While CBD and hemp oil extract may seem the same – after all, they both help manage anxiety, chronic pain, or physical or emotional conditions – they are quite different.
What is CBD?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is made from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the hemp plant. CBD is should be virtually THC-free. THC is also known as tetrahydrocannabinol and is the chemical that is responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects. However, CBD does contain cannabinoids that help with stress and anxiety relief. The legal standard for CBD is to contain less than .3% THC by weight.
What is Hemp Oil?
Hemp oil, on the other hand, is a non-psychoactive component that is directly extracted from the seeds of a hemp plant. When the two are pressed together, they create an oil that is full of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids along with Omega-9, GLA (also known as gamma linolenic acid) and healthy amino acids and proteins.
Hemp oil can sometimes contain low levels of CBD, but the benefits of this oil are mostly nutritional.
Benefits of CBD
CBD acts an anti-anxiety and anti-stress supplement. It is great for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety, car sickness, and are afraid of thunder or fireworks.
CBD acts an anti-inflammatory and can help reduce swelling in joints and prevent arthritis. It also significantly reduces the severity of risk of seizures in dogs. CBD is also known to help fight against cancer, with some studies reporting that it fights the cell growth of tumors and improves positive cell growth.
Benefits of Hemp Oil
One of the benefits of hemp oil comes from its GLA. Dogs can synthesize GLA from linoleic acid (an omega-6 fat), but some dogs can lack it.
GLA is essential for the body as it is a building block for prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance that helps support numerous body functions and controls inflammation. A lack of GLA can lead to allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, diabetes, and cancer.
Hemp oil also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6. It contains a 1 to 3 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. Together, these two fats work together to keep inflammation in check. Too much omega-6 causes a spike in inflammation and too much omega-3 can lead to immune dysfunction.
While not all inflammation is bad (it helps with the body’s healing response), too much or chronic inflammation can cause allergies, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, liver or kidney disease and cancer.
Hemp oil contains antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin A that help your dog’s immune system by fighting damage from free radicals. Free radicals happen when your pup absorbs the toxins from drugs, vaccines, chemicals, and more and can cause stress to your dog’s body.
Both CBD and hemp oil are great supplements for your dog. CBD has more medicinal benefits – such as helping with inflammation and reducing seizures in dogs – while hemp oil has more nutritional benefits including GLA, omega-3 and omega-6.
As always, consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog one or both supplements to ensure it is safe.
Will Corrente is a career entrepreneur and trusted authority and expert in the dog care industry. Will has over 15 years of experience as the owner and operator of Very Important Paws Dog Resort in West Palm Beach, FL. Copyright 2020 k9vitatherapy.com