How to Give Hemp Oil for Dogs

Thousands of pet parents have had great success using CBD oil for their dogs. There are a number of reasons you might purchase CBD oil or hemp oil for your pooch, but most products require you to administer the oil orally.

For some dogs, that can be a challenge.

There are a few tried and true ways to give your dog CBD oil, and we’re going to discuss them today. The ideas below should make it easier for and your dog to make hemp oil a part of your daily routine.

What’s the Most Effective Way to Give My Dog CBD Oil?

CBD oil is most effective when it’s dropped directly into your dog’s mouth—specifically, the cheek. The goal is for your dog to absorb as much of the CBD as possible.

When delivered to the cheek, CBD has a better chance of getting absorbed into the bloodstream. The cheek is highly concentrated with blood vessels, so placing the oil there is optimal. Dropping directly into the mouth is also a very effective way of giving your dog CBD oil.

If your dog struggles too much or doesn’t allow you to bring the dropper near their mouth, you can also place the desired dosage onto a treat or onto some food in their bowl. Make sure that they’re going to eat the treat or the food quickly after you drop the oil onto it, however.

The longer it sits, the less effective it will be.

In any case, you will lose a little potency when you drop oil onto food or onto a treat. When your dog ingests the treat and it moves through the digestive system, there’s a smaller chance that all of the oil will be absorbed into the bloodstream. Some of the CBD will be lost to the process of digestion, and it won’t be utilized.

The product will still have an effect, but the best result comes when you administer the oil directly into a dog’s mouth or cheek.

Should I Use More If I’m Dropping The Oil Onto Food?

While it’s true that you’ll lose a small amount of potency when you drop onto food, it’s not enough to make a truly significant difference. Don’t give your dog more oil just because you’re dropping it onto food.

Lolahemp’s recommendation is to deliver the amount of oil listed on our dosage chart. If you don’t notice any effects after fourteen days, then you should try increasing the dosage. In all cases, it’s best to start small then increase the dosage methodically as you observe your dog’s progress.

Can I Drop The Oil into My Dog's Water Bowl? 

Unfortunately, dropping oil into your dog's water bowl will not be effective. Oil is not soluble with water and will not mix. Instead, it will stick to the side of the bowl and your dog won't be able to reap the benefits. 

What if My Dog Won’t Take CBD Oil?

If your dog is extremely picky and won’t accept hemp oil, you might just have to sweeten the deal a little bit.

Odds are, there’s something that your dog absolutely loves! Maybe it’s some sweetener-free peanut butter, or maybe there’s a little bacon-flavored treat that they can’t get enough of.

Do your best to hide the oil in one of those snacks. Instead of dropping the oil on top of the treat, try splitting the treat open and dropping the dosage in the middle, then sticking it back together. (If you need something to hold the treat together, try using a little bit of peanut butter!)

If there’s a will, there’s a way, and there’s certainly some type of food or treat that your dog adores. Even though you lose a little bit of potency when the oil is digested, you can still achieve the desired result by dropping the product onto food and adjusting the dosage if you need to.

Unfortunately, there’s not a great way to work around dropping oil into your dog’s cheek if they won’t allow it. It’s ideal if your dog gives you the permission to administer oil that way, but it’s not the end of the world if you can’t make it happen—eating the oil will work nearly as well.

Alternatives to Oil — Chews

Chews are a great alternative to oil, especially if your dog doesn’t accept or enjoy the flavor of hemp oil.

Essentially, chews are treats packed with nutrients, supplements, hemp oil, or a combination of multiple ingredients. Most dogs love the flavor, and this makes it easy to administer a dosage of CBD.

Further, products made as chews are likely to be more effective when ingested. While an oil tincture dropped into the cheek will be the most potent, a chew with CBD is a close second. You also get the added benefit of the other ingredients in the chew.

Chews can be designed to help with mobility, calming, general wellness, and more.

Are All CBD for Pets Products The Same?

While there are a ton of CBD products for pets out there, they are absolutely not made the same. Some products are truly effective, and some are not. Further, some products aren’t made with the attention or care that you would expect from a petcare company.

As a pet owner, you know that your animal is a member of your family. You want to ensure that the products you’re giving them are of the highest quality and, at the very least, that the products are safe.

Our recommendation is to take a close look at the company’s reviews, and make sure that there are a diversity of reviews from hundreds of people over the course of a few years. While some emerging companies might be trustworthy, it’s just too hard to separate them from the disreputable companies without a hefty number of reviews to sift through.

Further, make sure that the company’s ingredients are clearly listed, traceable, and safe for pets. If you can’t find the ingredients to a product or you get the sense that you’re not seeing the full picture, that’s a red flag. A pet CBD company should be proud of its ingredients and list them at the forefront of everything they do.

Finally, you want to make sure that the company you choose offers third-party lab tests for all of their products. It’s important to know the specifics about ingredients when you’re dealing with a cannabis product for pets.

This is because THC, one of the dominant cannabinoids in marijuana, is toxic to pets in high amounts. Hemp, on the other hand, is legally defined as a cannabis plant with 0.3% THC or less. So, hemp is generally considered safe for pets whereas marijuana is not.

Testing is also incredibly important because it allows you to make sure there are no pesticides, microbes, heavy metals, and other contaminants which could be harmful to your pet. 

Hemp, Marijuana, and Cannabis - What’s The Difference?

Cannabis is a species of plant. Marijuana and hemp are two respective subspecies of cannabis.

So, hemp and marijuana have a different chemical makeup. The most important difference between the two is the presence of THC. THC is the cannabinoid in marijuana that produces a psychoactive effect and alters one’s perception.

CBD is a non-impairing cannabinoid that’s known for interacting with the ECS to encourage homeostasis and can provide a number of positive effects related to discomfort, joint troubles, distress, and more.

Note that further research is needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy of CBD, THC, and hemp products in animals. Early research has sown CBD to be generally safe in cats and dogs, and the results of been promising as far as benefits go.

While it’s true that research is limited, anecdotal evidence and reports from millions of pet owners suggest that there are myriad benefits to explore. Lolahemp’s reviews are one such source of positive testimonies.

How Long Does It Take for CBD to Work?

In the case of Lolahemp products, dogs and cats typically see results in anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Results are different for all dogs, however. Some dogs don’t see a benefit.

That’s why Lolahemp offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. If your pet doesn’t see results in that timeframe, odds are that they are not receptive to the potential benefits of hemp oil, and you can get your money back.

Things to Consider

If you're not seeing results right away, it could be the case that a stronger option is needed. Also, double check to see that you’re delivering the right dosage. If you have questions, you can contact us via email or phone.

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How to Use CBD Oil for Dogs: Summary

We hope the information above helps you as you start using hemp oil for your pet. It can be tricky to get the hang of at first, but thousands of pet owners swear that it's an essential part of their daily routine. 

The key idea to remember is that you should stick to the dosing recommendations given by the company you purchased the oil from. The most effective way to deliver the oil is by dropping it into the cheek, although it's nearly as effective to drop it onto a treat or bowl of food. 

If your dog won't accept the flavor or delivery of hemp oil, chews containing hemp oil are a great alternative. Many chews have additional ingredients to help specific issues as well. 

Further, always ask the company you purchased from if you have any concerns or questions. If they're not responsive or helpful, that is a red flag. Contact Lolahemp to address questions you may have about hemp oil, CBD products for pets, or if you want to learn more about our products specifically. 

References:

• Osteoarthritis & pain benefit (2020)
• Cornell safety, clinical efficacy of CBD in dogs
• Delivering oil into dog's mouth