Many people nowadays use cannabis for a wide variety of reasons. In addition to its recreational perks, cannabis can also help with pain, anxiety, sleep, and a wide variety of other issues. What’s more, some people also use cannabidiol or CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants said to provide many of the same benefits without getting you high.
While it’s no secret that humans can use these products, some people might wonder about the science of giving CBD and cannabis to cats & dogs. It’s important to note that you should never try to give your pets cannabis or any products with THC. However, it turns out that CBD can be quite beneficial for your pets. Here’s a guide to the science of CBD and cannabis for cats & dogs.
What Is CBD?
Cannabis plants contain a wide variety of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. The most common and well-known cannabinoid people use cannabis for is THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for getting you high. However, cannabis also has a range of non-psychoactive cannabinoids that interact with your body without inducing psychoactive effects.
The most well-known of these non-psychoactive cannabinoids is cannabidiol or CBD. CBD is often found in marijuana strains, although it can also be extracted from hemp plants with very low levels of THC. Although CBD doesn’t get you high, it can still interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a biological system with links to pain reception, mood, appetite, sleep, and more.
As such, research shows that users now use CBD for issues such as chronic pain, sleep disorders, depression, nausea, and more. Its ability to impact the endocannabinoid system without inducing any psychoactive effects and its high safety profile means CBD products are even preferred to cannabis products in some cases.
Is CBD Safe Dog Cats & Dogs?
It turns out that it isn’t just humans that can benefit from using CBD. Since the endocannabinoid system is present in all mammals, cats and dogs can also use CBD. Cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system of your pets just as it does in humans, making it an interesting product for pets.
Studies show that CBD is very safe for human consumption and, although pet studies are limited, the results are promising so far. A study on using CBD for osteoarthritic dogs found that, in addition to helping with the issue, CBD had no observable side effects on dogs. Another study found that both cats and dogs can successfully consume CBD with minimal side effects, although vomiting and loose stools were occasionally observed in dogs after consuming CBD.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should give your pets the same CBD products that you use. CBD products designed for humans shouldn’t be given to cats and dogs. Not only do your pets require lower amounts of CBD, but they also absorb it differently. As such, it’s best to give them CBD pet products to ensure they get an effective dose.
Is Cannabis Safe For Cats & Dogs?
Although CBD is safe for pets, you should avoid giving your cats and dogs cannabis products containing THC products altogether. THC is much stronger than CBD and, in addition to inducing psychoactive effects, it can also induce a range of unpleasant and harmful side effects in cats and dogs.
Research shows that dogs have a higher amount of cannabinoid receptors in their brain than humans and, as such, are more susceptible to the toxic effects of THC. What’s more, two dogs in a Colorado study died from consuming baked goods that contained medical-grade THC.
THC is potentially fatal to your pets and you should never allow them to consume any cannabis products designed for humans. Fortunately, you can still give your pets CBD products, provided that they’re designed for pets and only contain trace levels of THC or no THC at all.
How To Give CBD To Cats & Dogs
Administering CBD to your cats and dogs is somewhat different from taking it yourself. Your pets require lower doses of CBD, meaning you don’t have to give them as much as you’d take yourself. Additionally, pets absorb CBD differently, and you have to consider the most practical way to issue CBD to your pets.
Although your pets can absorb CBD sublingually (under the tongue), getting them to stay still and hold the oil under their tongue will prove difficult. The best way to issue CBD Oil to your pets is by adding a dose to their food.
You can also use CBD pet treats. Like CBD edibles, these treats already contain a healthy dose of CBD for your pets. You can also find CBD topicals, which allow you to apply CBD directly to your pets’ bodies.
While the ideal dose for your pets depends on various factors, a daily dose of around 3 to 5mg of CBD for each 10lbs of body weight usually works well.
Where To Buy CBD For Cats & Dogs
It’s important to use CBD products that are designed for pets instead of trying to issue human CBD products to your cats and dogs. Fortunately, you can now buy CBD pet products online for convenient home delivery, and you have many excellent products to choose from.
Mota Animalitos CBD Dog Tincture – This handy CBD Tincture is designed to help your pets with anxiety, arthritis, mild pain, inflammation, seizures, and other issues. Simply apply a dose to their food. You can choose between Small Breed Dog Tincture and Large Breed Dog Tincture depending on what kind of dog you have.
Mota Animalitos CBD Cat Tincture – If you’re not a dog person but want to give CBD to your cats, you can also use Mota Animalitos CBD Cat Tincture. Much like dog tincture, you can combine a dose of the tincture with your pet’s food to give them a healthy kick of CBD.
FTZ CBD Furry Friends Pet Tincture – FTZ CBD Furry Friends Pet Tincture is another top CBD product for pets. Designed to relieve a wide variety of issues, this CBD Pet Tincture is available in various quantities with options designed for cats and dogs.
Conclusion
The science of CBD and cannabis to cats and dogs is quite interesting. Although you should never give your cats and dogs cannabis products containing THC, or any products designed for humans, you can give your pets CBD pet products safely and effectively.
Cats and dogs can absorb CBD just like humans, and as such, you might want to give them a daily dose of CBD for their overall wellness. You can find CBD products for pets along with a wide variety of cannabis and CBD products for humans online at My Kush.