With more and more people choosing CBD oil as a natural health solution not only for themselves but also for their pets, it becomes an important supplement to understand. Our furry friends deserve the best care possible to help them live longer and happier lives. A good source of CBD oil can be a major part of that care. In this article, we discuss what CBD oil is, how pets absorb CBD, its benefits, what to look for, and how to dose pets.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is an active component found in the cannabis plant. There are over 100 active compounds, or cannabinoids, found in cannabis that show great potential health benefits. CBD is one of them. It comes from hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant, that offers a very low THC content.
Unlike THC, CBD will not get you high being non-psychoactive and also non-addictive. CBD oil is the active component of CBD suspended in a carrier oil that is used as a supplement.
How does CBD work?
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in both humans and animals. There are two types of cannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are those found within the body. Phytocannabinoids are found in plants. CBD oil has been shown to mimic certain endocannabinoids in the ECS that is found within humans and animals. Therefore, the body knows exactly what to do with CBD oil.
The ECS is a system consisting of cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors that function like locks and keys. A cannabinoid like CBD will bind to a specific cannabinoid receptor, that can be located anywhere throughout the entire body. This process will send a signal to unlock certain processes in the body. Cannabinoids relay instructions from the brain to the major organ systems at a cellular level. Therefore the effects of CBD are quite widespread and the main goal is to bring the body back into homeostasis, or balance. CBD can greatly influence hormones and neurotransmitters. These will affect bodily functions like pain, sleep, mood, appetite, stress, digestion, immunity, inflammation, reproduction, etc.
Anything humans can use CBD oil for, animals can use it for too, just in a much lower dosage. It seems that the ECS is even more sensitive in animals than in humans.
Benefits of CBD for pets
Due to the systemic effects of CBD, it can help with a variety of health ailments for pets. Studies have been done on anxiety, arthritis, and seizures, and research suggests it may also help with allergies, appetite, digestion, focus, phobias, pain, sleep, and other conditions.
This is a short list of some of the main issues that pets can experience some relief from. In addition, CBD oil can be particularly useful for older pets dealing with joint pain, discomfort, and stiffness. One of our customers says that his pet no longer limps when he walks after just starting CBD oil.
Another customer used CBD oil because they wanted to make sure their pet’s final months with them were not spent in pain.
CBD is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (painkiller) that can be a natural solution to help your pet feel more comfortable without harsh medications, and promote healing from within. One of our customers said that in just two days of giving their dog CBD oil, she was recovering from her injury.
In addition, it can be extremely helpful for training or travel purposes. For training, it can help your pet focus on instructions and avoid distractions. For travel, it can help to ease any anxiety and put your furry friend into a calm mental state.
One customer said that their dog has separation anxiety and on days where they give her CBD oil, she is noticeably less stressed out when they’re left to run some errands.
In another case, we heard from a customer that a foster kitty was a bit scared when she first arrived at their home, but with the help of CBD oil, they saw leaps and bounds in her improvement.
What to look for when purchasing CBD
You want to choose a brand that you can trust. We suggest looking for a brand that does third-party testing so that you can ensure that there’s no THC content. You also want to confirm that you are getting what you pay for since CBD oil can be a pricey supplement and unfortunately the industry is not properly regulated at this time. In addition, you also want to ensure that the CBD comes from a natural source and not from a synthetic source.
Another thing to take into consideration will be the concentration of the product. This will often be in direct correlation with the price. A lower concentration means that you will need much more of the product to get the desired effects. A standard concentration for pets will be roughly 500mg in a bottle of CBD oil.
How to dose pets
This will depend greatly on the size of the animal and the condition that you are looking to support. Things like body weight can affect how much CBD oil your pet will need. We suggest starting slow (a couple drops) and then you can work your way up. It can take some time to find the optimal dosage. It can also take a few hours before you see any effect on your pet. You can simply put a few drops of CBD oil on a pet treat and give it to them.
In addition, if you are using CBD oil for pain management, you will likely need a slightly higher dose to achieve the desired results. Luckily, there are no side effects from taking a higher amount of CBD oil, so nothing bad will happen if you give a little bit too much. Your pet will probably just be more relaxed than normal, and then you will know for next time that you can give them less.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We advise readers to always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.