What is PET CBD?

What Is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring substance found in both cannabis and hemp. Both hemp and cannabis deliver deep health benefits ... but there's a difference between the two.

Cannabis contains larger amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive part of cannabis and marijuana that gives that "high" associated with those products. 

Our CBD comes from the hemp plant, which is much lower in THC. In fact, it's less than 0.3%, so your dog will get the calmness and health benefits from the CBD without getting a "buzz." While you might enjoy the high from THC, your dog won't. 

How Is CBD Oil Is Made?

CBD is extracted from the hemp plant. This is why you'll see hemp oil on the label.

There are two main ways to extract the CBD from hemp:

1. Solvent Extraction

Sometimes, solvents are used to extract the CBD from the hemp plant. The solvents can be natural, but they're usually petroleum, butane or propane.

These solvents will leave residue in the CBD and can be toxic to your dog. Natural solvents include ethanol or olive oil. 

The problem with solvents, even if natural, is that they don't extract as much CBD from the hemp plant. So CBD oils extracted with solvents will contain a lower concentration of CBD.

2. CO2 Extraction

CO2 extraction uses supercritical carbon dioxide to separate the CBD oil from the hemp plant. Supercritical means the CO2 is in both a liquid and gas state.

The CO2 is pumped into high pressure chamber that contains the hemp plant. The pressure from the CO2 breaks down the plant and produces the CBD oil.

CO2 is a more expensive way to produce CBD, but it's safer than solvents. It also produces much higher concentrations of CBD, which is more beneficial for your dog.

Four Leaf Rover full spectrum hemp uses only CO2 extraction. 

Is Your CBD CO2 Extracted?

Yes, it is!Four Leaf Rover full spectrum hemp uses only CO2 extraction. Here’s why it’s so important …

CO2 extraction uses supercritical carbon dioxide to separate the CBD oil from the hemp plant. Supercritical means the CO2 is in both a liquid and gas state.

The CO2 is pumped into high pressure chamber that contains the hemp plant. The pressure from the CO2 breaks down the plant and produces the CBD oil.

CO2 is a more expensive way to produce CBD, but it's safer than solvents. It also produces much higher concentrations of CBD, which is more beneficial for your dog.

Is Your CBD Oil Full Spectrum?

Yes. When you buy CBD oil for your dog, you'll want to check the label to make sure it's full spectrum or broad spectrum. This means the oil contains not just CBD, but a range of other cannabinoids including CBC, CBN, CBD, CBG and CBA.

Full and broad spectrum will also contain other oils called terpenes and a small amount of THC (less than 0.3%). These substances all work together and help increase the effectiveness of the cannabinoids. 

This is called the "entourage effect." The entourage effect is thought to better activate the endocannabinoid system.

Many CBD oils are from isolate. This means the oil carries no THC and lacks other cannabinoids and terpenes. CBD isolate is much cheaper to produce and has no flavor or odor. 

Some cheaper products will add isolate to boost the CBD content. It's buyer beware when it comes to CBD ... so make sure you work with a company that is transparent about how their CBD is made. And always ask for a certificate of analysis (COA) and look for a wide range of cannabinoids and a small amount of THC.  

How Does CBD Work?

CBD and other cannabinoids work on your dog's endocannabinoid system. 

The endocannabinoid system is like a messenger system in your dog. It plays an important role in your dog's nervous and hormone systems.

The key players in the endocannabinoid system are endocannabinoids (messengers), cannabinoid receptors and enzymes. The endocannabinoids in CBD are very similar to those in your dog's body and that's how CBD works ... it stimulates the receptors in your dog's nervous system, digestive system, immune system and brain. 

This is why CBD has so many health benefits ... including pain relief, reduced inflammation and improved digestive and immune health. Endocannabinoids can also regulate your dog's mood and behavior, sleep and increase his appetite.

How Do I Find The BEST CBD Oil?

Because the CBD industry isn't well regulated, there are a lot of poor quality products on the market.

So how do you find the best CBD oil for your dog?

1. Look for full spectrum hemp. This means you're getting a good amount of several cannabinoids that will all work together for maximum benefits. If the label says "No THC" it's a CBD isolate and you should avoid it.
2. Make sure your CBD oil was made with CO2 extraction. This means the oil was extracted without harmful solvents. 
3. Make sure what's on the label is what's in the bottle. Many companies will say their product contains, let's say 500mg CBD, but you have to check the COA to make sure there is actually 500mg of CBD in the bottle, not 500mg of hemp! Many companies will try to trick you because CBD is expensive. And on that note ...
4. Never buy a CBD product that doesn't have a certificate of analysis (COA). The COA will tell you exactly how much CBD is in the bottle. It will also let you know the product is free of pesticides and toxins. The COA should be done by a third party lab.
5. Know where your CBD is grown! Four Leaf Rover's organic hemp is grown in Oregon but many industrial hemps are sourced overseas where quality standards might not be as high as North America.
6. Don't be cheap! High quality CBD is expensive! And the better the ingredients, the higher the cost. But not always ... always check the COA to make sure you're getting what you paid for.

How Much CBD Oil Should I give?

Each bottle of CBD is sold with a particular concentration, which is expressed in milligrams (mg).

The general rule of thumb is to give 1mg to 6mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight, depending on the dog. 

For anxiety or health prevention, you'll find that the lower doses work well. But if your dog is dealing with pain or immune issues, you'll want a larger amount.

It's best to start with a smaller dose and work your way up. 

How Long Does It Take For CBD To Work?

One of the great benefits of CBD is how fast it works!

When CBD is taken orally, it can start working within 30 to 90 minutes.

You can also squirt the CBD oil right into your dog's mouth if he will tolerate it. In this case, you can see results in as little as 5 to 20 minutes. More of the CBD is absorbed when given right in the mouth, so you can use a smaller dose.