If you’re looking for natural relief for your pet, try CBD
What can CBD do for pets? Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the active constituents of the cannabis plant, can exert profound healing and balancing effects on all mammals. By stimulating the endocannabinoid system, CBD can help the body rebalance to homeostasis.
Pet owners use CBD for a broad range of behavioral and medical issues, including cancer pain, anxieties, obsessions, arthritis, seizures, neurological and digestive disorders, past traumas, social withdrawal, irritable moods, and getting along with other dogs and cats better.
While recovering from illness or surgery, CBD can stimulate appetite and speed healing. At the end of life, CBD can minimize the pain and anxiety your pet may be experiencing.
What is the endocannabinoid system and how does it work?
The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors located throughout the body, and it’s named after the plant that led to its discovery. Natural endocannabinoid substances are synthesized by the body to maintain a stable internal environment, which is known as homeostasis. If the body’s endocannabinoid production lags behind what it needs, CBD supplements can help. CBD supplements can also stimulate the body to build more receptors, which makes natural cannabinoids work more effectively.
CBD interacts with the body’s system of receptors. To date, two types of receptors have been identified: CB1 receptors, which are mainly present in the brain, nervous system, glands, and organs; and CB2 receptors, which exist predominantly in the regulatory cells of the immune system.
One of the main roles of the endocannabinoid system is to control inflammation by regulating the immune response. An overactive immune response can trigger allergies and auto-immune problems; an underactive response can make the body vulnerable to infections or make it a more favorable host for the growth of cancer cells.
Is CBD safe for dogs and cats?
Hemp and marijuana are both classified as cannabis, but they are very different varieties. Marijuana contains high levels of THC, which is responsible for the feeling of being high. Conversely, hemp plants contain almost no THC but are rich in the beneficial CBD compound. CBD extracted from hemp is will not make your pet high, it has no negative side effects and is well tolerated by healthy dogs. Because of this, hemp crops are not a controlled substance, and hemp products containing less than 0.3% THC are legal in all 50 states.
What is the best kind of CBD for my dog or cat?
CBD for dogs and cats comes in many convenient forms. The most common types are extracts, also known as CBD oil, which can be given from a dropper bottle directly into the mouth, added to food or a treat, rubbed into bare skin inside the ears, or dropped on an animal’s paw to be licked off. You may also want to give your dog or cat CBD biscuits or CBD capsules. Read How to Give Your Dog CBD to learn more.
How much CBD should I give my dog or cat?
The right CBD dose will vary from animal to animal and depends on the situation, so it may be necessary to experiment to find the right amount and frequency of dosing.
The typical suggested CBD dose for dogs and cats is 1 mg – 5 mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight. Make sure you’re looking at the actual amount of CBD in a dose, because potencies vary quite a bit, so the actual amount of liquid oil or biscuits you give may vary.
Typical suggested starting dose: 1 mg – 5 mg per 10 lbs. of bodyweight
Cats: 1 – 5mg
| Dogs: | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | 30 lbs | 40 lbs | 50 lbs | 60 lbs | 70 lbs | 80 lbs |
| 1 – 5mg | 2 – 10mg | 3 – 15mg | 4 – 20mg | 5 – 25mg | 6 – 30mg | 7 – 35mg | 8 – 40mg |
It’s often best to start with a dose in the middle of the range. Visible results usually occur within 30 minutes. If there is no change after an hour, offer a bit more CBD to get to the high end of the recommended range. For severe pain or anxiety, offer CBD approximately every 8 hours. For other uses, dose your pet with CBD once or twice a day.
Which is the best CBD for my dog or cat – isolate or full spectrum?
When choosing the best CBD for your pet, keep in mind that each type of CBD has its benefits. If you want maximum effectiveness and your pet isn’t picky, consider full-spectrum CBD products. They are the least refined and contain the greatest amount terpenes and cannabinoids – beneficial plant compounds that can work together with the CBD to create an entourage effect to increase effectiveness. Keep in mind that it does have a grassy flavor that may be off-putting to some pets.
On the opposite end of the scale, CBD isolate for dogs and cats is pure CBD, making it the most refined option. Because it contains no plant matter, it has no flavor. Even the pickiest pets will take it.
READ ABOUT CBD FOR DOGS WITH ARTHRITIS
READ ABOUT CBD OIL FOR DOG SEIZURES
READ ABOUT CBD OIL FOR DOG ANXIETY
