begin with, even if it is possible, it is not recommended to give human CBD to your dog.

Some CBD for humans actually contains THC which can be harmful to dogs.

Furthermore, the doses prescribed to a dog are naturally smaller than those of a human. Using a product designed specifically for animals is therefore the assurance of not overdosing .

Brands like Botaneo , number 1 in the CBD market for dogs and cats, recommend a precise dosage for each animal depending on its weight but also its problem.

Finally, only one brand in France specially dedicated to animals develops CBD products only suitable for dogs and cats . ” At Botaneo, we have created a spray and chicken or salmon biscuits specially designed for dogs and cats. Dogs love the taste of our products, which makes it easy to give them some without a fight. Because I don’t know if you’ve ever tried, but buying and giving pure CBD oil to a dog is the promise of a war at home. They don’t like it and don’t enjoy it. The next time you want to do it again, it will be mission impossible. Whereas if your dog appreciates the taste and smell of the CBD for dogs that you give him, there will be no problem giving it to him, even as a treatment over several weeks.” Explains Audrey Costa, Marketing Director at Botaneo .

 

STUDIES ON CBD IN DOGS

The study of CBD in veterinary medicine (particularly in dogs) is relatively nascent.

One of the most serious studies was led by Joe Wakshlag, professor and head of the nutrition section at Cornell University in New York State.

This study, which dates from 2018, sought to determine the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of CBD in dogs suffering from chronic pain related to arthritis.

The research team tested two different doses of CBD:

• 2 mg of CBD per kilogram
• 8 mg of CBD per kilogram

These dosages made it possible to determine that:

• The elimination half-life of CBD was 4.2 hours regardless of the dose ingested.
• CBD did not generate any side effects (and this over the entire duration of the study).

The researchers then tested the pain management properties of CBD oil in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. As such, the dogs were given:

• That is 2 mg CBD oil per kilogram every 12 hours
• Or a placebo (substance without active ingredient. In this case, olive oil)

During the four weeks of treatment (plus an additional 2-week washout period), the dog owners were asked to complete questionnaires about their pet’s behavior.

Veterinarians also performed multiple assessments (physical exams, hematology & blood work) prior to treatment as well as at weeks 2 and 4.

The Canine Brief Pain Inventory score, also known as CBPI (a scale measuring pain in dogs), and the Hudson Activity Score (a score used to assess lameness and pain in dogs) were used to determine treatment outcomes.