People have been over-the-moon thrilled lately with what CBD can do to the body. It’s relaxing, healing, and supportive, and it allows enjoying the best cannabis can offer. It’s not surprising that the cannabis industry took it one step further and developed CBD products for pets. These are marketed as addressing numerous health and behavioral problems.
However, there are still a lot of stereotypes about CBD, and a US survey showed that 30 % of veterinarians are reluctant to discuss CBD use with pet owners. We think it’s time to demystify CBD use in pet care, so we created this short guide for everyone who might be interested. When exactly should you give CBD to your pets? How to choose the right product? We are breaking down answers to these questions below, so scroll down.
What is CBD?
For those of you not well-versed in the nuances of cannabis products, cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the key ingredients of the hemp plant, a variety of cannabis. This cannabinoid has recently been included in medicine, cosmetic products, edibles, and even drinks due to its beneficial effect on the body. Non-addictive and non-intoxicating, CBD is safe for both people and pets, and it rarely causes side effects or overdosing.
Other notable characteristics of CBD include the following:
- Legal
- Safe
- Does not cause the high
- Suitable for addressing different health concerns
Compared to intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has a wider application and is particularly beneficial for pets.
CBD Uses for Pets
CBD products for pets may not be as popular as those created for people, but they are indispensable in certain situations. Below, we explore the most common uses of this cannabinoid in pet care.
Pain Relief
The most common use of CBD in pet care is to alleviate pain. For example, osteoarthritis pain that causes a lot of suffering to dogs can be effectively treated with CBD, with no side effects reported. Research also shows that CBD can decrease cancer pain in pets, contributing to compassionate pain care.
Inflammatory and Chronic Diseases
CBD is also great for reducing the symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as the following:
- contact and atopic dermatitis
- degenerative myelopathies
- glaucoma
- diabetes
Most of these diseases require lifelong treatment with special diets, appropriate fitness regimens, and regular medicine consumption. To reduce the potential burden of prescribed vet medicines on your pet, you can complement treatment with CBD.
Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy
There is promising evidence that the inclusion of CBD in standard epilepsy treatment reduces the frequency of seizures. This cannabinoid use can thus be used to improve your pet’s quality of life by avoiding toxicity effects. However, CBD has not been recommended as a monotherapy for seizure reduction due to the lack of evidence, so consult your vet to design your pet-specific treatment plan.
Anxiety and Stress
When you think of CBD, your mind might go straight to its relaxing properties. Indeed, CBD products for pets are widely used to address anxiety and stress.
Anxiety and stress are common in pets that are scared, experience events (e.g., moving to a new place), or are forced to do something they fear (e.g., visit a vet). Physiologic signs of stress and anxiety can include the following:
- tachycardia
- trembling or paralysis
- increased sweating or salivation
- gastrointestinal disturbances
- behavioral signs such as pacing, circling, restlessness, or immobility.
So, if it’s a stress relief you’re after, CBD can be of great help. CBD calms the nervous system down, improving the pet’s behavior and well-being and decreasing the risk of self-harm. Consider using CBD when you know your pet will get nervous (e.g., when you leave them alone for long, travel with them, or subject them to unfamiliar experiences).
Skin Problems
Pets with dry, sensitive, or itchy skin may benefit from CBD-enriched topicals, such as shampoos. They soothe the skin during seasonal allergies and are completely safe. Such products often contain other pet-friendly ingredients that make your animal look pampered and healthy.
What CBD Products Are There?
CBD products for pets come in a variety of forms:
- Tinctures and oils
- Topicals such as balms and shampoos
- Edibles (e.g., peanut butter)
When it comes to choosing between topicals and edibles, the decision is determined entirely by your pet’s health needs. If it’s skin problems you are trying to address, topicals are your best choice. For other health and behavioral concerns, choose an edible that you can easily incorporate into your pet care routine (e.g., by adding it to the animal’s preferred food).
There is a great selection of organic CBD for pets that AskGrowers experts swear by. These fabulously-priced CBD-packed pet treats have everything your pet needs: purity of the formula, safety, and effectiveness. The best news is that many CBD manufacturers selling products for pets sometimes slash the prices on their best sellers, so you have a chance to stock up without spending too much.
CBD for Pets: Main Selection and Consumption Tips
When shopping for CBD products for pets, pay attention to the labeling. These products are designed for specific animals, so CBD for the dog may be different from CBD for horses. To make things easier and avoid confusion, manufacturers often place photos of the target animals on the labeling.
Another important aspect to keep in mind is that a good CBD product for pets should exclude THC. This component is toxic and can cause unwanted side effects, so steer away from products that list this ingredient. Choose broad-spectrum CBD treats because they contain a variety of cannabinoids (excluding THC) that make them more beneficial and effective.
High-quality CBD products for pets are lab-tested and certified, preferably coming from organic farms. Pay attention to whether the manufacturer provided lab test results because transparency is one of the key features of a reliable company. Moreover, we recommend looking for products that state the dosage on the label and provide detailed consumption recommendations. Ideally, you should have no questions about CBD use after reading the instructions.
When it comes to the dosages, moderation is the golden rule. Start with small doses and carefully check your pet’s reaction. You need to monitor their health because even though side effects are rare, CBD overuse is a real thing. Since your pet would not be able to tell you that something’s wrong, keep track of their activity levels and appetite when you start CBD therapy.
While calculating the dosage and keeping an eye on side effects may be a bit overwhelming, the results of CBD for pets are endlessly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like seeing your pet healthy, happy, and active!
Conclusion
So, go ahead and take it for a spin! CBD products can bring so many benefits to your pet struggling with health problems or stress. Stick to expert-approved CBD products and make sure to read the instructions carefully to guarantee that your pet enjoys healing CBD properties to the maximum.
Denys Svirepchuk is an AskGrowers writer who knows all ins and outs of cannabis-derived products. He is committed to popularizing cannabis as a natural and safe remedy to physical and mental health problems. With a philosophy of natural healing in mind, he also sticks to the most recent scientific evidence to help readers find working marijuana products.
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