There isn’t much in the way of research on potential side effects of CBD for dogs yet. What we do know so far about possible side effects comes from studies showing how CBD affects humans. Currently, we know that negative side effects tend to be minimal, with the most common being dry mouth, slightly reduced blood pressure, and drowsiness.
Some veterinarians have become outspoken advocates for administering CBD to dogs. One veterinarian, Dr. Gary Richter, told PetMD that he sees CBD as being generally safe for dogs. He notes that some mild side effects could include constipation, diarrhea, and feeling sedated.
You’ll want to talk with your dog’s vet if it’s already taking any medications. This is because it has been noticed that dogs who take CBD see the strength of the medications they take increase. This can actually be a good thing because it means the dosage of any pharmaceutical drugs may be reduced.
Overall, CBD is relatively safe for animals to take. However, the same cannot be said for THC, which is the psychoactive cousin of CBD. That is why you should do everything you can to avoid exposing your dogs to THC smoke.
Ideally, if you’re planning to give your dogs CBD, you will use a product that contains zero THC. The way to ensure this is to buy CBD products that are explicitly labeled as being for dogs, as they have likely gone through THC remediation. This means the CBD oil was heated just enough for the THC to evaporate. The end result is called broad-spectrum CBD and is widely available today from reputable sellers.
