Cannabidiol, one of the major cannabis compounds with a wide range of healing properties, is widely used by people today. It’s a well-known remedy for stress, pain, insomnia, and depression, and the best thing about it is that it won’t get you high. These healing effects, coupled with an absence of intoxication, have made CBD a popular alternative to medications, and users report beneficial results of regular CBD intake.
Naturally, such a positive user experience pushes many users to try this potent remedy with their pets, as animals also suffer from pain, stress, and inflammation. It’s a common practice to give CBD isolate for pets and explore the benefits of relaxation, sedation, and pain relief with properly formulated pet-specific merchandise. But is there scientific evidence behind CBD use in animals? Are such decisions safe and responsible? What does veterinary medicine say about it? Here’s everything you need to know about CBD and pets.
Introduction to CBD
First, let’s say a few words about CBD as such to understand what pros and cons it may have in veterinary use. CBD is a naturally occurring compound in marijuana; however, the intoxicating marijuana strains that cause a feeling of high have meager amounts of CBD and are usually rich in the THC cannabinoid. The CBD-rich variety of marijuana is hemp; this plant has many industrial and medicinal uses, and it was excluded from the list of prohibited, illegal substances in the 2018 Farm Bill. These legal changes have finally made commercial production of CBD-infused products possible and affordable, with many hemp farms emerging across the USA to meet the growing needs for CBD merchandise.
The main benefit of CBD is that it can’t cause psychoactive effects on the users. Even if derived from regular cannabis, CBD is non-intoxicating, so it is a legal substance with no use restrictions or legal limitations. The only condition that a producer should meet is the trace THC level under 0.3%. Still, when it comes to pet products, they have zero THC because of the extreme intolerance of cats and dogs to this compound. Therefore, under the condition of full THC removal, CBD products are safe for animals and can be administered to pets in safe, precisely measured doses.
Is CBD Prescription to Animals a Legal Practice?
Overall, using CBD in pets is a gray area of clinical research and veterinary practice. Most vets, though growing increasingly positive about CBD administration to animals, are still reluctant to issue official prescriptions or dosing recommendations for CBD intake. The reason is that clinical studies are still lacking, and any CBD prescription is based mostly on anecdotal evidence rather than medical recommendations.
The key concern vets share about treating animals with CBD is a lack of experience with this remedy among pet owners and professionals. All dosing recommendations are based on prior use accounts and guesswork, with the rest remaining a vet’s personal responsibility. Besides, many pet owners are ignorant about safety precautions and administer CBD they use to their pets, which is unacceptable. CBD can be safe and effective in pets only if lower doses specifically meant for animals are given in line with a well-established intake regimen.
A couple of words about the laws: no state or federal law in the USA prohibits the administration of CBD to cats, dogs, and other home pets. However, in the absence of FDA-confirmed recommendations for CBD administration to animals, most professionals advise against CBD use with pets. It is also illegal to add CBD to pet food products.
The legislation is softer in Canada, with CBD-enriched food products openly sold in pet shops. Yet, there are also no uniform CBD dosing prescriptions for pets, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association doesn’t currently endorse CBD use in pets.
With these legal issues in mind, you might not be surprised if your vet doesn’t prescribe a CBD product for your pet’s ailment. Some vets are okay with discussing the pros and cons of CBD use and can give personal recommendations only.
Administering CBD to Your Pet: A Safe Mode
So, it’s clear that vets are not that positive about recommending CBD to their furry patients. How can you give CBD to your pet, then? What safety precautions should you take if you still go for CBD? Here are a couple of pro tips to keep you and your small companion on the safe side.
- Buy from trusted vendors. The CBD market is huge and diverse, with dozens of new brands entering the niche every day. Thus, consumers are spoilt for choice and need to choose from many analog items with varying prices. We recommend looking at the vendor’s reputation and manufacturing quality closely instead of rushing to buy the cheapest product. Quality is key when it comes to CBD, especially for pets who can’t say they feel bad.
- Check the ingredients. The ingredients’ purity and consistency are other vital points in the product selection process. Make sure your pet treats with CBD contain no artificial colorings and flavors; they should be manufactured only with organic, US-grown hemp. If there’s little clarity about ingredients on the package, it’s better to skip the product for safety reasons.
- Check the COA. The product’s certificate of analysis (COA) is the most important document that verifies the contents and ensures the product is clean, pure, and organic. Read the COA to see whether the label indicates the concentration and components precisely.
- Ensure the absence of THC. THC is a deadly compound for pets; don’t risk giving your pet full-spectrum CBD, as it may cause significant intoxication. We recommend opting for CBD isolates for pets, as this CBD form is the safest.
- Watch for side effects. Pets can’t talk like people, so they won’t have a chance to tell you they feel sick or dizzy after CBD intake. It’s your task to watch the pet’s behavior and state closely and discontinue CBD use if you notice any unpleasant side effects.
- Make lab tests. A decision to treat your pet’s restlessness, anxiety, and aggression with CBD is a good one. Yet, you should always keep in mind that these symptoms can hint at a graver health problem, like arthritis or kidney disease. Thus, it’s important to take all lab tests and visit a vet to exclude a serious illness or develop a comprehensive treatment plan with the inclusion of CBD as a supplementary component.
Final Word
As you can see, CBD use with animals is gaining popularity, even even though no clinical guidelines exist on this matter. Thus, we recommend taking safety precautions and considering all tips we’ve shared here. If you move on with CBD this way, you’re sure to make this wellness addition safe and non-risky for your pet. CBD can become a vital assistant for pain, seizures, anxiety, and depression for people and animals, and you should definitely give it a try if you’ve had a positive experience with the remedy or want to protect your pet from chemical drugs.
Denys Svirepchuk is an AskGrowers writer who knows all ins and outs of cannabis-derived products. He is committed to popularizing cannabis as a natural and safe remedy to physical and mental health problems. With a philosophy of natural healing in mind, he also sticks to the most recent scientific evidence to help readers find working marijuana products.
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