Cannabis Dog Treats the Next Functional Dog Treats Trend?

Cannabis dog treat snacks with health-related claims are among the fastest growing new product launches.  Dog and cat owners who prioritize food product benefit statements are significantly more likely to strongly enjoy purchasing products that pamper their pets, according to the research director of Packaged Facts.¹

Update on the 2020 Marketplace: This segment has just exploded. It is saturated with manufacturers, companies looking to white label, and private label. Most of these private labelers do not have the in-depth knowledge about a product, unlike a direct manufacturer. Read for some tips to ensure you buy the safest and best quality pet product.

Studies

Research shows that the benefits of  CBD oil, also known as cannabidiol, include acting as an anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antiemetic, anxiolytic and antipsychotic agent, and is therefore a potential medicine for the treatment of neuroinflammation, epilepsy, oxidative injury, vomiting and nausea, anxiety and schizophrenia. ²

“…dogs do have the same natural cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid systems (ECS) as humans,” according to Dr. Lascelles. (The ECS involves physiological processes such as appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory.) These receptors are found in the dog’s brain and peripheral nervous system.³ 

“Cannabis [sic] is becoming more widely accepted for its potential medical uses, not just for people, but for companion animals too. Scientists have so far recognized up to 60 important chemicals, or cannabinoids, unique to marijuana.  According to the National Cancer Institute, “cannabinoids activate specific receptors found throughout the body to produce pharmacologic effects, particularly in the central nervous system and the immune system.” These natural chemicals may be helpful in treating cancer-related symptoms such as pain.”4

CBD Oil Benefits

• Seizures
• Inflammation
• GI Problems
• Anxiety/ Stress
• Pain
• Limping
• End of Life Care
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Poor Appetite
• Vomiting
• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Hot Spots/ Skin & Coat

We use a full spectrum oil. The full spectrum version ensures the inclusion of all the benefits of the complete plant. This is known as the “Entourage Effect”.

Fun fact: Because we have similar endocannabinoid systems (ECS) to dogs cats, rats, pigs, etc. Therefore, big pharma uses them as test subjects to see how they will react. The ECS is responsible for mood, appetite, stress, anxiety and pain and other systems that put our bodies in homeostasis. Simply put–in balance.

CBD oil is an all natural alternative that is safe with very little side effects. The most common side effect would be diarrhea. But in contrast to vet prescriptions that lead to liver and kidney damage, this is a much safer alternative. This is nature at her finest.

Buying Guide

Cannabis is on the rise among dog owners who have ailing or aging dogs with chronic illnesses, they are looking for a natural solution in aiding pet wellness. We make our treats with whole ingredients. And have no preservatives or additives. We source our ingredients through sustainable sources to help do our share to protect the environment.

Our treats are manufactured in an SQF3 facility which is the highest rating for food safety standards. We make it in small controlled batches to ensure the highest safety and quality standards. The oil we use comes from a fully integrated grower, cultivator and manufacturer in Colorado. Even lab testing is done in-house.  This ensures full quality control and safety. Furthermore, we do third party testing on all product because we take your pet’s health seriously.

Product sold over the counter are made with industrial hemp oil.  Hemp is rich in cannabidiol and is non-psychoactive. It is safe with no reported overdoses or conflicts when mixed with other medication. The psychoactive versions can be found at dispensaries, typically in the recreational side. This is classified as marijuana. We highly recommend caution and do your due diligence. If you choose to dose your pet with the psychoactive version, consult your vet.

Tinctures

This is the oil that comes with a dropper and in a 1 or 2 ounce bottle. It is given orally or mixed in with your pet’s food. It is mixed with a carrier oil, typically like coconut oil. This binds to the CBD compounds and give is a nice uniform consistency.

If you choose this route, we suggest looking for a dropper with graduations. The dropper method isn’t the most accurate. There are 20 drops to a 1 ml dropper. Dogs do not typically enjoy the flavor associated with tinctures.

Edibles

This would be a hard baked cookie, soft chew or any other infused form. Regardless of which form you dispense your pet’s meds, it will be a personal choice, as well as ease and convenience. This is usually easier to dose and give to your pet like any other regular treat.

Projection 2017

We believe that this emerging market will be a big player in the functional treat market. It will explode once CBD gets re-classified.  For now, cannabis in all forms, even industrial hemp where CBD oil for dogs is extracted from, is considered a Schedule I drug.  Hemp and the marijuana plant fall under the cannabis umbrella until further notice. Sadly, even though hemp has no psychoactive effects.

But that does not mean that hypocrisy doesn’t fall short on the government. They are saying that there are no medicinal benefits to the marijuana plant. This is their whole premise for classifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance. Yet, they own Patent No. 6,630,507. The very same government owning a patent for medical use for marijuana. In the meantime, business that operate in the gray areas of the cannabis industry have to deal with overlapping industries that often do not understand our restraints.

Update: The Hemp Farming Act of 2018

Since this bill was passed, hemp was removed a Schedule I substance. Hemp is defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC. It legalized the production of hemp. This law did not address the processing of hemp or the manufacture, distribution and sale of products made from hemp. This is why there are still so many gaps and unresolved issues especially with the sale of these types of products. It is a step in the right direction, but there is still a lot of obstacles and challenges.

Hemp can be used for textiles, rope, clothing, food, biofuel, insulation, shoes, bioplastics and much, much more. We are going to see an expansion of hemp into these industries in the future.

Also, the banking industry needs to follow any progress made on the federal level. We did notice one improvement, the increased in the number of payment processing companies. And their fees have also been much more competitive. The underwriting process has also not been as extensive as it was previously. Even Square the popular counterpart to Stripe, has joined in the game.

We will continue to keep our readers posted for new developments.

Need More Help?

You can buy oil as a tincture or infused in treats. It is your choice on the method of delivery. We find that treats are the easiest way to give the animal their medicine without any push back. Watch this video to learn more about How to Buy CBD Oil. We will be doing an update on this video since the technology has advanced leaps and bounds. But the basics still are very much applicable. We will follow up with a blog for the various types of CBD out there that can be used for infusions.

Want to learn How to Make Dog Treats with CBD Oil? We got you covered. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this makes for a fun family activity that includes your dog! Leave us a comment on the video or if you have any questions. We love hearing from our customers. Earmark our page to learn more. If there is a specific topic you would like to hear about, let us know!

Dosing is the most important aspect to reaping the benefits of CBD. Drop us a line and we will help you find the right dosing method, quantity and frequency that’s right for your pet even if it isn’t our own. We believe in the integrity of our products and have a 30-day 100% money back guarantee.

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References

¹http://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/7-adventures-in-pet-food/post/6522-dog-and-cat-treat-trends-follow-human-snacking-trends

²https://draxe.com/cbd-benefits/

³https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/medical-marijuana-for-dogs/

4https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/medical-marijuana-for-dogs/