Millions of people take CBD regularly, and have been for a few years now. However, an increasing number of our furry friends have also been taking CBD more recently as well. People consider their pets to be a part of their families. That means they want to do everything they can to keep them healthy. Since pharmaceutical drugs often have nasty side effects, people look for natural alternatives. One alternative quickly gaining popularity is CBD. Believe it or not, CBD for pets is an excellent choice that’s both safe and effective.
CBD is so effective in humans because we have an endocannabinoid system that it reacts with. However, we’re not the only ones with an endocannabinoid system. Most animals have one as well, including cats and dogs. Even though veterinarians are currently barred from officially recommending CBD for pets, there is a fair amount of evidence that indicates it is safe and helpful to do so.
The research done so far has shown that CBD for pets helps treat certain issues and conditions that animals may suffer from. We’re going to get into what the research says in a little bit.
What a Veterinarian Is Allowed to Say Regarding CBD
An increasing number of veterinarians are becoming outspoken CBD ambassadors. Even though they have not been taught about CBD in veterinary school, a growing number of them have been conducting their own research and reading the latest scientific findings regarding the benefits of CBD for pets.
Already, CBD has helped many furry family members. While CBD is still very new, the speed at which veterinarians are coming around to recommending it is growing. It’s expected that sometime in the near future, there will be official recommendations coming from government bodies that will eventually catch up with the science.
Research for CBD and Pets
CBD research is still in its infancy. However, there is already a large (and growing) body of evidence supporting its incredible health benefits for pets. One study, conducted by Colorado State University, looked to see if CBD helps reduce epilepsy symptoms in dogs. Incredibly, 89% of dogs who were administered CBD ended up having fewer seizures. That bodes very well for CBD being used to help make the life of dogs suffering from epilepsy a little easier.
Another study, this time by Cornell University, gave CBD to dogs with osteoarthritis. After a month of giving them CBD twice a day, the dogs suffered from less pain, according to the Canine Brief Pain Inventory.
A third major study, from the University of Reaching School of Pharmacy tested mice and rats to see whether epileptic seizures could be reduced by CBD. Sure enough, it did, and did so very effectively. In fact, the research supported the idea that CBD could even reverse cognitive deficits caused by epilepsy.
Potential CBD Side Effects in Pets
There isn’t much in the way of research on potential side effects of CBD for pets yet. What we do know so far about possible side effects comes from studies showing how CBD affects humans. Currently, we know that negative side effects tend to be minimal, with the most common being dry mouth, slightly reduced blood pressure, and drowsiness.
Some veterinarians have become outspoken advocates for administering CBD to pets. One veterinarian, Dr. Gary Richter, told PetMD that he sees CBD as being generally safe for cats. He notes that some mild side effects could include constipation, diarrhea, and feeling sedated.
You’ll want to talk with your pet’s vet if it’s already taking any medications. This is because it has been noticed that dogs who take CBD see the strength of the medications they take increase. This can actually be a good thing because it means the dosage of any pharmaceutical drugs may be reduced.
Overall, CBD is relatively safe for animals to take. However, the same cannot be said for THC, which is the psychoactive cousin of CBD. That is why you should do everything you can to avoid exposing your pets to THC smoke.
Ideally, if you’re planning to give your pets CBD, you will use a product that contains zero THC. The way to ensure this is to buy CBD products that are explicitly labeled as being for pets, as they have likely gone through THC remediation. This means the CBD oil was heated just enough for the THC to evaporate. The end result is called broad-spectrum CBD and is widely available today from reputable sellers.
Common Uses of CBD for Pets
Today, some of the most common uses of CBD for pets are the following:
- Reducing anxiety
- Reducing seizures
- Reducing excessive barking
- Reducing aggressive behavior
- Improving mood
- Reducing inflammation
- Reducing muscle spasms
- Reducing joint pain
- Improving recovery from surgery
- Increasing appetite
Does CBD Make Pets High?
You’ll be happy to know that CBD does not make pets high. Even the CBD that contains close to the legal limit of THC (0.3%) does not get them high. However, you want to make sure you get broad-spectrum CBD products for your pets to make sure there is no THC at all, in order to err on the side of caution.
CBD for pets is safe and helpful for a number of ailments, issues, and conditions. While there hasn’t been too much research conducted yet on CBD and its effects on animals, what we do know so far looks very promising. People have been giving their pets THC-free CBD for a few years now, with great success.