CBD Dog Treats: Do They Work?

CBD treats for dogs are an excellent idea … in theory. But more often than not they aren’t the best way to give your dog CBD. 

That’s because they may not have as much CBD as they claim and they could even make your dog’s problems worse. So today you’ll find out why you should pass on CBD oil treats and some more effective ways to support your dog. 

The Benefits Of CBD

CBD (cannabidol) is a chemical found in cannabis and hemp plants. It’s used in oils and edibles for both people and pets because of its many medicinal properties. 

Research shows that CBD can help relax your dog, as well as ease pain and support the immune system. It’s also proven to help manage and prevent …

• Joint pain and arthritis 
• Anxiety 
• Digestive issues 
• Seizures and epilepsy 
• Allergies
• Tumors 
• Cancer 

It’s easy to see why dog owners are turning to CBD treats for their four legged best friends. But are they the best choice? 

Do CBD Dog Treats Work? 

There’s no doubt that CBD is a great natural supplement … but there are some important reasons to avoid CBD dog treats. One of the biggest is the way manufacturers make the treats. 

The Problem With Baking CBD 

Like many other compounds, processing CBD affects its medicinal value. That’s because CBD starts to break down at a temperature of 200℉. And at 350℉, it’s almost completely broken down, which degrades its bioavailability. That means your dog won’t be able to absorb it. And if he can’t absorb it, he won’t reap the benefits that CBD offers. 

The only way the treats will contain the amount of CBD listed on the product is if they’re processed at very low temperatures. Or if the company tests the CBD levels after the product has baked … and that doesn’t normally happen. 

So if you’re looking to support a specific condition, CBD dog treats may not be the best choice. And that’s because you won’t be able to give your dog an accurate dose. 

The Dangers Of Added Ingredients 

Buying CBD treats isn’t just about the cooking process. Another issue you need to consider when looking for CBD treats is other ingredients.

Here’s a real-world example of the ingredient list for one CBD treat …

Organically-Grown Broad Spectrum Phytocannabinoid-Rich Hemp Oil, Water, Dried Brewer’s Yeast, Glycerin, Gum Arabic, Sodium Alginate, Beef Liver Powder, Natural Bacon Flavor, Flaxseed Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Organic Sweet Potato Powder, Sunflower Lecithin (non-GMO), Citrus Pectin, Vitamin E, Sodium Propionate, Calcium Sulfate Dehyrdate, Natural Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative) and Dextrin.

Brewers yeast and cellulose are just fillers. Added vitamins are usually synthetic and don’t function the same way as vitamins from whole food sources. And natural flavors are usually anything but natural. Just look at natural bacon flavor … it’s usually made with pork belly fat but it can be made out of almost any rendered animal.

Those are just some of the problematic ingredients on this label. And there are other ingredients, not in this product, that you need to watch out for …

Artificial Additives
Many CBD dog treats contain artificial preservatives that are entirely unnecessary … and in some cases harmful. These additives benefit the product’s shelf life and not your dog! 

Flavoring agents are also used to make the treat more appealing to your dog. But these additives, especially sweeteners, can feed bad bacteria and yeast in your dog’s gut. And most flavorings are completely synthetic. 

CBD treats can also contain artificial colors to make them stand out more. If you see a color followed by a number (like Red 40) this is an artificial color. Your dog doesn’t care about the color … and some artificial dyes may cause allergies and cancer. They’re also linked to aggression and mental disorders in children. And a lot of the time, there isn’t enough CBD in the treats to counteract the impact these additives will have on your dog’s health. 

Grains 
Processed dog food and treats are usually full of grains and other carbohydrates. These starchy foods feed the bad bacteria and yeast in your dog’s body. And that can lead to inflammation, leaky gut and chronic diseases (including the ones CBD helps manage). 

Your dog doesn’t need carbs to survive … they offer no nutritional value. The only reasons they’re used in pet foods is to cut costs and save the manufacturers money … and to bind ingredients together. 

Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a popular flavor for many dog treat manufacturers. And it makes sense … dogs can’t get enough of it. But just because your dog likes eating it, doesn’t mean he should. 

Peanut butter can contain aflatoxins, which are cancer-causing molds. That includes fresh store-made peanut butter as well. In fact, studies show that fresh ground peanut butter in health food stores had more aflatoxins than big brand peanut butter. 

Peanut butter can also contain glyphosate … a weed killer that can increase cancer risk by 41%. There are many reasons glyphosate gets sprayed on peanuts, such as increasing yields and allowing for an earlier harvest. And because it’s usually sprayed just before harvest, it gets absorbed into the peanuts and you can’t wash it off. 

If that isn’t enough of a deterrent, peanut butter also contains harmful hydrogenated trans fats and the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats is awful. Both of these can trigger chronic inflammation, which can lead to allergies, joint disease and even cancer. 

What To Give Your Dog Instead Of CBD Treats

If you want your dog to benefit from the power of CBD, skip the treats and look for CBD oil for dogs. But make sure the CBD oil you buy comes from hemp and not cannabis (marijuana). Hemp contains almost no THC, which is the substance that gives marijuana its psychoactive properties. With a hemp-based CBD oil, your dog can enjoy the benefits without the uncomfortable high. 

CBD oil makes it easy to give accurate dosages and it can go directly on your dog’s food or in his mouth. It can also be more cost effective if your dog needs a higher CBD dosage …  and it can work more quickly. 

How To Give CBD Oil To Your Dog 

The amount of CBD oil you give your dog will depend on his size and your needs. For anxiety, lower doses are often enough. But pain or problems with the immune system may need larger doses. 

If your dog doesn’t like the CBD oil in his food then you can try making your own treats. Just soak your dog’s favorite organic treat in one dose of CBD oil for a few minutes. Once the oil absorbs into the treat, toss your dog his snack. It’s that easy. 

CBD treats are definitely convenient, but in most cases they aren’t potent enough to be medicinal. And many contain ingredients that can make your dog’s problems worse. If you do want to feed them, make sure the manufacturer uses low temperatures and safe ingredients. 

Or buy CBD oil for dogs instead. It’s easy to use and you can be sure your dog is getting the CBD he needs.