Is CBD Safe for Dogs?

As dog owners, we all tend to go above and beyond when caring for our furballs, especially when they are feeling out of sorts. We'll try anything to get them to feel better, which is why many of us have considered giving hemp-derived CBD treats and oils to our pups. But is CBD safe for dogs?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids this plant produces, including both hemp and marijuana types (although CBD is more predominant in hemp varieties).

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that you may have also heard about, CBD does not have any stimulating effects. When it comes to dogs, the other critical difference between THC and CBD is that the latter is non-toxic.

We still need more time and scientific investigation to fully understand the effects of CBD. But that doesn't mean its benefits are a complete mystery. There is already a lot of preliminary study about CBD's safety profile and therapeutic potential — and that doesn't just go for humans, but dogs too.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, a lot of interesting research is coming out about how CBD could help dogs. Veterinary researchers are currently exploring how CBD may impact physical discomfort and inflammation. CBD also has promising results for improving stress, sleep, and mood.

You aren't the only one who sees parallels between CBD’s effects on people and pups. Let's look at a few of the more interesting outcomes published so far about CBD and dogs. 

One study published in 2023 looked at how dogs react to stress when left alone or traveling in a car and whether a single dose of THC-free CBD could help reduce this stress. Dogs were divided into two groups, one left alone in a familiar room and the other taken on a short car journey. 

Researchers discovered that both scenarios caused stress, with the car journey causing more stress overall. However, no matter the scenario, the CBD treatment improved stress measures compared to a placebo for some of the dogs.

Another study published in Frontiers of Veterinary Sciences looked at the effects of full-spectrum CBD on dogs with osteoarthritis. After four weeks, both vets and dog owners reported no negative reactions to the CBD treatment. They also noticed significant reductions in discomfort and increases in activity in the dogs. 

In 2019, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a study on using CBD oil to reduce seizures in dogs with severe epilepsy. In this study, 26 dogs were split into two groups: One received CBD oil daily, and the other received a placebo. According to the results, "a significant reduction in seizure frequency was achieved for dogs in the CBD group."

While these results are very exciting for dog owners, it's always important to remember that the effects will vary from one dog to the next. CBD products are not intended to treat any disease or condition.

At Hometown Hero, we worked with a veterinarian to create our Calming CBD Dog Treats with real full-spectrum CBD (not generic hempseed oil with no cannabinoids) to offer your four-legged friend comfort from joint pain and external stressors such as:

And yes, that's 20mg of full-spectrum CBD per piece, which contains the whole profile of the hemp plant, offering greater effectiveness compared to CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD. Although full-spectrum CBD does contain THC, it's at such a trace amount that if consumed at the recommended amounts listed on the bag, it should not deliver negative effects (again, we developed these treats with a real veterinarian.) That said, they are only recommended for dogs 10 pounds and over.

But besides the hemp-derived relaxation for your pup, these treats also offer premium flavor. They were made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients to deliver the savory delight of a  Chicken Dinner or sweet, creamy Peanut Butter goodness.