CBD is therapeutic for humans in relieving pain, improving relaxation and reducing anxiety. But is CBD effective for our friendly dogs and cats?
We care about your fur babies, too! Talk to us if you have any questions about pet anxiety, inflammation or pain.
When other treatments aren’t working or have adverse effects on pets, pet owners are eagerly turning to CBD as an alternative treatment. Just like humans, dogs and cats have an endocannabinoid system, which brings homeostasis (or balance) to the body. The endocannabinoid system is affiliated with regulating multiple physiological reactions, including inflammation, mood, and immunity. That said, many pet owners are swearing by CBD for alleviating pain, anxiety and seizures in dogs and cats. We’ve even met pet owners who use CBD for keeping their pets comfortable during cancer and at the end of life.
It’s no wonder why scientists are paying attention to this trend. Formal studies have been sparse on CBD and pets, but according to The GrowthOp, “A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science showed that CBD oil increased comfort and activity in the home environment for dogs with osteoarthritis. In fact, 80 percent of the dogs in the study saw significant decrease in pain and improved mobility.”
If you want to try CBD on your dog or cat, we recommend these tips:
- Use hemp CBD because it contains less than 0.3% THC. Since THC has psychoactive effects, it could make your pet high and increase anxiety. As verified by The GrowthOp: “The use of THC for pets is often frowned upon by veterinarians who have witnessed the effects of improper dosing which can cause toxicity in small fur babies.” Know that hemp CBD does not have psychoactive effects and, just like humans, pets cannot overdose on CBD.
- Try dropping hemp CBD oil onto treats, add it in your pet’s food or water, or if your dog or cat allows it, use a dropper directly into the mouth.
- Start at a low dose and work your way up slowly until you find the right dose for your pet.
- You may start to see some responses to hemp CBD within an hour. But you will likely need to use more than one treatment to see improvement in your pet.
Do you have anymore questions about using CBD oil on dogs or cats? Contact us here to speak to an educator.
References:
“The truth about CBD for your pets” by Ashlee Nolan, The GrowthOp, posted on January 23, 2019, viewed on November 5, 2019.
Front. Vet. Sci., 23 July 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165, viewed on November 5, 2019.