CBD & Your Pet

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Many pet owners are looking for natural alternatives to support the health of their beloved companions. Animals can benefit from the addition of CBD-rich hemp-extracts into their diets, just as you can. 

Just like the human body, our animal friends’ bodies have an internal system that can utilize the therapeutic compounds found in the hemp plant. This extensive biological communication network is known as the endocannabinoid system, and is discussed in greater detail here. 

This doesn’t just apply to dogs and cats. As a matter of fact, any animal with a backbone also has an endocannabinoid system full of CB1 and CB2 receptors, ready to make use of cannabinoids like CBD. This includes birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and of course, mammals. 

Quality CBD supplements are beneficial to your pet’s health for the same reasons that they're beneficial to yours. 

It is worth mentioning that there hasn’t been an excessive amount of scientific studies dedicated to evaluating the therapeutic value of hemp-extracts on animals. However, the abundance of case reports and anecdotal evidence relating to the effectiveness of CBD on animals, specifically dogs and cats, is overwhelming.  

One key point to remember – specifically for dog owners – is that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) sensitivity is especially high in dogs, who have far more receptors in their brains than humans do. This is why high quality hemp-derived CBD products are recommended for pets. 

Hemp-extracts have a minimal amount of THC – by law, no more than 0.3%. In concentrations as low as this, THC is perfectly safe. There are certain conditions that simply respond better to CBD supplements that have low amounts of THC in them.

THC also plays a pivotal role in the entourage effect – the synergistic relationship between the active compounds found in the hemp plant. CBD, THC, and the more than 100 other natural compounds found in the hemp plant, work together in the body to amplify overall therapeutic effectiveness. 

Quality is Key 

When it comes to choosing the best CBD product for your pet, the supplements you give them should be chosen using the same standards as anything else that you would put into your own body. Ideally, you should choose a product that is produced locally and sold by a reputable supplier that will provide you with honest, accurate information. 

Several companies have been cited by the FDA for selling CBD products for pets that have little or no CBD in them. You wouldn’t put questionable supplements into your body, and our furry friends deserve that same respect – choose a quality CBD supplier. 

Delivery Method & Dosing 

When administering CBD supplements to animals, you can choose between an edible supplement or one that is in liquid form – usually an oil.  While edible products are effective, CBD oils will give you greater flexibility when adjusting dosages. 

Rather human or animal, the most effective dosing strategy will always be start low and go slow. 

It’s best to begin dosing at the lower end, and slightly increasing the administered amount every few days until your desired effects are achieved. 

If you have any questions of your own, or would just like some help choosing the right CBD product for your pet, please come by our store or connect with us by phone or email. 

References:

Konieczny, Eileen, and Lauren Wilson. Healing with CBD: How Cannabidiol Can Transform Your Health without the High. Ulysses Press, 2018.

Project CBD. (2017, April 19). Claws and Effect: Cannabis Medicine for Pets. Project CBD. Retrieved from https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-101/cbd-for-pets