How Long Does It Take For CBD Dog Treats To Work?
In recent years, CBD has become a popular option for pet owners who want to increase their dog’s quality of life. Just like humans, our furry friends can greatly benefit from the effects of CBD whether through oil or edibles like dog treats.
But exactly how long does it take for CBD dog treats to work?
Quick answer: The speed at which CBD dog treats work depends on several factors. This includes your dog’s weight, metabolism, and ailments, plus the potency of the treat.
In general, CBD dog treats may take 30 minutes to 5 hours to take effect for anxiety issues, while up to 4 weeks for more chronic issues like pain. Keep in mind, I’ve also read accounts from some owners that they didn’t notice any effect on their dog, so try to keep your expectations realistic.
By the way, you should check out my guide on the 15 best CBD dog treats to help you choose the best ones.
In this blog post, I’ll further discuss how long it takes for CBD dog treats to work, factors affecting its effectiveness, and common ailments that may be helped by CBD.
How Long Does It Take for CBD Dog Treats to Work?
If you’re wondering how long it takes for CBD dog treats to kick in, the answer is it depends. For most dogs, CBD’s results depend on various factors.
Each dog has a unique endocannabinoid system, weight, and exercise routine. Each of these variables can have an individual effect on how quickly a CBD dog treat will work.
In general, CBD dog treats can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours if treating acute issues like anxiety. On the other hand, chronic issues like pain can take up to 4 weeks to begin working. Note: When compared to oil, dog treats take slightly longer to kick in since they take longer to digest.
Let’s look at some popular dog treat makers and what they say about how long CBD dog treats take to work:
1. Honest Paws: 45-90 minutes using their edibles for acute conditions, while a few weeks for chronic pain, seizures or mobility issues
2. Austin and Kat: 30-45 minutes for their CBD oil or biscuits to work in dogs (Note: they may be referring to treating anxiety)
3. Dog Dream CBD: 45-90 minutes using edibles for anxiety, and 2-4 weeks for pain or inflammation
Below, we further evaluate the different factors that may affect your dog’s CBD response.
Your Dog’s Body
If your pet has any underlying ailments, they may be more affected by CBD than a healthy dog. It’s always recommended to steadily increase the dosage if your pet has any serious health conditions.
If your dog is underweight, they may be easily affected by CBD, while overweight dogs may require higher doses.
A good rule of thumb is to always start with small doses and consider the results. Your dog’s metabolism and activity levels can greatly affect CBD’s extent and effectiveness.
There are no official guidelines yet on CBD dosage, although you can look at various CBD sources for their recommended dosages.
Cannabidiol Potency
Most CBD dog treats have varying levels of CBD concentration from 2 mg to 20 mg. When considering how much to give your pet, always refer to the product’s size chart and follow dosing guidelines.
A large dog may require a higher dosage (or more treats) than a small one. This varying dosage can have a significant impact on how quickly the treats work.
You may also need to look at the treat’s quality of ingredients and the brand’s reputation. All CBD products are not made equal and giving your dog too much CBD may have a negative effect on their health.
Your Pup’s Ailment
The reason for your CBD use can also affect its potency and efficacy. For example, if you’re administering CBD for your dog’s anxiety, it may calm your dog in less than an hour.
In comparison, if you’re using CBD for chronic pain, it may take up to four weeks to see results.
Depending on your dog’s ailment, you may have to alter your dosage to fit your dog’s unique features. Through trial and error, you will find how long it takes for CBD dog treats to work for your pet.
What Can Cannabidiol Help With Pups?
Although studies of CBD usage for dogs are limited, certain studies have shown promising results. Owner accounts have also shown remarkable and promising results, although some owners report no effect on their dog.
Before giving your dog CBD treats, I caution you to first consider your dog’s current health problems. If you’re unsure or still have questions, visit your veterinarian for further information.
Since recent studies have shown promising results for humans, scientists are now interested in researching CBD treatment for dogs and other pets.
Below, we will discuss some common health problems that may benefit from the use of CBD dog treats.
1. Anxiety
One of the most common and highly praised benefits of CBD is its ability to treat anxiety. Several published user accounts praise CBD’s positive effects for stressed and anxious pets.
By the way I list some of the best CBD oil for dogs with anxiety in another article.
CBD dog treats may also help control your dog’s other behavioral issues, such as noise avoidance and separation anxiety.
Although no long-term data has been published that establishes long-term effects of CBD use for dogs, recent studies look hopeful.
A study performed in 2020 showed safe results and oral supplementation over a 12-week period for healthy adult dogs.
2. Pain and Inflammation
Currently, there are several animal studies that demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and pain reducing effects of CBD.
This means that certain inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, may benefit greatly from the use of CBD dog treats. In fact, a 2018 study testing arthritic dogs showed decreased pain during CBD treatment.
3. Epilepsy
Since the approval of CBD for seizure disorders, dog owners have wondered if it can help their beloved epileptic pets too. Current research shows that CBD dog treats can have a positive effect on dogs that suffer from seizures.
A 2019 study in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy showed a 33% improvement in dogs given CBD twice daily for twelve weeks.
4. Skin Disorders
CBD is an anti-inflammatory and can help with a multitude of skin conditions and disorders. Often, dogs suffer from itchy skin due to allergies, underlying diseases, and issues with their immune system.
Since CBD works with your dog’s endocannabinoid system, an anti-inflammatory response is triggered that lessens irritation.
A 2012 study evaluating dogs with atopic dermatitis showed that skin samples of dogs with cannabinoid receptor expression showed optimistic results.
In the study, the dogs’ endocannabinoid systems offered treatment for inflammatory skin diseases.
Since CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system, it may be a great treatment for skin disorders and other inflammatory-based responses and disorders.
5. Cancer
Currently, there are currently no studies about the effect of CBD on dogs with cancer. However, recently completed studies on cannabis’ effects on cancer show promising results.
In a 2016 study, scientists discovered that CBD prevented cell growth and induced cell death in patients with cervical cancer.
Conclusion
So how long does it take for CBD dog treats to work? As discussed, it depends on your dog’s weight, metabolism, and ailments, plus the potency of the treat.
Generally speaking, you’re looking at 30 minutes to 5 hours to notice any effect on your dog for anxiety issues, while up to 4 weeks for more chronic issues like pain.
Don’t forget to check out my guide on the 15 best CBD dog treats if you need help choosing some.
Although research is still developing, recent evidence shows that CBD can result in health improvements for your dog.
Regardless of your reason for giving your dog CBD treats, it’s important to always start with a small dose and work your way up.