Because we’re spending more time at home these days, some of us have noticed changes in our much loved dogs and cats.
Maybe the dog walking routines have been rearranged because we’re working from home. Maybe cats aren’t getting as much privacy because the kids are at home more often. If you’ve noticed a change in your pet’s behaviour (i.e. excessive barking or meowing, “accidents” around the home or unexplained restlessness), your pet could be experiencing anxiety.
With that, hemp CBD oil or treats may help your puppy or kitty relieve anxiety. Remember how humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS)? Well, dogs and cats also house an endocannabinoid system, which helps balance many physiological reactions, such as inflammation, immunity, depression and even anxiety. However, administering a hemp CBD extract to a human adult isn’t the same for our pets. Here are a few tips for giving pets hemp CBD for anxiety:
- We cannot stress enough that hemp CBD is safer than CBD from cannabis. Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, but cannabis has higher amounts of the psychoactive THC. According to The CBD Oil Miracle author Laura Lagano, “dogs have a high number of endocannabinoid receptors in certain parts of the brain, increasing their sensitivity to THC-containing cannabis products. If dogs are exposed to too much THC, they may demonstrate symptoms of static ataxia, which is a neurological dysfunction that produces loss of coordination and other issues.”
- Dosages are not the same for each pet. You cannot compare a dosage for one pet to another. It may take time to find the right dosage, so patience is key. Typically we suggest 1mg per 10 lbs of your pet’s body weight. Start at a low dose and if you feel your puppy or kitty needs more, slowly increase the dose.
- For behavioural issues, you may need to administer hemp CBD to your pet twice a day.
- Hemp CBD is available in dog treats. You can also find hemp CBD oil specially made for pets, which can be directly dropped into the mouth or added to food or treats. Some pet owners even drop oil onto the pet’s paw, and the dog or cat licks it off.
For more information about pets and hemp CBD, click here to read more. Do you have anymore questions about hemp products for your pets? Please call us at 905-286-4420 and you can speak to one of our in-house educators.
Reference:
Laura Lagano, MS, RDN, CDN, The CBD Oil Miracle, Castle Point Books, 2019.