How Soon Does CBD Work on Dogs?

April 18, 2023

Written By: Earth Buddy Team

When does cbd oil start working for dogs? A dog licking a bottle of Earth Buddy Mobility with CBDa.

How soon does CBD work on dogs? This is a tricky question since there are several factors that affect how CBD works on our furry friends. CBD is known to interact with the endocannabinoid system in the body, which regulates various bodily functions, including mood, appetite, and discomfort. However, it’s not always a dramatic difference the moment your dog ingests hemp oil. Every dog reacts differently. 

Learning About the Endocannabinoid System

Before you can understand why it may take a little time for CBD to work, you must first learn about the system with which CBD interacts. The endocannabinoid system  is present in all mammals and is important in promoting homeostasis, or balance, within the body. Both humans and dogs, cats, and other animals have an endocannabinoid system.

There are cannabinoids in CBD oils that react with the endocannabinoid system’s cannabinoid receptor sites to produce health benefits. It’s kind of like a puzzle. Mammals hold half of the puzzle, and the other half is held by the cannabis plant. When the pieces of the puzzle are put together, there is balance in the mammalian system. 

By introducing cannabinoids from Earth Buddy’s full-spectrum organic Hemp Extract, the receptor sites can promote many health benefits, including calming, promoting joint health for joint discomfort, brain health, nervous system health, and immune support, along with other functions in other parts of the body.

How Long Does it Take for CBD to Work on Dogs?

How long does it take for CBD to work on dogs? A woman giving black lab an Earth Buddy CBD treat.

CBD works differently for each dog. There’s no key that says “how long does it take to work?” The dosage that works for one dog may not work for another. Also, it depends on the purpose you are looking to use CBD for your dog, which will definitely vary depending on the reason. We recommend you start low and go slow. Don’t be in a rush for CBD to work. You want CBD to work on its own time with your dog’s body.

Try the suggested dosage on the label for 7-10 days and then adjust accordingly. If you notice health benefits, you can leave the dosage as-is. If you don’t notice the effects at that particular dosage, slowly increase the dosage, then wait another 7-10 days, and so on.

When determining if the CBD oil starts working, monitor your dog’s digestion, demeanor, and overall behavior. Unfortunately, our dogs can’t tell us when they’re feeling better. If you know your dog well, you will likely be able to recognize even the most subtle health benefits, especially if they have joint discomfort and show differences in their gait. Jot down details in a notebook, even if they’re small, subtle differences. Each pet will require a different amount of CBD oils based on their dog’s weight, size, age, and breed.

CBD for Dogs is Unregulated

Not all CBD products are the same. The pet CBD industry is highly unregulated, and, as such, there are many products that won’t work due to their massive number of impurities. When you’re searching for a Pet CBD product, you need to look for a Certificate of Analysis from a 3rd party laboratory. 

The certificate of analysis, also known as the COA, is a lab report that shows exactly what’s in the product you’re considering. It provides the exact amounts of each cannabinoid, including CBD and THC. This is one of the ways you can make sure you’re not only buying a high-quality product but also that the product is full-spectrum. 

Notice we said the COA must come from a 3rd party lab. Here’s why. Results from a third party lab mean the company has paid another organization to test their products, resulting in zero bias. Look to make sure the logo isn’t the same on the COA as it is on the product. If you have any questions, or can’t find a certificate of analysis, contact the manufacturer. If they aren’t willing to provide the COA, that’s a red flag.

You can find Earth Buddy’s certificate of analysis results here

Why You Need Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract

Earth buddy hemp extracts for dogs come in a variety of 250mg, 500mg, 1000mg, and water-soluble CBD with a full-spectrum of cannabinoids to help anxiety and pain.

Full-spectrum Hemp Extract is used in all of Earth Buddy’s products, and this is an important factor to consider when purchasing a product. Since the industry is unregulated, there are many organizations claiming they have a quality CBD product, but often are broad-spectrum or isolate. What’s the difference?

With lifestyle, environment, or aging the endocannabinoid system in dogs can become deficient, which is why it is important to provide dogs with a wide array of phytocannabinoids from hemp. Not just one (CBD), because they all seem to work differently in the body, but research shows that they work better together (entourage effect). 

If you don’t have a full-spectrum product, the entourage effect cannot truly occur, and different body functions likely won’t be affected. The entourage effect occurs synergistically with all the compounds in the plant, including CBD, CBG, CBDa, THC, terpenes, and other compounds within the plant. This is what is responsible for the efficacy of the product. The main premise with full-spectrum CBD is that the whole plant extract is better together than individually. 

To further expand on this, cannabinoids act in retrograde and/or retrograde signaling. As opposed to pre synapse to post synapse for chemicals like serotonin or dopamine, cannabinoids work backwards to communicate what is actually needed. In other words, cannabinoids will regulate or balance issues in the body. 

Broad-spectrum products not only contain fewer compounds, but they also require more processing. This means that even more complex compounds are removed from the tincture. These are compounds that are beneficial to the endocannabinoid system, and for them to be removed, means the product likely will not work effectively. So, now, how long does it take? Well, with a broad spectrum product, the question won’t be how long does it take because it may not work at all. 

Based on What It’s Being Used For

hand holding a dropper with earth buddy 500mg full-spectrum cbd oil for dogs to help with anxiety problems in dogs. 

For dogs exhibiting nervousness, hyperactivity, discontentment, or responding to environmentally-induced stress, there may be differences noticed within several minutes after applying the full spectrum Hemp Extract tincture directly orally. However, if you’re using the full-spectrum hemp extract tincture to promote healthy inflammatory pathways, it may take days, if not, a period of several weeks. 

Short-Term Effects

CBD, or cannabidiol, can have varying onset times for dogs depending on the product and the dog’s individual response. In general, CBD oil administered orally may take around 30 minutes to an hour to start working. However, the effects may take longer to become noticeable if the dog is taking a lower dose or has a slower metabolism. 

If you aren’t seeing results, you may be afraid to provide more. Although Earth Buddy does recommend starting with a low dose, it’s generally safe to increase the dosage until you find what works. More often than not, if you aren’t noticing results over time, it’s because you haven’t found the right dose. Remember, this is a trial-and-error process.

How Much CBD Oil as a Starting Dose

Until you begin a CBD regimen with your pet, there’s no way to know how they will respond. There’s no simple dog CBD oils dosage calculator. You don’t automatically know how much CBD oil to use for your dog. Fortunately, its safety has been vigorously tested, and as we learn more, the worst side effect from using too much CBD tends to be diarrhea or lethargy. And, sensitivity ranges from pet to pet. 

The goal is to find the lowest effective dose. The recommended dosage generally varies with the weight of the pet. As a general guideline, Earth Buddy recommends providing 1-3 mg per 10 pounds of body weight. If you’re using a tincture, the most common administration method is through the dog’s mouth using a dropper or pipette to place the tincture in the dog’s mouth. If possible, placing the tincture on the gums could allow it to be absorbed by the capillaries in the gums.

For more information on how much CBD Oil as a starting dose, watch this video:

 

Administer CBD with Your Dog’s Food

Administering a full-spectrum hemp extract tincture with your dog’s food could have an impact on how much CBD your dog’s body absorbs. Bioavailability, or the amount of CBD that is absorbed by the body, is a necessary factor when determining how soon CBD can work and how different body functions are affected. The lower the bioavailability, the more of the tincture you will need for your dog. The higher the bioavailability, the better the results.

Studies show CBD remains in the body for longer periods of time if your pet consumes fatty foods before administering CBD. CBD is fat-soluble, which means it will stay in the body if it has fat molecules available.This is part of why MCT oil is added to CBD tinctures.

MCT, or medium-chain triglycerides, are fat molecules that are derived from coconuts and are easily digested by the body. They’re able to move through the digestive system without being broken down into smaller molecules. MCT also provides energy throughout the day and is low in calories, so you don’t have to worry about adding unhealthy fats to your dog’s body.

How to mix CBD into dog’s food:

 

When Does CBD Oil Start Working for Dogs? CBD Treats May Take Longer

If you’re feeding your dog full spectrum hemp plant extract in treat form rather than providing the hemp plant tincture, it may take longer to see effects. With a tincture, the compounds are able to interact with the endocannabinoid system quickly through the bloodstream. However, when it’s consumed in treat form, it must first be metabolized by the digestive system. 

This is because CBD treats need to be digested by your dog’s body before the CBD can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The time it takes for CBD treats to take effect can vary depending on many factors, such as your dog’s metabolism and the amount of food they have in their stomach. If your dog has a slow metabolism, you may not see results for a significant amount of time.CBD

Check out how CBD Treats for Dogs helped this old dog’s progress:

 

Consistent Use Helps

In some cases, CBD products are more successful when they are used consistently and remain in your dog’s system. Most of the benefits in the beginning may not be noticeable as the endocannabinoid system does its work internally. Although you may notice some results quickly as CBD starts working, most of the results will come with long-term benefits that arise with consistent use around the same time each day.

Before:

 

After: 

 

Should You Use a Treat or Tincture?

There are benefits and drawbacks to the tincture and the Hemp Hearts or Calming Chews. Full-spectrum hemp extract in tincture form provides higher levels of CBD and other minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. You’re also able to use the lowest effective dosage and adjust the CBD dosage using trial and error to determine the best amount for your individual dog.

Hemp Hearts & Calming Chews for dogs also have their own pros and cons. They are easier to provide, especially for dogs that are particularly picky with what goes in their mouth. Or, for those who completely refuse the oil altogether. However, there is a fixed amount in each Hemp Heart or Soft Chew, which does not allow you to know what the lowest effective dosage is. 

Consult with a Veterinary Expert

Most traditional veterinarians aren’t well-versed in cannabis medicine, much less CBD products. If pet parents are looking to speak with a veterinarian, they can search for a holistic veterinarian or check out Earth Buddy’s resources page. There are several resources available to discuss products with as well as ask any questions regarding how soon CBD should start working for your dog. 

If you are increasing the dosage and still aren’t seeing many health benefits, or perhaps none at all, but are afraid to increase the dosage further, you may benefit from speaking with a veterinary expert knowledgeable in cannabis medicine for this reason as well. That’s perfectly understandable. Trying something new can be scary, especially since our dogs are our best friends. A veterinary expert can also advise you regarding the many health benefits of giving CBD products to your dog and let you know when they believe CBD oil starts working. 

 

For further reading, we recommend:

 

 

 

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