Many pet owners have reported benefits of hemp for their dogs that suffer from pain, arthritis, seizures, anxiety, inappetence, cognitive dysfunction and more.

In fact, a recent article in JAVMA News provides several accounts of animal caregivers finding significant benefits from administration of hemp products both as an alternative therapy and as a nutritional supplement. In this article, we will learn to understand the different products of the Hemp plant, such as Hempseed oil and CBD oil, and how your dog may benefit from them.

Hemp vs Marijuana – Know the difference

First things first! Many people do not make a difference between hemp and marijuana, but this is not correct! Hemp and marijuana are two different types of plants coming from the same family. Hemp and marijuana both come from the same plant family ‘“ Cannabis sativa. In fact, cannabis is the only plant genus known to produce cannabinoids, and both hemp and marijuana contain the two major cannabinoids. These are, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which has a ‘œpsychoactive’ effect (the ‘high’ feeling) when used as a recreational drug, and cannabidiol (CBD) which does not provide ‘œpsychoactive’ effects and is known for its psychotropic and neuroprotective medical uses. However, this is where the similarity ends.

The major difference between hemp and marijuana lies in the ratio of THC to CBD that the plant contains. By definition, hemp (also known as industrial hemp) contains high levels of CBD and less than 0.3% of THC. In comparison, the marijuana plant can contain levels of more than 20% THC and a much lower level of CBD. So, the THC levels of hemp plants are much lower than the legal THC limit in most countries and that is why doctors and veterinarians can prescribe Hemp based medicinals legally. In reality THC is toxic for dogs but studies show that the levels of THC in industrial hemp are safe and insignificant levels for your dog. In addition, CBD has a blocking effect on THC when it is in the bloodstream. So, you do not need to worry that your dog might get high from Hemp products.

In the context of this article we will talk exclusively about the hemp plant, its products and their benefits to your dog.

Hemp Seed oil & CBD oil are NOT the same

Now that we are talking about hemp products, there are still things that might confuse you. There are various beneficial hemp products out there but people sometimes keep using the term Hemp oil, Hemp seed oil and CBD oil interchangeably. Hemp oil is just the generic term for Hemp Seed oil and CBD oils. Both these two oils come from the hemp plant but they are two different things, with many different uses!

CBD oil – A medicinal therapy

CBD oil comes from the stalk, leaves and buds of the hemp plant. It has several therapeutic uses. It can help manage many health conditions in both humans and dogs; such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, seizures and even cancer. The cannabidiol in CBD oil is a brilliant alternative to many conventional medications. In fact, there is much ongoing research about the benefits of CBD oil for dogs. 

Hemp Seed oil – A diet supplement

Hemp Seed (or hempseed) oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant, and is a nutritional supplement. The hemp seeds contain very little CBD but are very rich in nutrients that also have many health benefits for your dog.

Benefits – CBD oil for dogs

Just as CBD has helped humans, your dog can reap the same health-boosting (and life-saving) benefits from hemp. Veterinarians regularly prescribe CBD oils for dogs as an organic and natural alternative to many conventional medications. This hemp product has many therapeutic and beneficial effects on various chronic dog diseases.

Joint pain & Arthritis

CBD oil is very effective at relieving the symptoms of joint pain and arthritis. Studies have shown that CBD can have powerful pain-relieving effects to ease joint pain. In addition, CBD has anti inflammatory properties, making it a very viable option for treating the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.

Anxiety

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or noise phobias then CBD oil could help. CBD has been extensively studied for its effect on reducing stress and anxiety levels in mammals. Some research suggests that CBD can stimulate specific serotonin receptors in the brain by temporarily blocking the absorption of serotonin. So as a result, there is an increase of serotonin levels in the brain, which makes your dog calm and happy.

Seizure

CBD is a known compound that helps fight seizures in humans and dogs. Most dogs that suffer from seizures and epilepsy, are usually put on drugs like phenobarbital and potassium bromide. While these may help control the seizures, these can also be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver and other organs. On the other hand, studies show that CBD oil is a natural agent that can successfully reduce seizure and epilepsy in dogs.

Cancer

Research shows that CBD oil can be effective in both treating and preventing cancer in dogs. Multiple studies show that both THC and CBD cause apoptosis, or cancer cell suicide, and halt the growth of tumors. In this case, since we cannot give THC to dogs, veterinarians give only CBD oil to reduce and possibly cure cancerous tumors in dogs. It has anti-inflammatory effects, it can help ease chronic pain and anxiety, and can halt the spread of cancer cells.

Inappetence

For dogs with lack of appetite, CBD oil may help. The National Cancer Institute reports that CBD increases appetite and carries the extra benefit of controlling cancer. It was found that CBD oil will help vomiting and nausea in dogs, even when they’re the result of toxins and drugs.

One of the top brands that I recommend is Zesty Paws. Their Hemp Elements Salmon Oil Plus Hemp is a top quality product.

Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil for dogs

Hemp seeds contains various types of fatty acids, antioxidants and phospholipids that are especially valuable as a supplement to both dogs and humans. Hempseed products for humans come in various forms other than hemp oil; such as hemp seeds, hemp milk and hemp butter. However, the best source of hemp supplement for dogs is hemp seed oil. This is because hemp seed oil is cold pressed so there is minimal processing involved.

Hemp seed oil contains:

• Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA)

Helps manage arthritis, reduces skin allergies, boosts immune function, stimulates cancer cell death and helps with weight management.

• Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Helps prevent allergies, arthritis, irritable bowel disease (IBD), heart disease, diabetes, liver & kidney disease and cancer.

• Antioxidants

Antioxidants help the immune system fight free radical damage. Good for your dog’s skin, eyes, heart, cognitive function and immune system.

• Phospholipids

Lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, boost immune function, improve cognitive disorders and brain health, manage inflammation and arthritis pain.

Hemp Seed Oil is Safer than Fish oil!

In addition, hemp seed oil is a safer supplement than fish oil for your dog. Fish oil production uses heat, which makes it somewhat unstable, can make it turn rancid quickly and can cause inflammation in your dog. Not a very good idea when you consider that you give your dog Fish oil supplements to fight irritation and inflammation! On the other hand, hemp seed oil is cold pressed which makes it more stable than fish oils and less likely to become oxidised or rancid (but you should still refrigerate hemp seed oil for a longer shelf life).

Since fish oil comes from fish, it can contain mercury, radiation and other contaminants. Organic Hemp products, on the other hand, are made from organically grown hemp plants without pesticides or toxins.

Is Hemp oil safe for my dog?

For legal purposes, most hemp oil come from hemp plants that have extremely low to non-existent levels of THC. This means that you can safely give your dogs hemp products without getting them high, while still being able to take advantage of the many medical benefits.

Do NOT give Hemp oil if your dog’s diet is based on Chicken!

On another note, Hemp seed oil should NOT be given to your pup as a supplement if you feed your dog mainly with chicken. Chicken and hemp oil are a bad combination. They both are very high in polyunsaturated fats, and can cause an imbalance in the fats in your dog’s diet. If you feed your dog a lot of chicken then you should give it fish oil or flaxseed oil instead. Hemp oil supplement is perfectly fine if you feed your dog ruminant meats such as beef, bison, lamb, goat or venison.

Chicken and hemp oil are a bad combination.

Do NOT cook with Hemp Oil!

Hemp seed oil is also NOT recommended if you cook for your dog. Do not heat or cook hemp seed oil because it’s unstable at high temperatures and can become toxic.

Risks

As is the case with other botanical products, risks associated with hemp could include intrinsic toxic agents in the plant; species-specific adverse reactions; interactions with medications; mislabelling or plant misidentification; and toxicity from pesticides, contaminants and/or adulterants. Consumers should employ caution and ask for professional advice with any cannabis product, should they decide to use it.

In conclusion

Now that we have gone through the major aspects and benefits of Hemp Oil products for dogs, we hope that it will help in your search for natural and organic alternative therapy for your dog’s health. We are sure that you will be more confident in your research to buy Hemp oil medication and nutritional supplements for your dog’s benefit. You can find these Hemp products on various online shops or pet stores. Just make sure that the Hemp Oil product you buy is from a reputable company, made from organic hemp that is grown without chemicals & pesticides.