The Benefits of CBD for Your Pets

In our last article we talked about how CBD affects the body through the endocannabinoid system. Animals such as dogs, cats and horses may all be able to benefit from what CBD has to offer thanks to this system, meaning that in theory you could give CBD to your four-legged friend. There are certain risks that can happen but we’ll get into that a little later, but for now let’s talk about the potential benefits of cannabidiol for animals.

1. CBD for reducing stress and anxiety for your pet 

Most of us pet-owners can attest that their pets can sometimes experience the feelings of stress and anxiety. You may notice when your pet is suffering from feelings of anxiety, but unfortunately, they can’t communicate these feelings to us. Some vets diagnose animals with such conditions, in which case you can know for certain what is wrong with your pet.

2. CBD for pain relief in animals

It has often been suggested that CBD can be used for pain, as it has been shown to have an impact on the inflammatory response. A famed study by Ethan Russo, found that CBD can reverse the inflammation response and thereby reduce symptoms of pain, including chronic pain. Dogs and cats have bodies that work in an often surprisingly similar way to our own, and luckily this is one case where that holds true. CBD may also be able to reduce the pain experienced by our furry friends.

3. CBD may have the potential to reduce certain symptoms like seizures and nausea

CBD may be of beneficial if your pet suffers from a specific illness and experiences symptoms such as these. Animals often experience similar ailments to our own, and since we all have endocannabinoid systems, CBD could be of use for your pet as well as yourself. Investigating CBD for human use should give you a good insight into what conditions CBD may be able to help. At the end of the day, it’s important to note that animals can never tell us when something is wrong. Whereas we can go to a doctor when we feel unwell and describe our symptoms, our dogs and cats rely on us to pick up on when something is off and then help them to rectify it. Vets can be of assistance here, but we as pet owners want to prevent diseases and illnesses as much as possible before they even occur. Since CBD is able to improve general health, it may be able to help combat ailments before they occur. It could help your pet to stay healthy, and its lack of severe side effects means that you could be giving cannabidiol supplements to your pet without too many risks. This is not to say that there are no risks whatsoever.

Potential CBD Risks for your pet

The American Veterinary Medical Association cannot legally state that vets can even discuss cannabis as a potential option for treating pets. But, they have published a document advising vets about how to treat marijuana. Animals have more cannabinoid receptors than we do in their endocannabinoid system. This makes them more sensitive to the effects of cannabis. If you gave your pet anything containing THC, it would be much more harmful than giving them CBD. That being said, you still need to be aware of any potential risks. The side effects that are experienced from CBD are minor and not generally severe, as long as you are careful about how much you give to your dog or cat. Generally, the side effects are similar to what occurs in humans, and include the likes of:

• Drowsiness: The calming effects of CBD can lead to drowsiness and lethargy, so look out for this side effect and ensure that you maintain a healthy dosage that doesn’t affect them too negatively.
• Lowered blood pressure: Blood pressure of the patient has been known to drop temporarily after taking it. This may lead to your pet feeling dizzy and light-headed, so make sure they are in a safe environment. If your pet already suffers from low blood pressure, do not give them CBD.
• Dry mouth: CBD can decrease the production of saliva; your dog may get very thirsty and need more to drink, so keep a bowl of fresh water nearby and easily accessible.

It is quite unfortunate that we can’t provide any conclusive evidence about the risks of using CBD for your pet, the American Kennel Club and other associations do have advice pages about the issue. It seems that the general opinion is that it could be beneficial for your dogs, but you need to be aware of the potential dangers and keep a very close eye on your pet.

How to Give CBD to Your Pet

It is important find a CBD oil specifically geared to animals, you can’t just give your pet the same CBD oil that you are using on yourself when buying any CBD product for your pet. Many companies now sell CBD products, specifically designed for animals, particularly cats and dogs. It is best to give your pet CBD in oil form. This way, you can tailor the dosage drop by drop. Furthermore, you can sneak the oil into your dog’s food so that they eat it without even noticing. However, some companies also sell CBD dog treats flavoured with things like bacon, so that your pet will happily take their dose of CBD. These aren’t ideal when it comes to figuring out the right dose, though. When you first give your pet CBD, it is recommended to start out with 0.5 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight each day. If you don’t see negative side effects (such as vomiting, sedation, disorientation, etc.) then you can gradually up the dose after maintaining it for a week or so. Keep a record of what you gave your pet, the dosage, when you administered it, and any reactions they had. This way you can best ensure their safety. It is also best to arrange a visit the vets to check weight, blood pressure, and a few other general things to do with their health.

So, as it seems, CBD could actually be beneficial for your pets. In the same ways that it can benefit our general health, it can also improve the wellbeing of your beloved furry friends. The best way to give CBD oil to your pet is via an oil specifically designed for animals. If you notice any negative side effects, stop administering it immediately – your pet can’t tell you when something is wrong, so it’s down to you to notice it. Make sure you keep a record of your pet’s reaction to the CBD. A final thing to note is that it’s always best to consult a veterinary professional. Although they cannot explicitly recommend cannabis, they may be able to provide help and advice about giving CBD to your pet and keeping them safe.

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