The number of CBD dog treats on the market grows every day, but not all products are made equal. Just like in the human world, quality varies significantly from one brand to another. Health conscious dog owners always want the best for their dogs, so what do they need to know before making their next purchase?
Although some owners might have a general idea about finding quality cannabis products, non-cannabis enthusiasts might be nervous. Can you really give a cannabis product to your pet? (The answer is yes!) While not all cannabis products are safe for pets, those made with cannabidiol (CBD), are 100 percent safe for use by both humans and our furry friends.
Following the same trend as the quest for better dog food products, there is also a shift in culture to find better dog treats as well. Dog treats were historically an afterthought, with downright scary ingredient lists. But today, everything we feed our dogs is under intense scrutiny. How are pet owners supposed to know what dog treats are suitable for their pets, let alone what constitutes a CBD dog treat?
Put those anxieties aside, because it’s not as complicated as it’s made out to be. If you already pay close attention to what foods you choose for your dog, there are only a few additional pieces of info to keep in mind with CBD dog treats. Plus, you might even learn something about what to look for in your own CBD products.
What Are the Benefits of CBD for Dogs?
Dogs and their owners are similar in many ways, far beyond the same silly matching haircuts they post on the internet. Both dogs and humans rely on their endocannabinoid system to support many aspects of their physiology.
The endocannabinoid system, for the uninitiated, is a series of receptors located throughout the body. The receptors are concentrated in crucial areas like in the organs, the brain, the central nervous system, and the immune system. While the body produces its own chemical transmissions, known as endocannabinoids, the system also responds shockingly well to the cannabinoids found in cannabis.
There are dozens upon dozens of known cannabinoids; the most well known are THC and CBD. Through their interaction with the endocannabinoid system, they have demonstrated huge potential for therapeutic benefit. But just what can CBD do for your dogs?
- Based on the preliminary body of research, CBD may:
- Reduce anxiety
- Promote cancer cell death and prevent cancer cell migration
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce neurological degeneration
- Treat chronic pain
- Inhibit seizure activity
- Soothe gastrointestinal distress
How to Find the Absolute Best CBD Treats For Your Dog?
Because we love our dogs more than anything else on earth, (seriously) why wouldn’t we want to source the best quality product possible? Here are the top things to keep in mind before purchasing any CBD dog treats on the market
Extraction Method
Producers extract CBD through a handful of different ways. Some ways are cheaper, some ways are more technical, but at the root of it all, extraction influences final the quality of the final product.
One of the most common types of extraction for pet-grade products is to just use olive oil. Its inexpensive and the final product contains zero contaminants from the extraction process.
A more powerful way to extract cannabinoids like CBD from cannabis is through an ethanol extraction process. Its quick, its cheap, but it’s also dirty. The final CBD product might be more potent than with olive oil, but it also might contain more hydrocarbon contaminants.
The safest method of extraction, with also reaps the most beneficial results is through CO2 extractions. Typically this requires a bit of financial investment, but produces the highest grade product.
Isolate or Full Spectrum?
Some CBD dog treats on the market advertise the fact that they contain CBD isolates. You might think that an isolate would be much stronger, and therefore much better than other options. But thanks to something called the entourage effect, full-spectrum extractions are actually much more medicinally beneficial.
Full spectrum CBD oils contain compounds from the entire plant. All the other available terpenes and cannabinoids team up with CBD to boost its medicinal potential. This synergistic effect is called the entourage effect, only found in full spectrum oils.
Organically Grown
Many CBD dog treats derive from industrial hemp plants, which come from large-scale monoculture farms. Many farms rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to protect their crop. The chemicals end up in the final CBD product, and then into our pets.
Sourcing CBD products from organically grown hemp is the best way to find wholly healthy and safe foods for your dog. Just like we don’t want to ingest chemicals, we want to make sure we aren’t feeding them to our pets.
Ingredient List
The main ingredient in CBD dog treats will never be CBD because it’s more of a medicinal supplement. However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore all the other ingredients which come before CBD on the label.
Cheap treats contain animal by-products, empty fillers and a long list of non-pronounceable preservatives. Is this what you want to give your dog? Of course not. Look for whole foods, healthy proteins and other quality ingredients on top of the beneficial cannabinoids.
There are many things to consider in the pet food store: price, ingredients, and overall benefit. Looking for CBD dog treats is very similar to looking for a better dog food brand. Plus of course, the additional characteristics of CBD oil. Attention to details like extraction method, full spectrum versus isolate, and a whole food ingredient list is essential to find the absolute best product on the market.
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