CBD For Your Pet – What You Need to Know

Does your dog howl with anxiety when you leave the house, or chew everything in sight with nervous energy — including those expensive new shoes that were so nice? Is your old cat hobbling around in pain from arthritic joints? It does not have to be that way. Use CBD for your pet and you’ll improve their quality of life immensely – but there are some important things you need to know first.

What is CBD and How Does it Work?

Cannabidiol (CBD), is one of eighty different compounds, called cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant. Most CBD is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, since hemp contains large amounts of CBD and low amounts of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol – the cannabinoid that causes a psychoactive effect). CBD oil will not get your pet “high”. CBD interacts with a cat’s or dog’s (or human’s for that matter) endocannabinoid system (ECS) to affect various receptors. These receptors influence body processes such as temperature, inflammation, pain perception, mood and sleep, to name just a few. As a result, CBD has the ability to modulate a large number of afflictions.

What Conditions Does Pet CBD Treat?

CBD has been used to treat the same issues in both dogs and cats. While there is a body of scientific studies on the medicinal  benefits of CBD for humans, there are very few on the effects in animals. Many pet owners, however, swear by CBD’s ability to provide relief for their pets. Anecdotal accounts recommend CBD for:

• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Infections
• Loss of appetite and nausea
• Loss of energy
• Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Allergies
• Seizures
• Tumors
• Cancer

For example, pet owner Danielle regularly gives a CBD tincture to her 20 year cat: “Oscar used to be just skin on bones, he couldn’t keep any food down. And he’d almost cringe when I tried to pet him —he was in so much pain. But with the CBD, his appetite is so much better, and he doesn’t bring it all up again. He’s active and playful— relatively, I mean — which says to me that he’s in a lot less pain. He enjoys being petted again.” There are so many testimonials like Danielle’s that suggest CBD might be worth a try if your pet is in pain or experiencing any number of other ailments. CBD might provide the relief you both need to calmly enjoy life again.

Is Cannabis Oil Safe For Your Pet?

As long as there is no (or very little) THC in the tincture or oil, CBD oil is safe for your pet. If the oil contains THC, and you give your pet too much, your pet can experience THC Toxicity — meaning basically, they will get high. Your pet may not be able to stand or eat, and this could last for days, depending on the amount of overdose. If this happens, take your pet to the veterinarian right away.

Better yet, consult your veterinarian before you administer CBD to your pet, to determine the proper dosage. There has not been any research done on how much CBD should be given to dogs and cats. We recommend relying on medical professionals.

Your bottle of CBD tincture or oil should indicate the amount of CBD in a bottle. FDA testing has found that many CBD products do not actually contain any CBD, or have very little, so try to buy from reputable companies offering CBD oil for your pet.

CBD tinctures or oils also vary in the spectrum of cannabinoids present. Full spectrum tinctures/oils contain all or most of the natural cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. Broad spectrum means that some cannabinoids have been removed or enhanced. Although there are differing opinions, it seems that full spectrum is best for pets, despite it’s very small amount of THC. This is because of the entourage effect, where the array of cannabinoids modify the psychoactive effect, but work in synergy for medicinal benefits.

How To Use CBD For Your Pet?

• Mix into food
• Administer drops into mouth
• CBD absorbs through the gums; lift the animal’s lip and rub on their gums.

Of course, it’s best to consult a vet or other medical professional first.

Where Can I Buy Cannabis For My Pet?

At Headz, we sell a number of quality CBD pet tinctures of different strengths for your dog or cat in our online shop. We also carry other cannabis-based products for your pets, such as paw balm and dog treats. We love our pets and can’t imagine them in pain – fortunately CBD is a good option for Canadian pet owners.