We’ve all heard the story (or witnessed it personally) of a dog eating THC-infused goodies. As the story goes, Fido follows his nose to a stash of infused edibles, inevitably eating too much for his small, furry little frame, and soon finds himself experiencing all of the effects of THC—especially the negative ones. He stumbles, grows lethargic, bobs his head around, and soon becomes unresponsive for hours on end. This is called marijuana toxicosis, and while it’s very rarely lethal at lower doses, it can be incredibly traumatic for pets and their owners. So, storing your personal cannabis products out of reach is crucial for keeping your pet safe.
In this article, we’ll discuss the similar relationship our pets have with CBD products—and their uniquely toxic relationship with THC. Here, we’ll also give pet owners ways to keep their stash of THC products out of reach from Fido.
And finally, we’ll show you how to effectively introduce pet-safe CBD products into your dog’s daily schedule, giving them all the therapeutic benefits we associate with this age-old compound.**
Let’s Talk About Cannabis & Dogs
It’s widely known that your dog can enjoy the wellness-boosting benefits of CBD just like you.** But how? CBD, sometimes called cannabidiol, is a chemical compound native to hemp and cannabis plants. These compounds are cannabinoids, and there are over a hundred different ones cached inside the hemp plant. Among this sea of cannabinoids, CBD remains king, existing as one of the most abundant.
When you ingest or inhale CBD, whether from a CBD gummy or CBD vape, the cannabinoids filter through your body, find their way into your bloodstream, and go on to interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS).** Your ECS is a network of receptors that spans all across your body. Your ECS works around the clock to maintain homeostasis, or balance, within your mind and body.
Supplementing cannabinoids through CBD products gives the ECS extra resources to perform these essential functions, boosting the system’s efforts and promoting a wide range of wellness benefits.** This is how CBD provides its patented therapeutic effects.**
The funny thing is: dogs also have endocannabinoid systems—as do all vertebrates and invertebrates. And their body responds similarly to CBD.** But, as pet owners, it’s not CBD we have to worry about. It’s another abundant cannabinoid in hemp and cannabis plants: THC.
What Is THC?
Like CBD, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a well-known cannabinoid in hemp and cannabis plants. But, unlike CBD, THC incites intoxicating effects on the mind and body. THC is responsible for cannabis’ iconic “high” sensation. Whether inhaled or ingested, THC can profoundly affect your mind, which can cause a toxic sensation in dogs. In fact, it is believed that dogs have a much more severe reaction to this than humans.
While THC exposure is rarely fatal to dogs at lower doses, concentrated THC products like infused butter can be lethal. Also, the accompanying ingredients inside the edible can be lethal, too, like chocolate or certain artificial sweeteners. So, keeping your THC products out of your pet’s reach should always be a priority.
But how do you do that?
Tips for Safely Storing Your Stash
Below are three tips for how to keep your dog (and your stash) safe.
Store the “High” Products High
First, store all your THC products in high or hard-to-reach places. This can be a cupboard or medicine cabinet. Avoid waist-high drawers or counters that are easy to jump on. This is so that even bigger dogs won’t have access to your stash, no matter how much they stretch. Sure, they’ll still be able to smell it (after all, a dog’s nose is 1,000x stronger than ours), but they won’t be able to reach it—which is crucial.
Keep Your THC Products in Sight
If you do use your THC product of choice when your puppy is around, keep the product in sight. All it takes is a glance away for your pup to dart for the bottle of THC gummies. Another second goes by, and they’ve already wolfed down enough THC for you and your friends combined!
So, always keep the lid to your THC gummies tightly secured, and make sure you don’t leave a THC vape conveniently laying on a coffee table.
Combine tips one and two by returning your THC product to its out-of-reach hiding spot immediately after use.
Know the Signs of Marijuana Toxicosis
In 2019, the American Kennel Club (AKC) reported a 756% increase in calls about pets ingesting THC. Many of these callers reported troubling, alarming symptoms in their dogs—symptoms that seemed to last for hours. This is called marijuana toxicosis. Symptoms of marijuana toxicosis include:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Dilated pupils
- Incontinence
- Full-body tremors
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Paranoia
- Stumbling
If you believe your dog has ingested THC, no matter the amount, contact your veterinarian. They have the resources to assess your dog’s unique condition and take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
Is CBD Safe for Dogs?
Now that we’ve answered whether or not your dog can enjoy THC, what about CBD? The simple answer is yes, CBD is safe for dogs, but it depends on the type of CBD. There are three types of CBD: full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate. Knowing the differences between each will help you safely introduce CBD to your pup.
First, we have full-spectrum CBD. Full-spectrum CBD is crafted from the hemp plant and contains hemp’s diverse compounds. This includes the plant’s aromatic properties, like terpenes and flavonoids, as well as its complete cannabinoid profile. Hemp, by its nature, has around 0.3% THC. Though it’s a low percentage, 0.3% is still enough to cause adverse effects in dogs. So, full-spectrum CBD is not safe for pets.
On the other hand, broad-spectrum CBD has had its THC levels whittled down to an undetectable percentage. Broad-spectrum CBD still contains hemp’s aromatic properties and non-THC cannabinoids, so it still offers all the benefits of CBD—minus the trace levels of THC.** We craft our CBD products for dogs with broad-spectrum CBD.
Last, there’s CBD isolate. This type of CBD is 99% CBD; all of its non-CBD compounds have been stripped away to undetectable levels, leaving behind a product that promotes a CBD-exclusive experience.
Introducing CBD to Dogs
So, now that you know broad-spectrum CBD is the right type of CBD product for dogs, how do you introduce CBD to their daily routine? We carry a collection of topical and edible CBD products for dogs, each formulated with human-grade ingredients. We make our CBD pet products with the same high-quality ingredients and attention to detail as with our regular CBD products. But these come in flavors your dog will love!
CBD Dog Treats
First, we have two CBD dog treats: Calming CBD Dog Treats and Muscle & Joint CBD Dog Treats. Our Calming CBD Dog Treats are formulated with broad-spectrum CBD, calming extracts of chamomile, passion flower, and valerian root, as well as mood-boosting GABA and L-tryptophan. These are perfect for keeping your healthy dogs calm, cool, and collected!**
Next, our Muscle & Joint CBD Dog Treats combine the powers of broad-spectrum CBD with nutrients like blueberry, spinach, parsley, and turmeric to promote joint support.** They come in a tail-wagging sweet potato flavor that’ll have any dog drooling!
CBD Oil for Dogs
We also have two types of CBD Oil for Dogs: Chicken Flavored CBD Oil for Dogs or Bacon Flavored CBD Oil for Dogs. Like CBD tinctures made for humans, CBD oils for dogs come with a dropper attached to the lid, allowing you to measure a precise dose accurately. Our CBD oils for dogs come in an array of strengths for (adult) pups of all sizes, from 250mg to 2000mg. These organic, vegan oils combine broad-spectrum CBD with coconut-derived MCT oil into a deliciously simple therapeutic supplement for dogs.** Just measure out a dose and place the drops on their kibble or straight into their bowl.
Calming and Moisturizing Pet CBD Balm
Last, our Calming and Moisturizing Pet CBD Balm is a CBD topical formulated for cracked paws, dry noses, and rough skin patches on your dog.** This CBD balm comes in a tin and is made with odorless Alaskan salmon oil, essential oils, and Shea butter to nourish dry skin.** To use it, gently rub the CBD salve on your pup’s problem areas and let it dry. The tin is travel-size, so it’s perfect for a day at the park, beach, or wherever your dog likes to romp.
What About CBD for Cats?
Much like dogs, cats can enjoy all the benefits of broad-spectrum CBD, too.** But, also like Fido, cats can experience serious adverse effects when exposed to THC. So, strategically storing your stash is just as important when you have cats.
If your cat has an affinity towards THC products, hiding your stash from them might prove to be a little more difficult. After all, cats can nimbly climb to places dogs can’t even clumsily reach. So, if you have a cat, store your THC products in a hard-to-reach, enclosed area. Don’t leave these products out in the open or unattended.
If you’d like to introduce your feline to the benefits of broad-spectrum CBD, we also carry CBD products for cats! Our collection for cats includes a Chicken Flavored Cat CBD Tincture and a Bacon Flavored Cat CBD Tincture. Similar to our CBD Oil for Dogs, these tinctures come with a dropper attached to the lid for conveniently measuring out an appropriate dose for your cat.
Parting Thoughts
Your stash is your stash, and our collection of CBD products for dogs and cats gives your pets the freedom to have their stash. So, while you enjoy your THC gummies, THC vapes, or THC tinctures, your pet can do the same, but with CBD products formulated with them in mind.
In short, remember to keep your THC products away from accessible places and keep an eye out for signs of marijuana toxicosis. Call your veterinarian for guidance if you think your pet has consumed THC.
If you’d like to try THC for yourself, be sure to shop our entire collection of CBD + THC products!
