CBD Oil for Pets

For pet lovers, it can feel as though our worlds revolve around those fuzzy faces. Animals have a way of filling our lives with joy, love and laughter. They are loyal to a fault and always happy to us. That is why it can be so upsetting when our four-legged friends are unwell. After all, they give us the world, and keeping them content and healthy is our priority. Luckily, research shows there may be hope for treating certain ailments and issues for pets such as cats, dogs and horses with CBD. But what exactly are CBD products for pets? Will they really work? And more importantly, are they safe?

What is CBD? A Quick Look

Before we discuss the how and the why of it, let’s dive into what exactly CBD is, and what it isn’t. CBD is short for cannabidiol, a compound found in plants from the Cannabaceae family, otherwise known as hemp or marijuana. However, even though both plants come from the same cannabis species, they are genetically distinct. Marijuana produces TCH, the chemical compound that induces mental intoxication.

On the other hand, hemp is the non-intoxicating variety of Cannabis Sativa L and it produces CBD. Another way to look at it would be to equate THC and CBD to regular coffee and decaf coffee. They are both from the same genus of plant, but they are two distinct varieties.

How CBD Works in Pets

All Animalia, from humans to birds have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). Discovered in the 1970s, this system plays a crucial role in regulating various activities at the cellular level and maintaining biological balance or homeostasis.

Your pet’s ECS naturally produces cannabinoids, but because of the way they are produced, the system often falls short especially when needed in large amounts. This is where external cannabinoids or CBD come in. CBD  activates CB1 and CB2 receptors indirectly in your pet’s body to help maintain balance at a cellular level. By activating these receptors, CBD mimics the natural cannabinoids and provides enhanced therapeutic effects.

Pet Ailments CBD May Help With

Though a large amount of data has been compiled on CBD and the human body, very little has been collected on pets. However, since they— like us—have an ECS, it is likely that the effects would be similar in treating issues like:

Anxiety
In human research, CBD oil has been shown to be extremely effective in relieving stress and anxiety. An internet search will reveal pet families who claim that CBD helped their pets with anxiety.

Pain Management
One of the few reliable CBD pet studies reported that nearly 80% of dogs showed signs of pain reduction and increased mobility when CBD was administered. And because animals are not subject to the placebo effect, this is significant. One favorite dosing method for arthritis in animals is oil or tincture because you can adjust the dosage based on the day and severity of symptoms.

Our favorite is HempExCo because they have several potency levels (a real money-saver) and it’s completely flavorless—animals will not detect it.

Seizures

Another study published in 2019 found that epileptic dogs given CBD in addition to seizure medication had significantly fewer seizures. Note: If your dog is in the middle of a seizure, one of the best delivery methods for seizures is a sublingual spray. It’s easier to get into the mouth than tinctures, although they may do as well if you don’t have spray handy. Never give your dog a CBD treat during an episode—they could easily choke on it.

Cancer Complications

Research shows that CBD and other compounds found in hemp and cannabis plants can be effective in reducing tumors and other cancer-related problems. Along with CBD, studies have shown turkey tail mushrooms effective against cancer. Although there is no replacement for anti-cancer pharmaceuticals at this time, much more research is warranted on both CBD and medicinal mushrooms in the fight against this horrible disease.

Inflammation and Autoimmune Conditions

CBD may be able to decrease inflammation by reducing the production and release of inflammatory cytokines. These compounds are responsible for causing allergies, autoimmunity, and hypersensitivity.

Nausea and Intestinal Health

Animal studies have suggested that CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting in pets even as a result of side effects caused by other drugs and toxins.

Cardiovascular Health

Giving CBD to your pet could improve your pet’s cardiovascular system as discovered by Dr. Edward Bassingthwaighte. 

 

Buyer Beware

As shown above, CBD may offer a plethora of healing applications for the health of your pets. But, don’t be fooled by imposters. Always shop from trusted brands. One study by LeafReport shows that as many as 56% of pet products have inaccurate label claims, the largest issue being a mislabeling of the CBD amount. One reason for this is that CBD is used in smaller quantities for pet treat formulas, meaning that the smallest error can lead to a large discrepancy.

If you want to buy a high-quality CBD product for your pet, it’s best to go with a CBD oil from a reputable line like Hempexco.