Many people associate hemp and cannabis products with addiction and compulsive behaviors. Maybe you've got a friend who can't seem to stop using cannabis and you're not sure why, or you've just heard that cannabis is an addictive drug.
If you're considering using CBD products for your dog, then, you might wonder whether or not they can become addicted to it. Short answer: No, dogs can't become addicted to CBD. Hemp products don't work on the same dopamine pathways that addictive products like painkillers or illegal drugs sometimes do.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at why CBD isn't addictive to dogs, giving some reassurance to those who are considering adding it to their pup's lives. Let's get started.
Can Dogs Become Addicted to CBD?
To start, let's look at the definition of "addiction" when it comes to dogs.
When we think about addiction, we tend to think about a relationship between a person and something that harms them. When someone continues to use something that harms them despite the harm it causes, and that person experiences extreme difficulty stopping, this usually constitutes addiction.
Addiction is a very complicated issue with many nuances. The bottom line, though, is that it's a blended physical and psychological relationship to a substance. The World Health Organization shows that CBD is not an addictive substance.
Further, dogs aren't capable of forming the same psychological dependence on substances like humans are. Dogs can, however, form physical dependencies on drugs and medications like opioids.
A dog's body gets accustomed to the substance and adjust to it, feeling the absence intensely when it's removed. That's why veterinarians typically taper drugs off of physically addictive medicines rather than just stopping them suddenly.
CBD is not a physically addictive substance. It is not a psychologically addictive substance, either. Therefore, dogs don't become addicted to CBD.
Can CBD Form a Dependency in Dogs?
No, CBD doesn't form a physical dependency like opioids and steroids can.
If your dog were to find great success using CBD, suddenly stopping it or running out wouldn't create physical withdrawals or intense feelings for your dog. After a few days, the benefits your dog experiences might start to fade but they wouldn't experience any harshness or physical symptoms as the CBD leaves their system.
CBD's benefits are tied to consistent use in most cases, as daily dosages give cannabinoids a chance to build up in the system. When CBD reaches peak levels in the bloodstream after a period of a few months, dogs who benefit will most often experience their most visible benefits.
Stopping or reducing the use of CBD at that time could contribute to a loss of benefits, either suddenly or over the course of days.
Conclusion
Fortunately, CBD is a non-addictive substance for dogs and humans alike. If your dog benefits from CBD, the effects will fade if you stop giving it to them but they won't experience physical or psychological withdrawals.
If you want to learn more about CBD and its benefits for dogs, our site has everything you need to know, and this guide is an excellent place to start.
