Can Dogs Eat Hemp Seeds?

Hemp seeds are all the rage lately, with more and more people purchasing them and adding them to their food, such as salads and smoothies. Sometimes people wonder, can dogs eat hemp seeds? I am here to help you discover the answer to this question.

Can Dogs Eat Hemp Seeds

What Are Hemp Seeds?

Hemp seeds are classified in the nut category, even though we call it a seed. It has a very nutty flavor. Sometimes people call hemp seeds hemp hearts.

Hemp seeds contain very small insignificant amounts of THC. This makes them very safe to consume, and you do not get any of the effects from the drug that people commonly associate hemp with. This makes the product safe for both people and dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Hemp Seeds?

Yes, dogs can safely eat and consume hemp seeds or hemp hearts. Adding some organic hemp seeds to your dog’s food is an easy way to add some extra minerals and vitamins into your dog’s diet.

This seed is considered a superfood and contains a lot of protein. 25% of the calories in hemp contain protein, and this is significantly more than the other seeds we see on the market, like flax and chia.

Hemp seeds also have a good amount of Omega 3s and 6s. As you may already know, Omegas are a very important part of your dog’s daily nutrition.

Below you will learn more about some of the amazing benefits that hemp seeds can give your dog.

Benefits of Hemp Seeds for Dogs

There are many options for dogs when it comes to seeds, so you will be happy to know that hemp seeds are actually very beneficial for dogs. Here are some of the things this superfood can do for your dog and you.

1. Improves Your Dog’s Skin

The omegas, also known as fatty acids inside the hemp seeds, work to keep your dog’s skin moisturized and less dry. If your dog is prone to mange or itchy sensitive skin, then the answer may be inside of the hemp hearts.

Add hemp seeds or hemp hearts to the food and see if it reduces your dog’s itchiness after a while. You should also notice the coat looking smooth and shiny due to the three to one ratio of fatty acids.

Another fun fact about hemp seeds is that they can reduce the amount of shedding your dog is experiencing. You won’t have to stress over the amount of hair in your home because your dog will start to lose less.

2. Promotes Heart Health

Another great benefit of this superfood is that it can improve your dog’s heart health. When the amino acids and arginine enter your dog’s body from the hemp seeds, it makes nitric oxide. This makes your dog’s blood vessels expand to push blood through easier. Better blood circulation leads to obviously better heart health because your heart is what pushes the blood throughout the body.

This will help the organs to function better as well. This is extremely important in obese or overweight dogs because they are at a high risk of heart failure.

3. Reduces Inflammation in Joints

Many dogs, especially older ones, tend to get joint pain. This can be very painful for your dog, and they usually have to be put on medication to alive the pain.

One of the amazing benefits of hemp seeds is that they can reduce inflation in the body. The omegas inside of hemp are what do this. So, if your dog is struggling with arthritis pain or joint pain, this may alleviate some of it. It won’t cure it completely, but it may make your dog more comfortable.

4. Immune System Health

Hemp hearts have a lot of nutrients inside of them that can enhance your immune system. Some of these amazing nutrients are:

  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorus
  • Zinc

Each of these nutrients work together to give your dog an overall better immune system. Of course, your dog can get a lot of vitamins and nutrients from their traditional dog food, but if you add this to the food, it will give your dog amazing benefits.

5. Reduces Anxiety

Some dogs have very bad anxiety or even fear based aggression/anxiety. The reasons dogs have these stressful moments in their life vary, and it can be very difficult to calm a dog down. Food has been known to have positive effects on dog anxiety based on the vitamins and minerals inside.

Hemp seeds can reduce stress and anxiety. It gives off a calming effect for your dog; that way, they can relax and not be so high strung. When your dog is stress free, it gives your dog many health benefits, both mentally and physically.

Benefits Of Hemp Seeds For Dogs

How to Feed Your Dog Hemp Seeds

Too much of anything can be a bad thing, so it is very important that you know how many hemp seeds your dog can have.

If you are going to give your dog hemp seeds in their natural form, give your dog between 1 to 2 tablespoons added with their dog food.

If your dog is in the toy breed category or a micro mini, it is important to consult a veterinarian before you give your dog hemp seeds that way, you know the appropriate amount for that size of dog.

Hemp oil is also very beneficial to give dogs, and you can give your dog one teaspoon on top of their food.

Hemp Seed Dog Treat Recipe

If you want to introduce hemp hearts into your dog’s diet but are unsure of how to do it, then you can make your dog a biscuit with hemp in it.

Here is a short video showing you exactly how to make hemp dog treats that your dog will absolutely love.

Hemp Seed Oil for Dogs

Hemp seed oil obviously comes from hemp seeds, and it can also be given to dogs in small quantities. This oil does not contain any THC or CBD, so you don’t have to worry about any side effects for your dog. Hemp oil is different than CBD oil.

This oil has all the same amazing benefits as the natural form, and it can also be put onto your dog’s skin. When it is put onto the skin, it moisturizes and makes the coat look very shiny.

When it is put on the skin, it can also give your dog a calming effect, so if your dog is very nervous or you want your dog to relax, rub a little oil onto the skin and massage it in.

You can also put a teaspoon of the oil into your dog’s dry food and mix it up to give your dog the consumed health benefits.

Conclusion

Now you know it is completely safe for dogs to eat hemp seeds. If you are adding a tablespoon to your food, you can also add one into your dog’s food and mix it up. It will not only give it an extra texture but, most importantly, give your dog a lot of health benefits.

Has your dog tried hemp seeds? Are you going to make the hemp dog treats in the video above? Let us know!

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