Has everyone gone mutts? Why is hemp one of the biggest health trends for dogs?
If you feel skeptical about hemp, we get it. But don't chalk it up to being some strange hippie-dog revolution just yet. Hemp surprisingly lives up to the hype!
More and more pet parents are choosing hemp to support their furry faves, and rightfully so! So, let's dive into what hemp really is and how it may help your pet.
The Big Myth You're Wondering About...
When it comes to hemp seed, we should begin by addressing the elephant in the room.
Will hemp turn your dog into... Snoop Dogg? Certainly not!
The trippy stuff you are wondering about is a compound called THC. But, THC is not included in traditional hemp seed-derived products like our original Hemp Elements™ collection, for instance.
Even with CBD-based products such as our Hemp Elements Plus™ collection, THC still must always be formulated and regulated to contain less than 0.3% THC. Our CBD products, in particular, are tested and 100% verified to meet those all-important 0.3% THC requirements.
So, even though hemp is derived from the Cannabis Sativa family, its composition in supplement form gets an all-clear.
No high for your furry fave!
So... What Does Hemp Actually Do?
Now that we have hopefully put your mind at ease, it's time to talk about what hemp actually brings to the table for your pup.
Hemp seed provides dogs with a rich source of Stearidonic Acid, or SDA for short. Stearidonic Acid is a precursor to long-chain fatty acids like EPA and DHA, which might ring a bell if you are familiar with your omegas.
In plain terms, SDA found in hemp can convert to the good stuff that may support your pet's zesty life!
But... how exactly?
Lending a "Hemp-ing" Hand
Given that Stearidonic Acid is a precursor to paw-some Omega-3 fatty acids, hemp seed definitely earns its hype in pet supplements!
As a precursor to those long-chain fatty acids, hemp seed may help support your dog’s immune system function to keep them feeling their happiest. Considering how important immunity is to a pet's well-being these days, that’s a pretty exciting reason to try hemp for your doggy.
That's why we recommend trying supplements that combine hemp seed with other pawsome ingredients to give Fido the ultimate advantage for their zesty life!
I'm Sold, But How Much Hemp Should I Give My Dog?
As with any new ingredient or supplement you introduce into your pet's diet - hemp or otherwise - knowing your furry friend's specific needs is always the best first step.
Hemp seed doesn't mandate a veterinary consultation. However, we still think it would be great to chat with a vet about your interest in adding hemp to your doggy’s diet. There, you can ask specific questions about how hemp can support your dog based on their age, breed, health history, and dietary needs. Your vet may even suggest how much to feed your pup!
Regardless, slow and steady is always the best pace when adding something new to your pet's diet. So, we recommend starting at half of their hemp supplement's suggested dosage for the first week or two. That way, you can gradually help your dog adjust.
After that, you should be good to go!
But... What About CBD?
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, hemp seed and CBD are two different things. However, both are perfectly fine to try giving your dog.
Once again, if THC is your concern, don't fret! CBD is not the same as marijuana.
If you're interested in learning more about CBD, we already have you covered! We're here to help you learn more about CBD in this handy guide about CBD and its benefits.
That's all for now, but check in with us or share photos of your furry friend on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest using #ZestyPaws.
If you have any comments, questions about our Hemp Elements™ and Hemp Elements Plus™ products, feel free to tell us below. If you would like to learn more about our collection of products, you can also reach out to us directly at 1-800-738-0661 or bark@zestypaws.com.
As always, we’ll be here to Keep Your Bestie Feeling Zesty!
34 comments
Zesty Paws
Great questions, Christine! We recommend waiting until a pup is at least 6 months old before starting them on our products. We also recommend looping the veterinarian in with the new things that you add to their routine to make sure they are getting everything they need. <3
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Ken! I personally love our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil. I think that the Salmon Oil or Hemp Salmon Oil would be great to try for the itchy ear problem your pup is facing! the omega fatty acids may help soothe the skin to reduce the itchiness. :)
Christine
I will be getting a new Samoyed puppy soon and came across your Omega Bites (then saw the hemp bites). Are either of these safe for a puppy? If so, one over the other? Amount per day? If not, what age can these be started?
ken folkman
My dog has ear itching problems even though I clean them Will hemp and salmon oil help with that issue
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Fabienne! We recommend our Hemp line, which you can find here —> https://zestypaws.com/collections/hemp-elements :)
FABIENNE LAWRENCE
which brand do you recommend?
Zesty Paws
Hey Rick! We definitely recommend reaching out to your pup’s vet about this, especially with the different medications that your pup is on, and due to the fact that the Hemp Spray is not our product so we cannot speak to it. :)
Rick
I have a 7 yr old female husky/shepherd mix she has allergies and is currently on 1 -16 mg Apoquil every day . Her allergies are really flairing up thus time of the year and she gets sore between her toes, she was just at the vet for an evaluation and they gave her a shot of Depo-Medrol 40mg. along with being on Cephelaxin 500mg an anti-biotic.
My question to you is I want to switch her over to strictly natural meds like the ones with hemp, I have a bottle of Hemp Spray that is used to treat hot spots in pets my dog wants to like her right foot a lot is it or would it be safe to spray some of the hemp spray with a bitter taste on her foot to keep her from licking ??
Zesty Paws
Hi Myra and Vivian!
Those are great questions. We do not sell hemp seeds or hemp hearts, so I would recommend going with the brand’s recommended daily dose and/or talking with your pup’s veterinarian about a suggested daily dose. :)
Vivian A. Barrera
How much Hemp seeds for a 20 lb dog? once a day. On each meal?
Myra
I’d like to know how many teaspoons of hemp hearts
a day my dog can have. She weighs 30 pounds
Zesty Paws
Hi Caitlyn!
That is an excellent question. Our products are meant to be able to be combined, so using both of those together for your pup should be okie dokie! Because of your pup’s young age, I recommend bringing it up to the vet just to be extra sure. <3
Caitlyn
Hey there! I’ve tried your regular products, loved them, and am now looking into switching to the hemp versions but was wondering if it’s safe for me to give my 45lb 10mo husky pup the recommended daily dose of the Hemp Elements 5-in-1 Multivitamin Bites plus the recommended daily dose of the Hemp Elements Omega Bites- together in the same day? Is there such thing as too much hemp? Or can I buy both products and use them at the same time? Thank you!
Zesty Paws
That’s an excellent question, Michael! Dosing and serving size can be based on different health factors such as weight and diet, so we recommend consulting your furry friend’s trusted veterinarian for the most accurate dosing suggestions. :)
michael depasquale
Hello. I would like to know what amount of hemp seed should I give my dog as a daily intake. My dog is a crossbred female from a male black german shepherd and an Alaskin Malamut. She is 9 years old. Thanks
Zesty Paws
Hi Bhavik,
Thanks for reaching out to us with that question. The difference between our regular line vs our Hemp Elements line is the addition either Butterbur Extract, Hemp Seed Oil, or Hemp Seed Oil Powder (it will depend on the product). Deciding which product to get for your pup will depend on the health goals that you and your vet have set up for them! If you message us directly we would be more than happy to further assist on any additional questions you may have!
We look forward to hearing from you! (:
Zesty Paws
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out to us! While I would not be able to tell you if your pup could take the hemp oil that you take, I would recommend asking your vet! Depending on what they tell you we may have a product that may be able to help!
Please reach out to us directly so that we can further answer any and all questions!
Bhavik
What is the difference between your regular products and your hemp version of those products? Why should I opt for one over the other?
Julie Ann Griffith
Can i give my pet hemp oil that i take..And she has seizers. Shes been to the vet and thay want me to put her on seizer pills. I dont want to give her any of those pills. The side effects r bad..thank u.
Zesty Paws
Hi Barbara!
Thank you for reaching out to us with that question! If you message us directly we would be more than happy to assist you and answer any additional questions or concerns that may pop up! (:
We look forward to hearing from you!
Barbara marquis
I want to make some dog treats for my 85 pound boxer who has many allergies. I will be using 2 cups almond flour , 2eggs and 1/2 c peanut butter. How much hemp seed should I use for a dog his size?
Zesty Paws
Hey Carola!
While we do not have anything that can specifically stop/reverse cataracts, we do have a vision supplement that I recommend!
https://zestypaws.com/collections/senior-advanced/products/advanced-eye-support-vision-bites-for-dogs
These chews contain many great ingredients that support eye health and vision. :)
Zesty Paws
Hello Jesse!
These are really great questions. A 21 kg dog weighs about 46 lbs, so they would get 2 chews per day.
We have not heard of a dog taking too many of our Hemp chews to the point that they experiencing severe symptoms. Typically this occurrence may just cause tummy troubles. It is suggested to keep with the recommended dose. If your baby Staffy has more than the recommended dose, you can give us a call and we can help you out.
Feel free to bark our way with any other questions you may have! Our email is bark@zestypaws.com :)
Carola
Hello, is there anything that can halt – stop – reverse cataracts in dogs (except surgery at $2000 per eye)? Thanks, Carola
Jesse
Hi. Just found out the benefits of giving your dog hemp seeds. Perfect for my old (10)baby staffy. She loves it but I do not know what the recommended dosage is for a 21 kilo dog. Are the any adverse affects if they have too much? Which brings me to what is too much? Does this apply to humans? Thank you for your time. Jesse
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Amanda!
In general, all of our Bites products have a serving size of 2 chews per day for furry friends that are 45 lbs. :)
Let us know if you have any other questions!
Amanda Colletti
What is the serving size of hemp heart seeds for dogs on a daily basis. My 16 Australian Shepard mix weighs in around 45 lbs.
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Gordon,
We are so sorry to hear about your fur baby’s diagnosis. Our thoughts and well-wishes are with you and your family.
For your Golden’s weight, we recommend 3 soft chews per day, but to start them out small. Start with 1, then after a few days, increase to 2, and then move up to 3.
We are hoping for the best possible outcome for your pup, and please let us know if there is anything that we can do. <3
Gordon
Our 12-year old Golden was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Initially we were told they could operate but after a cat scan
they said it was too imbedded. I am feeding him fresh vegetables, and fruit, juices and now I purchased hemp seed hearts. How much should I give him daily? He is approximately 75lbs.
Donna
Does the Hemp Zesty Paws Multivitamin for Dogs – Glucosamine & Chondroitin + MSM for Hip & Joint + Arthritis Relief – Digestive Enzymes & CoQ10 + Fish Oil for Skin & Coat – help with weight management. I have a Frenchie that is over-weight and she is ALWAYS hungry.
Brandon
There have been some articles written about palm fruit oil being toxic for dogs, but those articles are typically written about avoiding palm fruit oil that is found outdoors washed up on a beach, since palm fruit oil is sometimes dumped into the ocean in some parts of the world and can wash back up on the coast after mixing with contaminants and toxic chemicals before being ingested by the pups.
You can read more here
https://www.vets-now.com/2017/12/palm-oil-dogs-beaches-danger/
and also more about where our ingredients are certified here:
https://rspo.org/about
We are always completely transparent about the ingredients in our products and all our ingredients go through a rigorous quality control process that meets GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Standards to ensure the specific ingredient meets our stringent specifications. If an ingredient does not pass our quality control, it is immediately destroyed and not used in our facility.
Robert LaSane
I really think it’s the amount that’s unsafe . Garlic isn’t safe for dogs but in small amounts it has tremendous health benefits.
Michael Garvin
In this product and many of your other products you use Palm Fruit Oil. There are many comments on your products that are sold on Amazon that state Palm Fruit Oil is toxic and it can cause severe diarrhea, kidney failure and even death. I love your products but during my search on Google it also stated very similar statements. I was surprised that your company never made a statement on Amazon to defend your product and calm the fears of your customers. I have purchased quite a few of your products and now I am concerned that I might be impacting my dogs current and future health. Please respond with some information regarding the oil or I’m done buying any of your products. Mike Garvin January 19th, 2019
Marsha Burke
I love some of your products, the mobility chews n the cranberry chews, but I have read several times that Hemp products have hemp only in them. I have tried a few hemp products for my dog but had no results. I am very sceptaical person, but have had good luck with ur above products.