When it comes to your beloved animals you only want the best for them. That’s why CBD or Cannabidiol is a great alternative to conventional medicine and other supplements. CBD is 100% natural and there is no evidence to suggest it’s harmful to consume. It has many therapeutic and medicinal benefits. So is CBD safe for pets? This article will go over the benefits and potential risks associated with Cannabinoid (CBD). It will also answer the question: is CBD safe for pets.
CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical found in the cannabis plant. When it’s eaten and then digested by the body, the chemical reacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system and bonds to the cannabinoid receptors.
Video explanation on giving your pets CBD
What is CBD Oil?
One question you may have is what is CBD oil exactly?
Well CBD is short for Cannabidiol. This chemical is produced by the cannabis plant or hemp. This chemical is non-psychoactive meaning it does not contain THC a.k.a Tetrehydrocannabidiol. Therefore it doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects.
Because it is non-psychoactive there is an exponential increase in the demand for it. More research and development are being put into this to create more advanced and affordable cannabis products. This includes CBD dog treats, CBD toothpicks, CBD infused pet food, and much more.
Is CBD Safe for Dogs?
There have been no studies and no evidence indicating CBD is harmful to dogs nor humans. So is CBD safe for pets? All evidence points to it being perfectly safe for your pets to eat!
Although this chemical might seem new to some people it actually isn’t. We know people have been using cannabis for hundreds of years as a medicinal herb.
Legalization of cannabis has begun at a rapid rate. Canada legalized cannabis back in October of 2018. Since then more and more states throughout the U.S. have become legalized for recreational and medical cannabis.
Now in the near future, it might look like cannabis will be legalized federally in the United States. This will greatly increase funding and research which in the end will just create better products at lower prices for the end consumer.
Check out this article on why cannabis is illegal in the United States
What Does CBD Help in Pets
There’s no conclusive scientific evidence on using CBD to help treat dogs and other pets. There has been evidence and research from dog owners that CBD’s therapeutic properties help treat pain and more specifically, neuropathic pain – one of the more promising benefits from CBD is using it to treat and control seizures.
CBD also has lots of anti-inflammatory properties, anti-nausea effects, helps with appetite, reduces anxiety, has cardiac benefits, and the most interesting and promising is its anti-cancer properties. There is still no conclusive evidence to support these claims. Although as cannabis becomes legalized across the world, scientists are now having the opportunity to conduct legal research and experiments to find out what this chemical can truely do for animals and humans.
Scientists and researches have found that CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors inside the central and peripheral nervous systems. Which helps with:
A list of benefits of CBD for Pets
- Helps with chronic pain and muscle soreness
- Reduces anxiety
- Has very promising results with seizures
- Helps with sleep issues and insomnia
- Lots of therapeutic benefits – just overall relaxes the animal and calms them.
Possible side effects for CBD in Pets
Although research hasn’t indicated which side effects are directly related to CBD. It is very crucial to understand that there is some research that indicates it can trigger side effects in a small percentage of users.
A list of possible side effects of CBD for Pets:
- Drowsiness – In high doses, the calming effects of CBD used to treat anxiety could make the animal a bit drowsy and fatigue.
- Dry Mouth – It slows the production of saliva, meaning it would make your pet more thirsty.
- Changes in Appetite – The animal might have changes in its appetite.
- Lowered Blood Pressure: When consumed in high doses, it has been found that CBD can slightly lower the animal’s blood pressure. This would just make the animal feel a brief second of light-headedness.
What to Look for in CBD Products for Pets
When choosing the right CBD product for your pet, it’s important to understand a few things. First, you need to be aware of all the different products and how they’re made. Some hemp CBD oils can be produced using hemp grown in untested and polluted fields. The chemicals can containment the oil which could potentially be harmful to consume.
American Hemp Oil is a CBD company that specializes in all-natural CBD products. American Hemp Oil says: “All the ingredients used are safe and legal and contain zero THC.”
Also, they get their products lab tested by a third party: “Every product comes with the third-party laboratory test document on each product page, so you know what you are getting.”
Check out this article on Hemp CBD oil vs Regular CBD oil to learn more!
So what to look for?
Look for brands that have the organic tag on them. This will ensure it’s grown in a clean environment! If it’s not organic then check to make sure it doesn’t contain pesticides or other harmful chemicals.
Understand the product: The manufacturer should have a certificate or label that tells how much CBD is in the product. It should also contain little to almost no THC.
In Conclusion to Giving Pets Cannabidiol
So is CBD safe for pets? The answer is YES.
In conclusion to this article on giving your pets CBD, there are a few important things to point out.
First: Do your research into the products your buying your pets. You need to know the dosage amounts and the chemicals used in the products. Organic CBD is always the best choice when looking for the safest oils and treats.
Second: Understand that this is a relatively new subject and movement in the cannabis industry as well as the pet community. More research and money is being devoted to this topic so, in the near future, better and better products will be entering the market.
Third: Lastly if you are unsure or need to ask questions before giving your pets CBD, consult your veterinarian as they will be knowledgable in providing you with the correct dosages and products for your pets!
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Jake Randall is a journalist, author, and student with expertise in all things cannabis (especially edibles), along with knowledge in economics, the environment, and everything in between. Originally from Canada, Jake has taken on the role of a senior cannabis correspondent at The Cannabis School.
So far everyone I kniw who has given CBD to their pets has only had good things to say 🙂