It’s been a few months since the last post about Milo. If you haven’t seen the previous posts, here’s some backstory. Milo is an extremely fearful dog. He is afraid of almost everything.
We’ve had help from trainers and tried various products for fearful dogs. The last update was about him going on anxiety medication.
Since then, there has been an addition to his treatment. I started giving him CBD oil for dogs. How is he doing with it? Let me fill you in…
Before I get to Milo’s progress, I’ll start with why I made the decision to give him CBD oil for dogs. The anxiety medication was helping him. He was slightly more relaxed than he was without it. We were seeing progress.
However, he still reacted to so many things. Then he developed a new fear of fireworks. They didn’t bother him at all for the first 2 1/2 years of his life. That changed this past July.
His reaction to fireworks was worse than with his other triggers. He was trembling and in an obvious state of panic. I was concerned it would negatively impact his progress.
And yep, sure enough, it did. It caused him to start being afraid of thunder.
The search began for something extra I could give him in advance of a thunderstorm or fireworks. CBD seemed to be the answer.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol and is found naturally in the hemp plant (cannabis sativa). Scroll down to see frequently asked questions about the oil for dogs.
It also possibly could help Zephyr with his mobility. Zephyr is a senior dog and I noticed he was a little stiff in the morning.
So I bought treats with CBD. They were a total failure. Neither Milo nor Zephyr liked the treats. Absolutely no positive effects happened for either dog. CBD treats were a waste of money.
Then I saw an article that made me re-consider CBD. While reading Top 3 CBD Oil Products for My Dogs, I thought perhaps I should try oil instead of treats.
My plan was to give it to Milo prior to a thunderstorm. I would also give it to him prior to another big trigger event. We have some home improvement projects in the works and Milo stresses when my husband is working on them.
I gave Milo a dose of CBD oil about an hour in advance of a storm or trigger event. There wasn’t any change in his reaction. It was the same as giving him the CBD treats.
Then came Plan B: To give it to Milo every day, twice a day. I started with the lowest dosage amount and then increased it after a week.
About two weeks later, I noticed small differences in his behavior. The CBD oil seemed to be having a positive effect on him.
Milo became more adventurous around the house. He’s being curious about things that are new or different.
Getting him to come and be on my lap was a big process before. Now he’s coming and hopping up in a whole lot less time and coaxing. Sometimes he comes over and stands next to me when I’m on the couch to tell me he wants on my lap.
What a difference considering it took almost a year before he would be on my lap for any amount of time.
He is being vocal more often. By vocal, I mean making his “Rhoooo” sound. Milo doesn’t bark and I’ve never heard him growl. His rhooo’ing happens usually early morning right after I let him out of his crate and before feeding dinner.
Milo is coming into the kitchen more often. I think back to how he used to be terrified to be there. Now he’ll stand beside me and nudge me with his nose.
The best improvement is Milo being more relaxed around my husband. He’s not running away every time my husband comes near. My husband has been able to pet Milo more in the last month than ever before. YAY! However, there’s still a long way to go in this situation.
Watch this video to see Milo’s reactive behavior and progress. Seeing the improvement in how he reacts to my husband will melt your heart:
Has it been worth it to give Milo CBD oil for dogs? Yes!
Is it a miracle cure for fearful dogs? No, yet it may help yours as it did with Milo.
Should you give CBD oil to your fearful dog? I can’t answer that question. Do your own research and discuss it with your veterinarian.
FYI – This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions about CBD oil for dogs:
Does CBD oil get your dog high?
No, it does not get your dog high.
Is CBD oil for dogs legal?
Yes, it is legal in all 50 United States, as long as it is hemp-derived and contains less than 0.3% THC
Do you need a prescription to get CBD oil for dogs?
You do not need a prescription.
How much does CBD oil for dogs cost?
Prices range from $15 to over $100 for a bottle. It is recommended to get the highest quality CBD oil that fits within your budget and helps your dog.
Where to buy CBD oil for dogs?
You can purchase CBD oil for dogs on Amazon. It’s convenient but unlikely those products are of the highest quality.
You can also purchase products directly from some manufacturers. I recommend King Kanine Oils.
How to choose CBD oil for dogs?
- Look at the ingredients. It should not contain pesticides, fungicides, or solvents.
- Look for full spectrum CBD oil for dogs, an extract that contains all compounds found naturally occurring in the plant, including terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids.
- Look at the purity. The higher the quality, the better. Make sure it is free of additives.
- Look at the analysis. The manufacturer should provide a certificate that tells you the amount of CBD in the product. Make sure there is little or no THC in the product.
- Buy CBD as a tincture (oil with dropper). It is the easiest way to administer it to your dog. You can adjust your dog’s dose drop by drop.
How quickly does CBD oil for dogs work?
- For anxiety, it takes anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes to begin working on dogs. It works faster if given directly in the mouth.
- For mobility and joint pain, it can take 2 to 4 weeks for optimal results.
Can CBD oil for dogs cause diarrhea?
CBD oil should not cause diarrhea as long as the recommended amount is given. Too much oil of any kind can cause a dog to have an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Does CBD oil for dogs help with anxiety?
Based on the results of giving it to Milo, my answer is yes. Many dog owners have similar results. However, it may be different for your dog.
Are you ready to give CBD oil a try with your dog?
I recommend purchasing CBD oil for dogs. Take a look at the reviews and remember to check for organic, purity, and analysis. I recommend King Kanine.
CBD oil has helped Milo with giving it to him daily. I give it to him directly in his mouth and he likes the taste of it. He’ll come right to me when I hold out the dropper. I also tested to see if he liked the taste of it. I put it in his bowl and he licked it clean.
Have you given your CBD oil to your dog? If you have, I’d love to know why and if it helped your dog. Please comment with your experience.
See more of Milo’s story and progress in the Fearful Dog Series. Stay tuned for future updates about him.
Sandra Harper says
Great article with great information. THanks a lot for sharing.
Renee says
I’m glad you enjoyed the article and thank you for letting me know. It made my day!
Debby says
I am involved with a dog rescue, I recently 1 yr ago foster/ adopted a fearful dog ( chino) who looks like your milo and has same fearful symptoms . Thank you for your article . I will try this cod oil for chino as well
rick lovell says
Try these products of cbd for pets. The best out there and lab tested with written documentation.
lovemycbdproducts.com
Mary McLaurine says
Hi! Just wondering how Milo is doing with storms/thunder/fireworks? I have a 10 year-old Beagle, Otis, who at age 4, began suffering from terrible fright/anxiety of loud noises. It’s to the point now, even motorcycles and trucks frighten him on walks and he tucks tail and wants to run inside. Storms are the worst, there is no comforting him, we just have to make him comfortable in his retreat, the bathtub, and let him ride it out, shaking and trembling in fear. 🙁 The vet prescribed xanax but we hate ‘drugging’ him with something so heavy and long lasting. Plus, it takes a long time to go into effect and if a storm comes suddenly, no point in giving it to him anyway. Hoping daily doses of CBD will help overall. I know it won’t be a cure-all, but anything would be an improvement. Have you noticed a difference in Milo with storms and loud noises?
Renee says
Milo does react to loud thunder and storms. I put a herbal calming collar on him when it is storming and it does help some. Here is a link to the collar on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/2t0g0H6
(Affiliate link)