CBD oils continue to work wonders on our dogs’ bodies. But what’s the science behind this supplement? Understanding the scientific side of CBD pet oil gives you insights into how it affects your dog’s body. It allows you to know its composition and how it affects your dog. Let’s start.
How is CBD Oil Made?
CBD oil is the product of a scientific process. We discuss the process step by step.
Step 1: Cultivating hemp
Cultivation is the initial step. Hemp is a member of the cannabis family. It has low THC levels and increased cannabinoids, making it an excellent dog supplement.
Because it readily absorbs its surrounding materials, including pesticides and heavy metals, in the soil, hemp is a particularly sensitive plant. Growing hemp in an organic environment without impurities or toxins is crucial.
It’s also crucial to note that the female hemp plant is used to make CBD oil. The substances we are familiar with and enjoy are naturally abundant only in female hemp plants. Growing just female hemp plants has become simpler thanks to recent scientific advancements.
Step 2: The extraction process
The extraction process follows. The mature hemp plant material is put through an extraction process. The CO2 process adds pressurized CO2 to the plant material and is the best and most widely used technique. As a result, the leftover extract can contain hemp chemicals that are highly stable, diversified, and abundant without any contaminants or hazardous chemicals.
Equipment that can pressurize carbon dioxide into non-gaseous states is used in CO2 cannabis extraction. When under pressure, CO2 can safely and effectively extract CBD and other cannabis-related compounds from plants.
The thick, sludgy liquid is typically run through a separator, which separates it into the necessary components after the CO2 has extracted the essential oils and cannabinoids from the plant.
By using this method, producers may produce CBD oils that are extremely precise, whether they choose to blend various cannabis components or leave the CBD retaining the characteristics of both states at once. In this condition, manufacturers can employ CO2 to create CBD with high potency.
The other method, subcritical extraction, uses CO2 at reduced pressure and temperature. Although this method is time-consuming and produces fewer CBD oils, the final product has fewer unwanted by-products.
How does this extraction process affect your dog’s CBD quality?
The type of extraction method affects the quality of the final product. Administering CBD oil that has undergone carbon dioxide extraction is a fantastic method to further protect against undesirable byproducts of extraction or toxins introduced into the oil during manufacture. Even if more CO2 were to go into your dog’s oil accidentally, the result would be the same as if they drank some carbonated beverage.
Using CO2-extracted oil also protects quality because only serious market players often utilize it due to the method’s high cost. These manufacturers can choose which cannabis components to extract by adjusting the temperature and pressure.
Step 3: Decarboxylation process
After extracting concentrated hemp, the compounds need activation. The decarboxylation procedure enters the picture at this point. These substances must be heated to a precise temperature for pets and humans to absorb them efficiently. In this process stage, the concentrate is exposed to a controlled amount of heat.
In their acidic state, cannabinoids have a carboxyl molecular bond composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Since these bonds are weak, heat easily breaks them, causing one molecule to separate. Simply put, the acid separates CBDA into CBD and THCA into THC or the substance’s active form.
Manufacturers of CBD oils, for instance, decarboxylate the plant components with heat to avoid waiting for the natural process.
The number of important remaining plant components increases with lower heating temperatures and longer heating times. A heat that is too high and brief can cause CBDA to lose lots of CBD.
In light of this, the issue with decarboxylation is to avoid heating the cannabis material to a point where too many components and cannabinoids “evaporate.” Heating hemp for a long time may destroy terpenes and cannabinoids. This makes CBD oil non-effective.
Decarboxylation removes moisture from the hemp components, thus lowering the risk of contamination.
Step 4: Mixing the concentrated hemp with a carrier oil
This is the final process. It involves mixing the decarboxylated hemp with a specific carrier oil to make CBD oil. Although practically any edible oil can infuse CBD, most experts concur that medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and hemp seed oil are the best options.
Different delivery methods for cannabis are widely available today, ranging from drinks and creams to edibles and vapes.
Dogs have three carrier options: oil, snacks, or topical balm. Although each has advantages, oil is the best.
CBD is fat-soluble, increasing its bioavailability when combined with a high-quality oil.
According to a 2019 study, consuming fatty foods and CBD can increase the body’s level of detectable CBD. Few manufacturers still utilize more conventional plant and seed oils, including olive or grapeseed oils. Although safe, these oils might not encourage the same levels of CBD absorption.
What Is the Chemical Composition of CBD Oil?
Another scientific aspect of CBD oil is its chemical composition. Here are the components of this health supplement.
Terpenes
These components are found in all essential plant oils. Terpenes give the hemp plant its color, aroma, and flavor. Additionally, terpenes have unique characteristics that are important in the body.
Dogs and cats with poor digestive health may benefit from hemp terpenes. It has been discovered that hemp terpenes encourage good inflammatory reactions, which help lessen gastric distress. Pets that experience digestive problems like diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation may benefit from this.
Flavonoids
Most people have little knowledge of these compounds. The compounds are also responsible for the aroma and flavor of the hemp plant. Flavonoids work together with other plant compounds for greater bioavailability and effectiveness.
Like terpenes, flavonoids aid plants in fending against pathogens, pests, and other environmental harm.
One distinction is that flavonoids are responsible for the coloring, while terpenes are more important in generating the fragrant character of cannabis plants.
Cannabinoids
CBD oil is a powerhouse of cannabinoids. These compounds serve the endocannabinoid system directly. THC (in small amounts), CBG, and CBN are some of the active cannabinoids in the hemp plant.
How do hemp plant components interact with your dog’s body?
Cannabinoids are the major compounds in the hemp plant. These compounds make CBD a beneficial supplement for your dog’s body. So how does it interact with your pup’s body?
Cannabinoids are responsible for feeding the endocannabinoid system. This system is found in all mammals. The system has cannabinoid receptors distributed throughout the body. The system controls the body’s homeostasis, where all physiological processes are carried out as they should.
The body’s endocannabinoid system needs cannabinoids because they enhance the regulation of biological functions by interacting with cannabinoid receptors. All mammals naturally make cannabinoids, but they are inadequate.
Technically speaking, the cannabinoids present in hemp are known as phytocannabinoids, which denotes that they are derived from plant matter. When these phytocannabinoids are consumed, the endocannabinoid system can send them to cannabinoid receptors all across the body.
Meanwhile, flavonoids included in hemp contribute to the chemical enhancement of these significant cannabinoids, increasing their potency. Additionally, terpenes give the body plant substances with particular benefits.
It’s also crucial to remember that none of the substances in hemp plants have been proven hazardous to mammals, which explains why they are frequently taken in relatively large doses.
What are the benefits of decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation converts cannabinoid acids into active cannabinoids, which are important in your dog’s body. Cannabinoids in their inactive form have no health benefits for your dog’s body, making decarboxylation an essential process.
How long does decarboxylation take?
It is advisable to first heat the flowers for 10 to 20 minutes at a temperature of 100 to 110 degrees Celsius. The cannabis flowers should then be heated at the same temperature for 60 to 120 minutes.
Are CBD oils safe for dogs?
It’s important to understand that prescription and over-the-counter CBD are not FDA-approved for pet use. This means the products might not have undergone safety testing.
Read more on Do Vets Recommend CBD for Pets?- (You Need to Know)
Sum it up
CBD oils for dogs continues to create debate among pet parents and vets. It is, therefore, important to understand the science behind this product. Our extensive guide has elaborated on the scientific side of CBD.
We hope you have learned from this and are now more enlightened about how CBD oil works in your dog’s body. From harvesting to extraction, a lot of science is involved. Most of these processes work together to give you a high-quality final product. Always consult the vet before purchasing CBD products for your dog. Doing this lowers the risk of negative reactions, which, though rare, can occur.