Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance extracted from the hemp plant that has been shown to be an effective treatment for many ailments. It's also beginning to gain popularity in the field of veterinary medicine. CBD has actually been used to treat animals for decades, but recently companies like Canna-Pet are making it much easier to give your dog this natural remedy.
As expected, CBD is a very controversial treatment option in the human and animal medical fields. Because this is a relatively new method of treatment, there is not a lot of research on the subject. This is what keeps many veterinarians from condoning the use of CBD to treat veterinary patients.
Cannabidiol and hemp oil have many benefits for pets. As this treatment is still relatively new, there are many studies being done on the effects of CBD on health conditions such as anxiety, arthritis and cancer in dogs. So far, the research looks very positive and extremely promising.
It's definitely a topic that you'll need to research on your own, and you should speak with your veterinarian before including anything new in your dog's diet. If your vet isn't open to the idea, perhaps a chat with your local holistic veterinarian may help. If all else fails, there are numerous holistic vets willing to consult with pet owners online or over the phone.
If you decide that this natural remedy may be right for you pooch, Canna-Pet has a line of products that make it very easy to dose your dog or cat. As you will see in this review, their hemp products for dogs include infused treats, capsules and hemp oil. Their hemp products are all non-psychoactive, so you don't need to worry about your dog getting ‘high' from these products.
Canna-Pet Hemp Products for Dogs Review
In the photo above you can see the book Cannabis and CBD Science for Dogs by Dr. Caroline Coile. Canna-Pet sells this book, and they donate all of the proceeds to animal charities.
It is filled with information on therapeutic applications of hemp products for dogs based on 30+ years of scientific research. It also shares a breakdown of the science and research behind the growing field of hemp medicine for dogs. I also enjoyed the first hand accounts of success stories that are shared this book.
You can purchase Cannabis and CBD Science for Dogs (and all of the other products featured in this review) on the company's website. The book sells for $11.95. I think it's a great value for the money, and an excellent resource for dog owners who would like to learn more about this natural remedy for their pets.
Canna-Pet Capsules
I tried out the Canna-Pet Advanced capsules for large breeds, but they are also available for small breeds. The large breed capsules are suitable for all dogs that weigh more than 20 pounds, even giant breeds.
They are made of 100% organic hemp with 170 mg. of hemp in each capsule. They are vegan and preservative, gelatin, SLS, wheat, sugar and dairy free. The hemp is stored inside a clear vegetarian capsule. These capsules are all-natural and GMO-free.
Canna-Pet processes the hemp in a special way to retain as many of the terpenes and flavonoids as possible. In layman's terms, this ensures your dog gets a broad range of CBD phytochemicals.
You can feed these capsules directly to your dog or break them open and sprinkle the powder over his food. The serving size for the hemp capsules formulated for large breeds is 1-2 capsules per day for dogs weighing 20-95 pounds and 2-3 capsules per day for dogs weighing more than 95 pounds. It is recommended that you split the serving into 2-3 servings per day.
Hemp Oil
This is 100% organic, whole-plant hemp oil. There are no carrier oils or alcohol added, and it is specifically formulated for direct absorption through the mouth. Canna-Pet Hemp Oil is up to 15x more effective than their capsules or infused treats.
Oil like this is highly concentrated, so the serving size is only a few drops. The 10 mL bottom shown in my review video contains about 300 drops. The oil is suitable for dogs and horses, but the company says that cats do not like the taste. They recommend using the capsules for a cat, not their hemp oil.
Dosage instructions are 2-3 drops given 3-4 times per day for dogs weighing less than 20 pounds and 3-4 drops given 3-4 times per day for dogs weighing more than 20 pounds. Hemp oil must be administered more frequently than other hemp products because it is metabolized faster.
I've used CBD and hemp oils in the past, so I was not surprised to find out that a 10 mL bottle of this liquid sells for $79.99. For the average, one bottle would last about a month. I know it seems expensive, but it is a natural remedy that is safer for your dog than prescription or over-the-counter medications. Also, compared to other similar products of the same quality and quantity the price is about average.
RELATED: Cannabis for Dogs and Cats – New Businesses in the US Pet Industry
Dog Biscuits
Hemp-infused dog biscuits are probably the most common hemp product for dogs on the market. These biscuits from Canna-Pet contain 80 mg of the company's Advanced Small formula (the small breed version of the hemp powder in the capsules above).
They are available in 3 flavors:
- Turkey Dinner
- Maple Bacon
- Peanut, Banana and Apple (PB & A)
There are about 40 treats in every box, and they sell for $16.99 per box. That's about $0.42 per treat, which is much more expensive than cheap dog treats sell for just a few dollars per box. But, these are therapeutic treats and they are made with high quality ingredients.
Canna-Pet Canna-Biscuits for Dogs are made with organic, non-GMO ingredients. The list of ingredients in each blend are:
Turkey Dinner: Organic barley flour, farm raised turkey, organic cranberries, organic carrots, organic cinnamon, organic sage, hemp
Maple Bacon: Organic barley flour, cured bacon, organic maple powder, organic cinnamon, hemp
PB & A: Organic barley flour, organic peanut flour, organic bananas, organic applesauce, organic peanuts, organic flax seed, hemp CBD
The recommended serving size is 1 treat every 12 hours for dogs weighing less than 20 pounds, 2 treats every 12 hours for dogs weighing 21-44 pounds, 3 treats every 12 hours for dogs weighing 45-95 pounds and 4 treats every 12 hour for dogs weighing 95+ pounds.
A dog weighing 50 pounds would need 6 treats per day. That means that one box of treats wouldn't even last a week. These hemp dog treats are on the expensive end of the spectrum for similar products, but they aren't overpriced for the market.
READ NEXT: CBD for Dogs – What You Must Know