Why is CBD so Beneficial to Dogs?

DISCLAIMER: This blog post is for informational purposes only. No product claims implied.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound that comes from cannabis plants, and is most often extracted from the hemp plant. CBD is thought to promote a sense of calm and support overall wellbeing.* Because of these beneficial qualities,* CBD has exploded in popularity. It’s not just for humans either. Because CBD may help dogs with a broad range of issues from physical discomfort to stress,* pet products like CBD oil for dogs have become widely available.

Does CBD Work on Dogs?

Not only does CBD work on dogs, it’s even more effective for them than it is for us. Here’s how it works.

Similarly to humans, dogs also have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors that interacts with many parts of the body. The ECS interacts with the immune system and cardiovascular systems and helps support homeostasis, or day-to-day physical functions.

In humans, CBD interacts with the ECS to help promote balance and manage stress without causing intoxication or other negative psychoactive effects.* Dogs have more ECS receptors than humans, so cannabinoids like CBD have a greater effect on them than they do on us.

There’s been a lot of research into the effects of CBD on dogs over the last several years. Though findings aren’t yet conclusive, here’s what the science says:

• CBD has been proven as an effective treatment for epilepsy in humans. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is currently sponsoring a study at Colorado State University to determine if these health benefits are also present for dogs with seizures.
• A 2017 report by the World Health Organization stated that CBD has a “good safety profile” in both humans and animals.
• In 2019, preliminary safety findings from a veterinarian study suggested that CBD had no adverse effects in healthy adult dogs.
• An inter-college US scientific study found that “in healthy dogs and cats, an oral CBD-rich hemp supplement administered every 12 h was not detrimental based on CBC or biochemistry values.”
• In 2016, scientists in Europe suggested that CBD may show promise for reducing inflammation and join pain in animals.
• A 2015 animal study concluded that CBD isolate may offer certain health benefits, and that full-spectrum hemp extract may have more pronounced benefits.