CBD oil for dogs is becoming a popular natural medicine amongst dog owners in Australia and throughout the world.
There’s a lot of misconception around what CBD oil is, and how it works on dogs. It can get confusing and stressful, as you want to make sure your dog is safe with any chemical it ingests.
It’s been said that CBD oil can help with the treatment of various health issues and diseases in dogs, ranging from diabetes to depression and anxiety.
But how true is all of this?
If you’ve been looking for information on CBD oil for dogs here in Australia, you’ve found the right place!
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is an oil originating from hemp plants, a type of cannabis. Hemp has been used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years, from making paper to producing healing oils and supplements.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound and is one of the 113 discovered cannabinoids. There are over a hundred different types of cannabinoids in cannabis plants, and they can be used in humans and animals for healing effects.
CBD is distinct from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the compound in cannabis that produces the sensation of being ‘high’.
Dogs suffer a wide range of conditions from stress and anxiety to chronic pain, cancer, arthritis and epilepsy. As a result, it’s natural that pet owners will look for natural remedies to support their dog’s health.
CBD oil for dogs is known to be an effective alternative for treating a wide range of medical and behavioural issues, and is given as a dietary supplement.
It has the potential to improve the quality of life for many dogs. All without the unwanted side effects that so often comes with prescribed medications.
You can read everything you need to know about CBD oil here.
Is CBD oil safe for dogs in Australia?
Generally, yes. But when given CBD oil, dogs may react differently because each dog is different in terms of physiology.
So, CBD oil is usually well-tolerated in dogs, with few side effects having been shown. Some, however, include increased sleepiness, a dry mouth, and possible digestive upset.
If your dog does experience side effects from using CBD, it may be due to the incorrect dosage. You can seek advice from a vet and use our CBD calculator to get a dose based on your dog’s weight.
CBD oil has, however, been shown through scientifically-backed data to present a range of benefits for dogs. We’ll look more into this below.
What are the benefits of CBD oil for dogs?
While there is no concrete evidence that CBD oil can treat or cure dogs in every circumstance, there are promising results from scientific research indicating benefits.
Pain reduction
Research has shown that CBD can reduce pain in dogs suffering from arthritis because of the ability to reduce inflammation.
This 2018 study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, for example, found that after taking CBD oil, there was a reduction in pain and an increase in mobility for dogs suffering from arthritis. The research suggested that “2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with osteoarthritis”.
This recent 2020 study published in Pain also looked at dogs suffering osteoarthritis. It looked at 20 large dogs with the condition over a period of four weeks. The dogs who used a placebo or low dose of CBD oil showed little improvement. But those who used higher doses of liposomal CBD were shown to enjoy improvements in their mobility and their quality of life.
The study positively concluded that:
… clinical chemistry indicated no significant detrimental impact of CBD administration over the 4-week analysis period. This study supports the safety and therapeutic potential of hemp-derived CBD for relieving arthritic pain and suggests follow-up investigations in humans are warranted.
One of the authors of the study, Matthew Halpert, commented that he was surprised at how fast the health of these dogs improved.
Reduced aggression
Very recent scientific evidence has indicated that CBD can potentially reduce aggression in some dogs.
This 2021 study looked at how CBD can reduce aggression in canines.
It took 24 dogs in shelters and divided them into two evenly numbered groups. One was given a placebo (just olive oil) and the other was given extra virgin olive oil consisting of 5% CBD.
The results were not significant, but the study concluded that an administration of CBD every 24 hours seemed to reduce aggressive behaviour. Although, it did not result in any effects on stress-related behavioural categories.
The study concluded that more research should be undertaken to completely understand CBD’s effects because the results are positive to date.
Anti-convulsion
One study conducted at Colorado State University tested medical cannabis on dogs, assessing how it could help treat seizures.
It looked at 16 dogs who were receiving regular anti-convulsive treatment. Nine of the dogs received CBD and THC.
Dr Stephanie McGrath, who conducted the study, stated that the results were promising.
They showed a “significant decrease in seizure activity between the treatment group and the placebo group.”
The research found that dogs which absorbed CBD quicker had the largest reduction in seizures. The cannabidiol treatment also provided the benefits without the pancreatitis that has been seen with traditional anti-convulsive therapies.
Further research needed
While the current evidence is promising, further studies must be conducted to fully understand the benefits of CBD oil for dogs.
Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog CBD oil so you can be sure your best friend receives the treatment it needs.
You can read more about the human benefits of CBD oil here.
CBD Oil Dosage: Recommended dosage for dogs
Experts advise using 1mg of CBD for every ten pounds of your dog’s body weight. As a result, a 50-pound dog should be given enough oil to provide 5 mg of CBD.
When administering CBD oil to dogs, it is best to stick to the recommended dosage.
Dosage chart for dogs
We’ve put together a CBD oil dosage chart for dogs based on your pet’s weight, which may be a handy reference for you.
| Dog weight | Low dose | Medium dose | High dose |
| 10 pounds | 1mg | 3mg | 5mg |
| 20 pounds | 2mg | 6mg | 10mg |
| 30 pounds | 3mg | 9mg | 15mg |
| 40 pounds | 4mg | 12mg | 20mg |
| 50 pounds | 5mg | 16mg | 25mg |
| 60 pounds | 6mg | 18mg | 30mg |
| 70 pounds | 7mg | 21mg | 35mg |
| 80 pounds | 8mg | 24mg | 40mg |
| 90 pounds | 9mg | 27mg | 45mg |
| 100 pounds | 10mg | 30mg | 50mg |
Can I give my dog human CBD oil?
Yes, you can because here is no distinction between human CBD oil and CBD for dogs.
While ‘dog CBD oil’ is often labelled with dog owners in mind, they contain the same cannabinoids. Using human CBD oil for your dog is fine.
Although, as CBD oil comes in different strengths, make sure you are following the recommended dosage guidelines.
When caring your your dog’s health, always choose the best CBD oil for the most potent, therapeutic results.
Where to buy CBD oil for dogs in Australia
You can buy CBD oil online for your dog right here at the Little Health Company.
We make CBD oil using organic hemp and to extract the cannabinoids, only CO2 is used. This means you have a pure CBD product for your dog, with no contaminants.
It’s important to conduct thorough research on CBD oil before making the decision to buy.
So make sure to get in touch with us today to discuss further. We look forward to talking to you about the potential for CBD oil to treat your four-legged pal.
You can also learn everything you need to know about buying CBD oil here.
