DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The information contained in this site is for educational and informative purposes ONLY and is NOT advice. Also, this website and the information contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Please refer to our Disclaimer Policy for more information.
Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Thee Puppypreneur
WHAT IS HEMP FOR DOGS AND CAN DOGS HAVE HEMP
Hemp is a plant related to the Marijuana plant but the concentration of THC in hemp is usually well below 0.3%.
Hemp contains cannabinoids such as CBDA. CBD is by-product of CBDA produced through heat extraction. CBD oil is made using the whole hemp plant including the leaves, stems and flowers and occasionally the seeds.
However, CBD is extracted for its medicinal qualities and usually products will indicate the CBD content specifically.
They will also tell you whether it is full spectrum meaning it contains trace amounts of THC or whether it is broad spectrum meaning it should contain no THC.
HEMP OIL VS HEMPSEED OIL FOR DOGS
Hempseed oil is often commonly referred to as Hemp Oil. Unfortunately, this is incorrect as Hemp oil refers to the whole plant and hempseed oil refers to just the oil from the seeds.
However, there are still many products that are labeled hemp or hemp oil instead of hempseed but when you look at the labels you should be able to tell the source under the ingredients.
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, hemp hearts are also another similar product and are thought of as a great nutritional supplement for dogs.
Hemp hearts are actually the hulled hemp seeds.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HEMP FOR DOGS
Hempseed oil for dogs contains a whole host of nutrients such as;
- Antioxidants 19 benefits of hemp seeds: Nutrition, health, and use (medicalnewstoday.com)
- Fatty Acids
- Minerals
- Vitamins
For starters, Hemp seeds or hemp hearts as their called are considered a complete protein. This means that they contain all essential amino acids.
Other vegetarian sources of complete protein include quinoa, buckwheat, spirulina, nutritional yeast, and rice and beans. 213 Nearly Complete Protein Sources for Vegetarians and Vegans (healthline.com)
They are also touted for having a perfect omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 3:1.
Foods that are high in omega-3 have been shown to have positive effects on the cardiovascular system as well as being anti-inflammatory.
In a study on the effects of hemp seed oil on atopic dermatitis it was found to be very effective at reducing the symptoms of both dryness and itchiness. 3Callaway, J., Schwab, U., Harvima, I., Halonen, P., Mykkänen, O., Hyvönen, P., & Järvinen, T. (2005). Efficacy of dietary hempseed oil in patients with atopic dermatitis. The Journal of dermatological treatment, 16(2), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546630510035832
BENEFITS OF HEMP HEARTS FOR DOGS
Hemp hearts differentiate from hemp seed oil when you look at the nutrition facts. What to use depends on your specific needs and what you are wanting the product to do.
For example, if I was going to make a paw balm like I usually do for my little Princess I would use the hemp seed oil.
Check our article below for our paw balm recipe.
WHY DO DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS WITH HELPFUL SOLUTIONS
If you are looking to supplement nutritionally such as adding protein to your dog’s diet (maybe they are vegetarian) then the hemp hearts would be a better choice than the oil as the oil contains no protein.
HEALTH BENEFITS AND NUTRITION FACTS OF HEMP HEARTS FOR DOGS
Here are some nutrition facts for organic hemp hearts, below is a brief description of the nutrients they are packed with as they also contain other vitamins and minerals.
3 Tbsp or 30 grams of hemp hearts contain about,
- 10 grams of protein
- 14 grams of fat
- 3.3 mg of Iron
- 160 mg of Magnesium
- 351 mg of Phosphorus
- 330 mg Potassium 4FoodData Central (usda.gov)
HEALTH BENEFITS OF HEMP SUPPLEMENTATION FOR DOGS
JOINT
There are products on the market for dogs that include hemp for varying reasons such as this joint supplements with hemp for dogs in it
These joint supplements are organic
CALMING
There are also calming chews on the market that contain hemp for dogs as well as other herbs like valerian root
Or these chews that have hemp seed oil and hemp seed powder as well as passion flower and melatonin
LIQUID
There are also these liquid hemp oil drops for your furbaby that are made in the USA and organic
SIDE EFFECTS OF HEMP FOR DOGS
Again, you should always consult with your vet before adding anything new to your dog’s regime.
Veterinarians are often hesitant to prescribe hemp or CBD for dogs based on the fact that it has not been readily practiced in the veterinary world.
Some of the side effects of hemp for dogs are some documented studies that show that CBD and hemp could interfere with certain medications 5FAQ: What you need to know about hemp and dogs (veterinarypracticenews.com) and that it has been known to alter ALP (liver enzymes).
With the recent legality in several states, they are just starting to do more research into the effects of CBD and hemp products and it has not been well documented in animals as there isn’t a ton of research.
Check out our other articles to learn the difference between the varying types of hemp for dogs mentioned in this article and CBD in our other article below.
