Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we give our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems.)
When it comes to finding the right cannabidiol (CBD) product for your dog, even experts say that it’s a process of trial and error. And with the myriad tinctures and treats available, where do you even start?
Perhaps with a word-of-mouth recommendation. In my household, we keep chewable CBD dog treats around as a staple, especially since my dog Woody’s recent surgery to remedy a partially-torn ACL.
Though the perceived benefits of doggy CBD are often shared anecdotally through pet owners, researchers have found it helps some four-legged friends with symptoms of anxiety and pain from inflammation and degenerative diseases. One vet told me that he recommends a CBD regimen for every pet that is senior in age or dealing with a degenerative joint disease.
That was enough for me to seek out something for Woody, who spent the better part of a year limping and in pain due to his ACL tear. (His injury was treated as a pulled muscle for many months before we discovered the root cause of his limping was ligament-related.)
I was first introduced to Bad Apple Pets last year, after sharing Woody’s plight with a fellow cannabis journalist and dog mom whose husband began making CBD pet treats in 2021. She gave me samples of the , each of which is infused with 5 milligrams of full-spectrum CBD.
Vets recommend full-spectrum products in lieu of CBD isolate, even though they contain small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which can be toxic for dogs. That’s because maintaining an array of cannabinoids and terpenes in a product — versus removing them — helps bolster the effects of the CBD, .
For Woody, the effects were almost immediately noticeable. Within 30 minutes of eating one of the treats, his interest in mail delivery trucks approaching our house declines and his penchant for naps increases — both very beneficial when recovering from major surgery. Not only that, Woody has become obsessed with the chews because they are so delicious. (I’m drawing this characterization from the amount of drool that hits my floor every time I even so much as crinkle the bag.)
Why vets recommend CBD to treat dogs with chronic pain and anxiety
Kurt Kinneman, owner of Bad Apple Pets, said the secret to doggie delectability is in the ingredients. Kinneman first developed the recipe while working at a bakery in hopes of creating healthy granola bars for human consumption. But once he learned about the benefits of CBD for animals, Kinneman pivoted to make a pet treat.
The Doggie Dreams Serenity Chews ($14.99-$19.99) feature peanut butter, oats, oat bran, flax meal, eggs, honey and coconut oil, plus CBD oil made from hemp grown on Kinneman's family farm in Wisconsin. Bad Apple Pets also sells a CBD tincture ($29.99) that can be administered sublingually or put on top of dog food, as well as CBD balm ($29.99) for itchy or irritated skin.
Kinneman, who previously worked at a hemp cultivation in Oregon, knew CBD could help other dogs after first seeing improvement in his own wire-haired Weimaraner mix, Lucy. Before she passed last year, the treats helped her skin and ear health improve, effectively eliminating the chronic yeast infections in her ears, Kinneman said.
Perhaps itap worth noting that, just like humans, dogs’ response to CBD is subjective. Dr. Steph McGrath, a veterinary neurologist and an associate professor at Colorado State University, previously told me that while some dogs see benefits from CBD, others don’t seem to be affected by it. Nonetheless, CBD is safe for dogs unless they have liver issues, so owners looking for a remedy for their pets’ condition should feel comfortable giving it a shot.
Kinneman has heard numerous stories from pet owners over the years about how their pups have benefited from CBD.
“Many tell us their senior dogs are acting like puppies again. Others say their pets can finally relax when company comes over or a thunderstorm arrives,” he said. “And while all animals react to CBD a little differently, the fact that so many pets have seen positive results is what keeps us going.”
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