Last Updated on November 12, 2021 by Maxwell Harris
From cats to dogs and even some birds, people keep pets for various reasons. Activities like dog walking help pet owners to do physical exercises themselves and deal with depression. Therefore, pets should receive the best possible healthcare to ensure they are in perfect condition.
Recent medical research has discovered remarkable medical qualities of Cannabidiol (CBD). It is used to treat an array of human infections such as seizures, pain and nausea. Similarly, CBD can also be applied to treat various behavioural and medical conditions in pets, such as anxiety, pain relief, irritable moods, obsessions, digestive disorders, and social withdrawals. Human CBD works the same as pets CBD since the physiology in mammals is similar
What is CBD
CBD is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol, a components extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive hence safe for pets. Pets CBD should not contain any amount of THC as it can be harmful to your pet. CBD for pets is available in different forms such as pills, oils, and speciality chews and treats specifically for pets.
Why Give Your Pet CBD?
CBD is deemed safe for animal use as it is non-psychoactive. If your pet’s health is questionable and you would like to enhance it, CBD can be the appropriate solution. CBD plays a key role in boosting the serotonin levels in animals. It is instrumental in mood-boosting, sharpens memory, and helps keep their aggression, hyperreactivity and anxiety in check.
Studies have shown that CBD for pets does help, especially dogs. When used on a dog with arthritis, it calms it down and serves as a painkiller, helping ease their pain and increase their activity. Other studies show that CBD has several effects on animals. In some cases, it helps control animal seizures and even acts as an anti-inflammatory drug for dogs. A CBD pet is likely to have better health as compared to others.
Benefits of CBD on Pets
A majority of vets, especially those with clinical experience, confess they have seen the positive effects of CBD for pets, especially in helping the animals deal with the pain and boosting their activity. Studies on the use of this cannabinoid on dogs have shown that a larger percentage of the dogs that were given CBD oil experienced fewer seizures and had a significant decrease in pain compared to their counterparts that were not exposed to CBD.
Pet owners have testified to the success of CBD for pets in the treatment of their animals. CBD played a key role in treating digestive issues, anxiety, pain, inflammation and even improved skin condition. For a dog with arthritis or cancer, CBD boosts their activity and alleviates pain.
Potential Side Effects of CBD on Pets
Not much scientific research has been done on the side effects of CBD on pets. However, judging from how CBD affects human beings, the following are the likely side effects CBD can have on your pet.
- Drowsiness: When used to alleviate anxiety in pets, CBD has a calming effect which can result in mild drowsiness, mostly when the dosage is high. To ascertain this, watch your pet’s sleeping patterns after CBD intake.
- Light-headedness: Significant amounts of CBD can result in a drop in blood pressure which results in a slight feeling of light-headedness. Although your dog may not say it is lightheaded, it is seen when it seems dizzy or somewhat disoriented.
- Dry Mouth: CBD inhibits saliva production; this can make your pet increasingly thirsty. Increased water intake after CBD intake can be an indicator of dry mouth.
- Gastrointestinal upset: This is characterized by loose stool, nausea and vomiting. Some CBD products can cause your pet stomach upset, which will only last a short while.
How to Administer CBD to Pets
CBD intake for pets varies between different sizes, species and ages. When introducing your pet to CBD treatment, it is advisable to start with the lowest measurements and monitor the progress keenly. To attain the best health levels for your pet, maintain the CBD schedule for at least 30 days. You can progressively increase the dosage if you do not see your desired results after some weeks.
CBD for pets is administered by oral method; you can apply the oil on the dog’s or cat’s mouth directly or administer the medication using a dropper or syringe. Alternatively, the oils can be added to the pet’s food, rubbed into the furless skin inside the ear. Be careful not to agitate the pet during application. The correct dosage should be indicated on the packaging and this varies from one brand to another.
Which Type of CBD to Buy
When selecting the CBD oil to buy, you must give your pet the best quality oil. You should first ensure that the company has documentation that shows the products have been tested. It is advisable to buy CBD for pets in the form of oil as it allows you to adjust the dosage dropwise. Put in mind that each variety of CBD contains its benefits.
Precautions to Take When Using CBD for Pets
Keep all CBD products Locked away
This is to ensure that your pet does not accidentally stumble on your CBD stash. A dog, for instance, may consume more than the required amount. Ingesting too much CBD for pets may have negative effects on your dog despite it not having the same psychedelic effect as THC.
Separate CBD from Regular Treats
Pet owners should keep CBD products separate from regular treats to avoid any confusion. It would help if you informed others of the exact dose and when to give CBD to your pet to ensure it does not overdose.