The popularity of both hemp oil and CBD oil for dogs is ever-increasing. With an abundance of health and mental benefits, both oil types are fast becoming a go-to recommendation by dog owners and veterinarians alike. What most people don’t know, however, is that hemp oil and CBD oil are two very different things.
That’s right – even though the terms are often used interchangeably, hemp oil and CBD oil are separate products with their own benefits. Luckily, both hemp oil and CBD oil have their own benefits for dogs, but it’s important that we know the difference between the two to make use of the benefits.
Here is everything you need to know about hemp oil vs CBD oil for dogs!
What is the Difference Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil?
To get a better understanding of the benefits of each product, it’s important to understand what hemp oil and CBD oil are.
What is hemp oil?
Hemp oil, often referred to as hemp seed oil, is the oily fatty acids found in hemp seeds. These fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which exist alongside other minerals and vitamins including vitamin E found inside the seeds. The oil is extracted by pressing against the hemp seeds.
Hemp oil does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is a cannabinoid found in a cannabis plant that features psychoactive effects, otherwise known as “high”. As hemp oil doesn’t contain THC, it will not make the user high.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a type of cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s total extracts.
There are several extraction methods available depending on how much money a brand is willing to spend, but the most common and safest extraction method is CO2 extraction. This is a food-safe extraction method that isolates the natural cannabinoids, allowing for the purest form of CBD.
Once extracted, the CBD is then created into an oil amongst other ingredients such as coconut oil. It’s also put into a variety of other product types, including gummies, sprays, and capsules.
Like with hemp oil, CBD oil either contains a very small amount of or no THC. This is to follow the legal requirements of selling CBD products in the United States, wherein the product has to be hemp-derived and cannot have a THC level exceeding 0.3%.
Unlike hemp oil, which is extracted from the seeds, CBD oil is extracted from the stalk, leaves, and buds of a hemp plant.
Key Differences Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil
So, now we know what hemp oil and CBD oil are, let’s take a look at the key differences between the two products.
CBD oil is most commonly used to treat symptoms of anxiety, stress, insomnia, joint pain, injuries, arthritis, nausea, seizures, and inflammation in both humans and mammals.
Hemp oil, on the other hand, is used as a nutritional supplement as it is high in fatty acids, antioxidants, and phospholipids. The nutritional value of hemp seed oil is the reason why it is commonly found in food and skincare products. It’s also common for people to use hemp oil in their cooking due to the nutritional benefits.
As both dogs and humans share similar endocannabinoid systems (which work to make sure everything is running smoothly inside the body), both hemp oil and CBD oil are suitable and safe for dog use.
Hemp Oil for your Dog
Hemp oil provides dogs with an abundance of benefits due to its high nutritional value.
As hemp seed oil is so high in fatty acids including omega-3 and omega-6, the oil is used to fight inflammation and skin sensitivity.
Including these acids in your dog’s diet will help to strengthen the immune system by battling away inflammation that can lead to a myriad of issues, including arthritis, heart and liver conditions, allergies, cancer, kidney disease, and more.
Vitamins A and E are also beneficial for strengthening the immune system, which subsequently improves your dog’s cognitive functions. Healthy body, happy mind!
Hemp oil is also filled with phospholipids which come with a variety of benefits, including the reduction of gastric acid, prevention of cardiovascular disease, reduction of pain, and cognitive function improvement.
Plus, hemp oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLC) that is beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight, improving pain, and reducing skin allergies.
CBD Oil for your Dog
CBD oil is one of the most popular natural remedies for dogs with a variety of issues, including anxiety, stress, insomnia, nausea, seizures, cancer, arthritis, inflammation, and more.
There is still a lack of research about the true safety of CBD oil for dogs and humans (as the FDA are yet to approve CBD products as “safe”), but due to the few and rare side effects, CBD products are trusted among most dog owners and veterinarians.
CBD oil is generally mixed with other natural ingredients such as blueberries, peanut butter, coconut oil, or even barley to create a myriad of health benefits.
A lot of CBD oil products will be tailored towards a particular purpose – such as for dogs with anxiety or joint pain – which will feature specific natural ingredients to cater to those issues.
How To Administer Hemp Oil and CBD Oil to Dogs?
The one similarity between hemp oil and CBD oil is that they can be administered to dogs in virtually the same way. These products generally come in bottles with a dropper, which allows the dog owner to measure the oil before allowing the dog to consume it.
The main way to get your dog to take hemp oil or CBD oil is to drop the appropriate oil amount directly into your dog’s mouth. This is easier said than done, because some dogs hate when their owner tries to force something down their mouth. If your dog is fine with taking the oils orally, then this shouldn’t be an issue.
If your dog is particularly fussy with taking the oils orally, we recommend finding another way to administer them. Otherwise, they will develop a negative association with the dropper, which can make them more anxious and irritable.
Another way to administer both oils is to drop the appropriate amount into their food and mix it in. Alternatively, you can drop the oil over their favorite toy or bone.
This way, your dog will be doing something that isn’t out of the ordinary, whilst consuming the hemp or CBD oil without them knowing.
In terms of how often you should administer hemp oil or CBD oil to your dog, it mostly depends on your dog’s needs. The dosage requirements for both oils depend greatly on the size of the dog, but you’ve also got to consider whether your dog genuinely needs the oils.
If your dog only needs CBD oil to keep it calm before a thunderstorm or firework show, then you won’t need to religiously administer it.
Hemp oil doesn’t need to be given to a dog every day of its life, but it’s still a useful supplement. Unfortunately, there is little research about how long you should give a dog CBD oil or hemp oil.
Which is Better: Hemp Oil or CBD Oil?
It’s impossible to say whether hemp oil or CBD oil is better, because both come with their own purposes and benefits. If you’re looking for a natural medicine to aid your dog’s anxiety or pain, then CBD oil is the better option.
If you’re worried about your dog’s diet and you want to ensure that they are getting the nutrients they need, then hemp oil will be more beneficial.
Both CBD oil and hemp oil are safe to consume and work in the same way for dogs as they do humans. As mentioned before, dogs and humans share similar endocannabinoid systems which work to maintain homeostasis (keeping the internal environment healthy and stable).
The oils found in hemp seeds and the cannabinoid CBD are compatible with this system, helping to improve the maintenance of homeostasis.
The main reason it’s so hard to say which is better between hemp oil or CBD oil is because both products come with such a myriad of benefits. In some cases, for dogs with physical issues such as inflammation or pain from arthritis, you could use the oils interchangeably.
This is completely safe because hemp oil doesn’t contain CBD, so you won’t risk accidentally overdosing your dog. Likewise, both CBD oil and hemp oil are free from (or contain a very low level of) THC, meaning there are no psychoactive effects that would be unsafe for your dog.
However, CBD oil is probably a little trickier to purchase than hemp seed oil. As hemp oil doesn’t contain any traces of THC, then it can be sold very easily.
However, due to the laws around selling products that contain THC, it’s vital that dog owners only buy CBD products with a THC level of or under 0.3%. Not only will a higher level be considered illegal, but it can subsequently provide more psychoactive effects to your dog.
