CBD for Dog Allergies: Does CBD Really Help?

Just like people, dogs can develop allergies. These allergies can be seasonal environmental allergies, food allergies, or an allergic reaction to a fleabite. Regardless of what is causing it, your dog feels and looks miserable. As a pet parent, you want to do everything you can to help relieve the symptoms.

That’s why many people are getting CBD oil as a natural remedy for dog allergies. But does CBD actually help? We’ll explain how dogs develop allergies, how CBD works to relieve allergy symptoms, and what options you have to help treat your dog’s allergies.

Common Types of Dog Allergies

Dogs can develop allergies from a variety of different allergens. These are the most common types of allergens that affect dogs:

Acute Allergies

It develop from medications, vaccines, bee stings, and other poisonous plants, animals, and objects. Acute allergies can cause a severe reaction that could kill your dog if left untreated.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis is a reaction from fleabites. A common parasite that torments dogs, the flea can leave your dog’s skin itchy and inflamed. Fleas like to live on dogs and often infest the ears, lower back, stomach, neck, and base of the tail.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are more rare in dogs but can happen. This is when your dog is allergic to a portion of food it has ingested. To identify which food your dog is allergic to, your vet will often recommend an elimination diet.

Environmental Allergens

Environmental allergens are things in your surroundings that can cause a reaction. The most common environmental allergens are grass, pollen, mold, and dust. Environmental allergens can cause itchy skin, inflammation, sneezing, and teary eyes.

dog lying on grass

The Most Common Dog Allergens

These are the top dog allergens that can irate and torment your sweet pup:

Trees
Grass
Pollen
Mold
Dander
Cigarette Smoke
Perfume
Fleas
Medications

These are the top food allergies that dogs can develop:

Beef
Chicken
Pork
Egg
Dairy/Milk
Soy
Wheat
Corn

Symptoms of Dog Allergies

Your dog can have any of the following allergic reactions:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Bloating
Excessive Sneezing
Coughing
Runny Nose
Teary Eyes
Itchy Skin
Patchy Red Skin
Biting Paws
Licking Paws
Hair Loss
Scratch Wounds

Itchy skin is the most typical sign of an airborne allergy. Your dog will frequently scratch at its feet, face, ears, front legs, and stomach. Excessive scratching can lead to secondary signs such as scabbing, wounds, ear infections, and hair loss. If you are noticing these secondary signs, you should contact your vet.

dog in leaves

How Do I Know What My Dog is Allergic To?

Dogs develop allergies over time, especially when they are continually exposed to the allergen. Allergies can develop as early as six months old, and your dog can continue to develop allegories till about three years old. Symptoms can be seasonal or year-round, depending on the allergen.

As the allergy increases, symptoms will become more apparent. When your dog shows signs, keep a log of where they have been or what they had eaten when the symptoms first appeared.

But sometimes, it can be challenging to determine what is causing the allergic reaction. In this situation, you should take your dog to the vet to determine what type of allergy your dog may have developed. Your vet can run allergy tests to give you a more definitive diagnosis.

Are Some Dog Breeds More Susceptible to Allergies than Others?

Yes. While all dogs can develop allergies, some dog breeds are more susceptible to allergens. The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies these dog breeds as being predisposed to develop allergies:

Boston Terriers
Boxers
Chinese Shar-Pei
Dalmatians
Golden Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers
Lhasa Apsos
Scottish Terriers
Shih Tzus
West Highland White Terriers
Wirehaired Fox Terriers

Any dog can develop food allergies, but these breeds have a more increased risk:

Cocker Spaniels
Labrador Retriever
West Highland White Terriers

Treatment Options for Dog Allergies

Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for allergies. But there are several allergy treatment options to help minimize the symptoms for your dog. Your veterinarian may recommend one or all of the following treatment options depending on the severity of your dog’s allergies:

Prescription Medication

Antihistamines and corticosteroids are efficient prescriptions that will quickly reduce the effects of the allergens. However, prolonged use of these prescribed medications is not recommended because of the side effects associated with them. This should be a short-term solution for managing your dog’s allergies.

Desensitization Therapy

Your dog would receive tailored injections to desensitize your dog to the particular allergen. This will take several months before your dog will see an improved reduction of an allergic reaction. But this is a better long-term solution for severe allergies.

Natural Remedies

A less invasive option with fewer side effects, natural remedies are gaining popularity with many pet parents. These are often over-the-counter solutions that can provide relief for your dog with varied results. The most popular natural remedies are:

CBD Oil
Fish Oils
Oatmeal Baths
Aloe Vera Topicals

It’s critical to talk to your vet about using natural remedies because some remedies are more effective than others. And they may offer insight into which treatments will work best for your dog’s allergies.

Are you looking for a long-term natural remedy for your dog’s allergies? Shop our high-quality CBD oil specially formulated for dogs.

How Does CBD Work for Dog Allergies?

Cannabinoids (CBD) works by affecting your dog’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to prevent exaggerated responses from the immune system. This relieves allergy symptoms by modulating the immune system.

A 2018 study by Colorado State University found that CBD is well tolerated by dogs with few adverse side effects. This makes CBD a natural remedy for dog allergies. However, the FDA doesn’t regulate CBD products, and you can get varied results if you don’t research the CBD products before you buy them. It’s essential to look for products that provide testing and transparency about their CBD potency and sourcing.

Does CBD Really Help Relieve Dog Allergies?

While studies do show some promise in effectiveness for treating dog allergies, they are not entirely conclusive. More studies with larger samples are needed to determine if CBD is proven to work. It also depends on the dog. Some dogs may naturally be more receptive to the positive effects of CBD than others.

You should talk to your vet to get their opinion and do your research. You’ll make better decisions about your dog’s allergy treatment plan when you’re more educated on CBD and its possible health benefits.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) notes that CBD does hold therapeutic promise for reducing pain and inflammation, but more studies are needed. The AVMA also hopes the FDA will soon approve high-quality CBD products and regulate the current unregulated CBD market’s efficacy and safety.

Benefits of CBD Oil for Dog Allergies

CBD oil has several potential benefits for dog allergies:

May Improve Skin Health: The endocannabinoid system is critical for managing specific skin issues, and CBD oil can be a skin-boosting supplement that reduces the itchy reaction to the skin.
May Reduce Inflammation and Pain: Researchers are finding that CBD has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce irritation and pain from an allergic reaction.
May Relieve Dry Skin and Lesions: A CBD topical lotion can help moisturize and soothe itchy, dry skin caused by an allergic reaction.
May Improve Gut Health: CBD may be able to help with gastrointestinal disorders that can develop from food allergies, like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, secretory diarrhea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

How Does CBD Compare to Other Dog Allergy Treatment Options

CBD oil is a natural remedy for dog allergies compared to prescription medications with fewer side effects. But prescriptions are more efficient at treating the allergy. For mild allergies, CBD oil may be the better alternative because you can give it to your dog continually over a long period of time without concern for serious side effects.

For more severe allergies, you’ll want to have a vet prescribe medications and possibly desensitization therapy to reduce the allergic reaction to a more manageable level. As always, you should talk to your vet about which treatment options are going to be the best for your dog.

The Best Method for Taking CBD for Dog Allergies

There are several methods for helping your dog take CBD. Some methods are fast-acting, while others are easier for giving to your dog. But just because it is an effective method for delivering CBD doesn’t guarantee your dog will take it.

So the best method is really the best method that works for your dog. We’ll list the most common methods and the pros and cons associated with each method:

CBD Oil Tincture: This method allows you to put the oil directly in your dog’s mouth through a tincture. Tinctures are fast-acting, and you know exactly how much CBD your dog is ingesting. But some dogs don’t like the taste of the oil and may put up a fight to get the oil into their mouth.
CBD Treats and Chews: These are dog treats that are infused with CBD oil. These treats are an easy delivery device but may take longer to take effect. And CBD treats may be a more expensive method because you will need to give your dog several treats for the correct dosage depending on the size of your dog.
Topical CBD Lotions or Shampoos: CBD lotions and shampoos provide topical relief to itchy skin and coats. But this method has the least potency because the skin doesn’t absorb the CBD as effectively as ingesting.

Need a high-quality natural remedy specially formulated for dogs? Shop our full line of CBD treats and oils.

happy dog outside

CBD Oil Dosage for Dog Allergies

Because the FDA doesn’t regulate CBD products, there isn’t a recommended standard dosage for CBD oil for dogs. You should read your CBD product labels for recommended dosage and potency.

That said, most CBD Oil products recommend between 1 to 5 mg of CBD oil for every 10 lbs of body weight. You can give this dosage all at once or divide it into two doses per day. So, for example, a 20 lb dog would need between 2 – 10 mg of CBD oil per day to help relieve allergy symptoms.

If this is your dog’s first time taking CBD oil, you should start them on the smallest dose to ensure your dog can tolerate the CBD oil. Once you’ve given it to your dog, watch them for any mild adverse side effects, such as:

Dry Mouth
Low Blood Pressure
Diarrhea

If your dog doesn’t show any of these signs, you can slowly increase their dosage to the full, recommended dosage amount or until their allergic symptoms subside. If your dog does show negative side effects to the CBD oil, you should contact your vet for the next steps.

CBD Oil Maybe A Natural Alternative to Managing Your Dog’s Allergies

Depending on how your dog tolerates CBD Oil, it may be an effective natural remedy to add to your dog’s allergy treatment plan. There are a variety of CBD products for dogs that can make ingesting CBD easy and effective. Talk to your vet to see if CBD is a good alternative for relieving your dog’s allergies.

Dope Dog offers some of the best all-natural, THC-free CBD oil products specially formulated for dogs. We offer a variety of CBD treats, shampoos, and oils, allowing you to customize the best CBD delivery method to help relieve your dog’s allergies and inflammation.

Want a natural option for managing your dog’s mild allergies? Shop Dope Dog CBD oils and treats.

← Older Post Newer Post →

CBD for Dog Allergies: Does CBD Really Help?