Is CBD Use Effective in Animals?

We want our pets to live healthy and happy lives. But, when certain health issues arise, we’re left with a difficult choice between putting them on expensive medications that may have side effects or sit and watch as our pets suffer.

Fortunately, owners now have a third choice, which is in the form of Cannabidiol, or simply known as CBD. CBD offers a more natural way of addressing some of our pet problems. CBD is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant. It has no psychoactive effects because it contains very small amounts of THC – the chemical responsible for the “high” feeling. But, it still provides the same medicinal benefits of the hemp plant.

In this article, we’ll be talking about the effectiveness of CBD oil for pets and how it’ll benefit them.

What Are The Potential Benefits of Using CBD On Pets?

Numerous international studies have been made to examine the use of CBD products for pets and found very promising results. In the US, however, researchers are unable to fully evaluate the benefits of using CBD for pets due to the restrictive FDA laws. Other scientists and researchers including veterinarians across the country, meanwhile, are requesting the federal government to conduct more in-depth research and evaluate the potential benefits of using CBD on animals.

But, that’s now starting to change. According to a study, they found that CBD has the potential to treat osteoarthritis and epilepsy in dogs.

As of today, many of the potential benefits of using CBD products on animals are still being studied. In various international studies and clinical trials, however, CBD products have shown the ability to provide relief from anxiety, inflammation, cancer, epilepsy and seizures, nausea and vomiting, and many more. CBD may also help relieve anxiety, inflammation, and pain in animals.

Given the long list of potential benefits that CBD products can provide, plus the fact that it has an extremely low chance of causing side effects, it’s not surprising to see that many pet owners are relying on these products to ensure the health and safety of their cats, dogs, and other animals.

Is CBD Really Safe For Animals?

So, is it really safe to use CBD on animals and is it effective? Yes, even your pets can use CBD. It should be safe to use CBD products on animals, but there are some few key caveats:

Use CBD products that are meant for human consumption.

Use smaller doses than what’s recommended for human consumption.

Don’t use any kind of CBD product on your pets with more than 0.3% THC.

As always, you should consult with your veterinarian before you give CBD to your pets, especially if they have some underlying health concerns.

Animals, like humans, also have cannabinoid receptors through their endocannabinoid system. Although CBD might be processed by animals differently (this is currently being studied), they have the same necessary mechanisms as humans do to receive the benefits of CBD. So, you can expect the same medical benefits you experienced from using CBD products if you give it to your pets.

CBD For Treating Anxiety and Behavioral Issues In Pets

The most common application of CBD in humans is for treating anxiety and other behavioral issues. This is also one of the main reasons why many pet owners are giving CBD to their pets. CBD seems to show its effectiveness in active dogs even with low dosages; it relieves anxiety and helps keep dogs stay calm.

CBD contains properties that have a strong affinity for the brain and nervous system, which can also help with your dog’s anxiety. There’s also enough evidence that shows CBD can also help deal with certain kinds of seizures, although it shouldn’t be considered as a standalone treatment. As for emotional problems or illness such as

It’s also worth noting that CBD products can be quite expensive, so being able to give CBD to your pets and see positive results even with low dosages makes them an even more cost-effective solution for treating anxiety and other behavioral issues.

Possible Side Effects of Using CBD On Animals

Although there’s no scientific data that shows possible side effects of using CBD on animals, there are still potential side effects that they may experience based on humans.

Dry mouth: CBD can decrease the production of saliva in humans. As for pets, this will cause them to become thirstier.

Lowered blood pressure: High doses of CBD can cause the blood pressure to temporarily drop in humans and the same is to be expected in animals as well. The blood pressure drop is small and is no major cause of concern, but it can give a brief feeling of light-headedness.

Drowsiness: CBD is used on animals to treat anxiety because of its calming effect. The calming effect produced by CBD, however, can cause drowsiness, especially in higher doses.

To minimize the risk of these side effects, make sure that you only give CBD to your pets in small doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet issued the safe proper dosage for giving CBD to animals. Hence, it’ll be safe to assume that any kind of CBD product that you’re going to use on your pets will most likely have a side effect. So, it’s advisable to start giving your pets small doses of CBD and closely monitor if there are any side effects.

Also, don’t forget to consult your veterinarian first. These side effects are temporary and are usually not long term, so you don’t have to worry too much about it.

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid of giving your pets CBD as it is safe and effective. You won’t bring harm to them by giving CBD products just as long as they have near-zero THC content. To minimize the risks of side effects, you should also give your pets smaller doses of CBD than what’s recommended for humans.

Last but not the least, don’t forget to consult your veterinarian regarding the overall health of your pets before using any kind of CBD products on them, especially if you’re already giving them other medications, if they have underlying health problems, or they’re using any other medications.