Every dog owner wants the best for their furry friends and when it comes to keeping them healthy and happy, there are few choices available. Over the years, dog owners are becoming aware of what CBD can do for their dogs.
Every dog is different but they all have an endocannabinoid system that influences pain signals, metabolism, mood, and a lot of other processes. CBD treats for dogs help these four-legged friends by stimulating the endocannabinoid system.
CBD is available in various formulations, there are topicals, edibles, tinctures, and isolates and entire-flower derivatives. Here are 10 ways you can use CBD for dogs to help you get started.
- Choose the right CBD
CBD has proven to be suitable for dogs, but you should always identify the primary cause of your dog’s problem. Before you use CBD treats for dogs, it’s a good idea to know what is wrong with your dog. All dogs go through either pain, anxiety issues, pain and aches, seizures, or appetite problems.
For example, you might determine that your dog has lost appetite, therefore, you need to purchase CBD that will help your dog get back their appetite. If your dog is undergoing through symptoms of anxiety, it means appetite is only just a symptom of the problem.
For that reason, you are not dealing with the major cause of what your dog is going through. While it might improve things in the short-term, it can only bring the desired results by dealing with the main problem, which is anxiety.
Therefore, you can only use CBD properly if you understand what is wrong with your dog. CBD comes in various forms and formulation to handle different afflictions in your dog.
- CBD dose for pain
Many things can cause pain and aches to your dog. Injuries, strains, sprains, arthritis, and other sources are usually the main cause of pain in your dog. Once you see that your canine is feeling pain, you have to do something about it.
You can give a small dose of CBD to relieve the pain of your dog. If your dog gets CBD regularly but is still feeling the pains, it’s safe to increase the dose.
However, if your dog doesn’t take CBD regularly and you have decided to manage the pain as a temporary measure until it’s gone, then you can start with a small dose and increase it gradually up to the point when you see that they are no longer in pain.
CBD is excellent in soothing your dog’s pain and helping them gain back their normal health. Make sure your dog is also both happy and healthy by following a good doggy diet. CBD treats for dogs, exercise, and healthy meats are some of the things you can give your dog.
- Apply CBD inside the mouth
Some dogs will not eat something they don’t know and once they notice a change in their favorite meal, they will shun it away. In such situations, it may be best for you to attempt giving your dog directly to inside their mouth by using a spoon or a dropper.
This method might be difficult to do by some dog owners. You are bound to feel a bit guilty, but it’s effective at ensuring CBD oil is in your dog’s system.
The dose of most CBD depends on the number of drops you require to provide your dog based on their size and the purpose of administering it. If your dog has no problem taking it, the easiest way to use it on your dog is to get the right amount of CBD into a spoon or a dropper.
There is no need to shake the bottle first. Insert the spoon in your dog’s mouth, nearer to their back and let go of CBD. You can give their favorite snack afterward to make sure they swallow everything. This will help your dog to get used to the sight of CBD bottle without running away at the sight of it.
- Place CBD on a treat
Dogs love their favorite treats and will not hesitate to have a go at them. Now that you have decided to give your dog CBD, it can be tricky to administer it to some dogs.
The goodness with CBD is the fact that it is still effective no matter the way you use to get it inside the system of your dog. Using CBD on treats works well when they are porous so that they can absorb the oil.
If you use CBD on any other treat, the CBD oil will just slide off before your dog has a chance to eat it. You will have to apply the right amount of CBD to the treat and leave it alone for a couple of minutes for the oil to soak in. However, this is a great method for puppies that just require a small dose.
For adult dogs, it’s hard to put a full drop of CBD on a treat because it will not only mess the treat but it can also be hard to convince them to eat it. It only works well if your dog requires larger doses of CBD.
- Put CBD in their empty food bowl
Dogs are inquisitive and there is nothing they love more than mealtimes. They understand that their food bowls are the only items they can expect to get their meals from. The following are the benefits of using an empty food bowl:
- Putting your dog’s recommended dose of CBD in their empty food bowl will force them to lick it.
- For some dogs, there no way that they can put anything in their mouth that doesn’t smell like their usual treats or food. It’s important to place scents of food that they can relate to when putting CBD.
- You will find that your dog will take a lick at CBD to find out if it’s something edible. If they like it, they will lick the full dose of CBD.
At all times, ensure that you administer the correct dose to your dog. Gradually, your dog will become familiar with CBD and will not have problems licking it from their food bowl.
- Mix CBD with tuna juice or fish oil
If your dog has problems with appetite, you have to use various methods to administer CBD. Most dogs love fish-based oil or tuna juice, making it an excellent way of enticing your dog to take in CBD.
The daily usage becomes easier and irresistible for any dog. You might also have tried different ways, but your dog is still not willing to eat CBD. Some dogs are just not easy to be tricked. Then consider placing CBD for your dog on a teaser amount of their food.
Make sure you increase the usage once you notice that it’s not having the desired outcome. The good thing about CBD is the fact that it’s entirely safe for dogs and it will alleviate some of the issues your furry friend is going through.
- Mix CBD with tasty item
Since it’s not easy to add enough CBD to the top of your dog’s treat, you will find that it might not be effective. Your dog will not have enough dose to bring any changes. If your dog is picky and you have tried even CBD treats for dogs to administering CBD but have failed, maybe it might be easier to mix it with something a little tastier.
You can mix CBD with peanut butter on the condition that the peanut butter doesn’t have xylitol, which is a sweetener that is harmful to dogs. The ideal way to mix it is by adding the appropriate dose of CBD with the tasty substance and mix them.
Then you can give your dog in the same way you always do, meaning you can use either a spoon or place it in a treat to keep them occupied. This is one way of ensuring that you have used a proper dosage because your dog will eat the substance with its full CBD contents.
- Mix it with food
One thing every canine requires is their food and they can’t help it but even clean their food bowls once they begin eating. A simple way to let your dog have CBD is to add it directly to their daily food.
Your dog may eat and finish all their food. This technique works well with both dry and wet food and you can start with a small dose and up it gradually when you see your dog has got used to the taste.
You need to add CBD to the food, mix it, and let it soak for a couple of minutes before giving it to your dog. Below are the benefits of mixing CBD with food:
- The dogs will eat all the food ensuring that they get all the CBD dosage.
- Your dog has a chance to eat regulated food to help them stay healthy.
- Dry food easily masks the texture and taste of CBD, preventing your dog from avoiding eating the food.
While you can mix CBD with either wet or dry food, some wet foods might be difficult to mix well. Instead, you will see that there is a separation between the CBD and the food in the dog’s bowl or on the plate. Some dogs are sneaky and might avoid the CBD as they eat. Therefore, it’s important to be present when your dog is eating to see that they are eating everything.
9. Make your dog treat
You can choose to make your own CBD treats for dogs, but it’s not easy to add CBD oil. In the first place, you will have to bake the treats and that will cause the evaporation of CBD oil together with other beneficial contents.
On the other hand, baking treats using a low temperature for pretty a long time or using non-baked treats might work better for you. The suitable way of preparing CBD is by replacing part or all of its oil with another oil. CBD oil needs to be thoroughly distributed to avoid having a messy recipe in your CBD treats for dogs.
It’s important to note that the safest way to administer CBD treats for dogs is by buying already pre-made products from reputable companies. These companies put a lot of safety measures and testing to ensure that each CBD treats for dogs meets the regulation standards.
While some dogs don’t have a problem with a higher dose of CBD, others require the recommended dose to have effective results. To be on the safe side, you must go for the pre-made CBD treats for dogs.
10. Use CBD oil tincture
Another best way to give CBD to your dog is by applying it using CBD oil tincture. Tinctures are designed for you to apply the CBD directly into your dog’s mouth. You have to do it slowly because any quick movement will scare your dog.
Pets have their way of communicating as it’s mostly nonverbal. This makes it difficult to let them know why you are administering CBD. If you make fast movements, they will consider it as a threat and they will run away.
It’s even harder when you are dealing with your dog that has anxiety issues. You have to go slowly to make them feel comfortable and relaxed. Once your dog gets used to CBD, you can begin using other ways to give them the dose.
Conclusion
CBD is a great option if you use it correctly. It’s wise to consult your vet as sometimes they might give you the best ways of administering it to your dog. The key thing is to find out the root cause of the problem in your dog so that you can come up with the right dose.
Changes in your dog’s behavior can be a telltale sign that something is not right with their health. Therefore, if your dog is barking, whining, or has lost interest in their food, it’s time to visit your vet. If your vet gives your dog all-clear diagnosis, consider giving your furry friend CBD treats for dogs. CBD relieves pain from a toothache or helps if it’s a teething puppy and in many other issues.
