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How Long Will CBD Take to Work in a Dog? Important Facts to Know

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By Nicole Cosgrove

giving CBD oil to dog

The CBD industry is rapidly expanding in the United States, so it’s no surprise that there’s a growing market for our furry friends too. But if you’re giving your dog a CBD supplement to help with anxiety or something similar, how long until you can expect to see results? As a general answer, you can likely expect CBD oil to work on a dog around 30 to 45 minutes after ingestion.

We dive into everything the science has to say on the topic here, including the potential benefits and risks of giving your pet a CBD-infused supplement.

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How Long Does It Take CBD to Work on a Dog?

Since there are no large-scale studies on CBD oil and dogs, it’s impossible to know for sure exactly how long it takes for CBD to work in dogs. However, most products do make claims on how long it should take to work1.

But since products market themselves to sell, we need to take any information that they provide with a grain of salt. Still, even with all these caveats, you can likely expect CBD oil to work on a dog around 30 to 45 minutes after ingestion.

Most dogs take CBD products orally, and that’s about how long it takes for various nutrients from other oral medications to start working in dogs.

dog taking CBD oil
Image Credit: Aleksey Boyko, Shutterstock

Potential Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs

There aren’t any large-scale studies on CBD oil and dogs, making it hard to say with certainty what CBD oil can help with.

However, according to WebMD for pets, many owners give CBD oil to their dogs in the hopes that it will help with2:

  • Inflammation
  • Nausea
  • Appetite problems
  • Pain control
  • Seizures
  • Anxiety control
  • Improving heart health

According to WebMD for pets, one small study showed an improvement in dogs with seizures that took CBD oil, but the rest seems like it’s more speculation.

Risks of CBD Oil for Dogs

While there might be a few benefits to giving your dog CBD oil to help treat certain conditions, there are also quite a few risks.

According to WebMD for pets, potential risks include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Low blood pressure
  • Drowsiness
  • Fertility issues

That’s just with properly prescribed and dosed CBD oil. According to the University of Oklahoma, the side effects can be a bit more severe. The chief concern rests in the fact that no guidelines or regulators ensure that the CBD products that you’re ordering for your pets are what they say that they are. Growing conditions, producers, or retailers are not regulated, and there’s no guideline for testing labs either.

You’re simply hoping that you’re getting what it says that it’s delivering, making it hard to regulate dosage levels for your pets.

CBD Oil for dogs
Image Credit: Erin_Hinterland, Pixabay

Is CBD Oil Legal for Dogs?

The laws around CBD oil in the United States are complex and vary from state to state and sometimes from county to county.

Currently, CBD products are illegal in Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Federally, the legality of CBD gets even more complex. CBD from hemp is federally legal, but CBD from marijuana is federally illegal.

So, is CBD oil legal for dogs? It depends on where you live, where the CBD oil comes from, and more. Do your research for your area, and if you’re unsure, play it safe and don’t get it at all.

Avoiding THC With Dogs

While the science is up in the air about the effectiveness of CBD oil in dogs, there is no question about THC.

THC is extremely toxic for dogs, so you need to ensure that you never give your dog any product that might contain THC. Most dog products made specifically for pets don’t contain THC, but double-check the labeling just to be safe.

This is also one of the chief concerns that come from the unregulated growing and lab conditions associated with CBD products for pets.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about giving your pet a CBD-infused product, we highly recommend talking to a vet about the potential risks and benefits beforehand, so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself and your pet into.

Either way, you’ll want to monitor your dog after giving them a supplement, and for CBD products, you should start to notice something about 30 to 45 minutes after giving them the product. Just know what you’re doing, and keep an eye on your dog to ensure that they stay healthy and safe!

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Featured Image Credit: 24K-Production, Shutterstock

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