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If you are looking into purchasing CBD oil for your dog for the first time, you may have many questions concerning legality, safety, effectiveness, and the different types of CBD oil products on the market for pets.
Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions regarding CBD oil for dogs.
Legality
Q: Is CBD oil for dogs legal?
A: Before you place an order for CBD oil for your dog, you probably want to know if it is legal in your state or not.
The answer to this question is actually rather complicated as CBD oil is currently in a legal gray area.
As of the time of this writing, “certain drug products” with CBD in them have been rescheduled by the DEA, but CBD itself remains a Schedule 1 substance.
The type of CBD product you would be purchasing for your dog would be made using industrial hemp which is low in THC. Experts generally believe that on the federal level, these products are now considered legal.
States, on the other hand, all have their own legal rules regarding CBD. Even though federal law outweighs state law, the federal government currently seems content to let the states make their own decisions.
Idaho, South Dakota and Nebraska currently ban marijuana. This is not the same thing as banning hemp, but it does mean that purchasing CBD oil in these states may be an iffier prospect than buying it elsewhere.
The other states can be categorized into the following piles:
- Those where marijuana has been legalized only for medical use.
- Those where marijuana has been legalized for medical and recreational use.
- Those where CBD has been legalized for medical purposes within restricted frameworks.
Regulatory changes from state to state are ongoing, and we can expect changes to remain frequent over the years ahead. It is important to keep up with current events in this area.
To learn about the legality of CBD oil in detail and figure out which category your state is in, please see ” What is the Current Legality of CBD Oil?”
Please note that nothing you read on this website constitutes legal advice.
Q: Can your vet discuss CBD oil with you?
A: Currently, there are laws on the federal and state level which prevent your veterinarian from giving you any sort of official prescription or recommendation for cannabis or cannabis-related products.
Different vets approach the issue in different ways. Many veterinarians do not want to deal with any legal hassles, and choose to avoid discussing CBD oil with clients.
Others may not care, and may be more than happy to talk about CBD oil with you in an unofficial capacity.
Regardless of your veterinarian’s attitude toward CBD, you should definitely inform them if you are going to be starting your dog on CBD oil. It is important for your vet to be aware of this in case of possible interactions with other medications or conditions.
Q: Would I need a prescription from my vet?
A: No, you do not need your vet to give your prescription to purchase CBD oil for your dog. Because it is classified as an herbal supplement, you have the right to purchase it without your veterinarian’s go-ahead.
It is still worth talking to your vet about CBD oil for another reason, however. If you happen to have pet insurance which covers CBD with a veterinarian’s recommendation, you might be able to save money. Whether the vet is open to giving you said recommendation will probably depend largely on your state of residence.
If you would like to learn about these topics in detail, please read “Do You Need a Prescription from Your Vet to Give Your Dog CBD?”
Choosing a CBD Oil Product for Your Dog
Q: Can I buy CBD oil for dogs online?
A: Yes, you can purchase CBD oil for your dog online. In fact, I recommend this if you want access to the widest selection of high-quality products.
Q: Is it better to shop for CBD oil online or in person?
A: There are pros and cons to shopping for CBD oil both online and at local stores. In my opinion, shopping for CBD oil online makes more sense. Firstly, there are more manufacturers and products to choose from. Secondly, you can view batch test results right online. Thirdly, you can look up reviews and find out more about a brand’s reputation before you make your purchase.
Q: What are the recommended brands of CBD oil for dogs?
A: You can view recommendations for CBD oils for dogs right here on my site. Many of these I have tried with my own dog Big Nellie. I have also conducted extensive research into all the brands which I have reviewed, and consulted with other pet owners as well.
Q: What form of CBD for dogs is best?
A: CBD oil for dogs comes in tinctures, capsules and biscuits. You may feel lost figuring out which form of delivery is most suitable for your pet.
Objectively, there is no “best” choice across the board. Each form has its pros and cons.
The easiest way to make the decision is probably to think about your dog’s personality. Think about other supplements you may have administered to your pet in the past.
Is it generally easy to give your dog a capsule? What about a tincture?
It may take some trial and error before you figure out which product really is ideal for your dog. This is especially true if you do not have much experience giving your dog supplements of any kind.
Q: What dosage of CBD oil for dogs do I need?
A: The exact dosage of CBD oil that you need for your dog depends on your pet’s weight. Large dogs require higher dosages of CBD oil than small dogs.
The dosage required also depends on what you are trying to treat. For some conditions or for general maintenance, lower doses may be appropriate. For other conditions, higher therapeutic doses may be necessary.
Another factor which influences the dosage you need is the concentration of the product you purchase.
For this reason, manufacturers of CBD oils for dogs provide dosage information for each specific product that they sell.
Generally, it is wise if you begin with the lowest recommended dosage and consider working your way up from there if necessary. You should never exceed the highest dosage recommended. This can help to prevent side effects.
See “CBD Oil for Dogs: Dosage Chart and Newbie Guide” for detailed information on this topic.
Q: What is “full spectrum” CBD oil for dogs?
A: “Full spectrum” CBD refers to a product which not only provides your dog with cannabidiol, but also with a full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Whether a product contains a full spectrum of these nutrients are not depends on how it was manufactured.
Some manufacturing processes strip away these nutrients, but others leave them intact.
As these other nutrients have health benefits as well, it can be worthwhile to choose a full spectrum CBD oil product for your pet, even if it costs a little bit more.
Q: How do I know my CBD oil is pure and real?
A: The best way to be assured of the quality of your CBD oil is to check for third-party laboratory testing which verifies the contents in the bottle you have purchased.
The third-party lab should check both for the potency of the CBD as well as the presence or absence of a range of contaminants.
You should do so, as this is a good habit to get into when shopping for supplements not only for your dog, but also for yourself and other members of your family. Lab testing for supplements is becoming more and more the norm.
Q: Should I buy organic CBD Oil for my dog?
A: While “organic” may seem like an appealing label, it is not one that is necessarily worth going out of your way to shop for when it comes to CBD products.
There are two basic reasons for this. The first is that there are a lot of convoluted regulatory hoops which CBD product manufacturers still need to jump through in order to obtain organic certification.
That means that there are quite a few reputable companies producing high-quality products that have been unable to obtain this certification to date. In fact, the vast majority of CBD manufacturers do not have the certification.
The other reason why it is not necessarily all that important is because it does not tell you as much about the safety and quality of a product as you might think.
There are “organic” products out there with full certification which contain unhealthy additives or byproducts. There are also products with no certification which are much more pure and healthy.
To learn more, please read “Should I Buy Organic CBD Oil for My Dog?”
Q: What is CO2-extracted hemp oil?
A: Previously, I mentioned that there are different manufacturing processes used to produce CBD oils.
One of those processes is CO2 extraction.
Hemp oil which has been processed in this way
- is not exposed to high heat, and
- does not get exposed to solvents
This prevents the loss of full spectrum nutrition and protects the product from contamination. The result is greater purity and potency with enhanced nutritional benefits.
CBD Oil for Dogs Benefits
Q: What kind of behavior changes could I expect in my dog, if any?
A: Whether a dog’s behavior changes when using CBD depends on that dog’s health conditions, personality, and other individual factors.
If the CO2 results in improvements in conditions which involve pain, anxiety or depression, you may notice changes like:
- Your dog’s activity levels increase.
- Range of movement may improve.
- Your pet may become more interested and enthusiastic in activities again.
- Signs of anxiety, nervousness, aggression, or lethargy may decrease.
Even if there are not changes in behavior, you may spot physical signs of improvement in your pet.
Find out more in “Will CBD Affect Your Dog’s Behavior?”