Should You Try CBD for Your Pet?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the hemp plant (cannabis sativa). CBD is often described as a non-psychoactive substance because, it doesn’t produce “high effects”; unlike another compound that can be found in the same plant, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Should you try CBD on your pet, say a dog? We shall soon find out.

Scientific research on the therapeutic benefits of this cannabinoid is still at a very early stage. But so far, growing evidence suggests that CBD may be helpful in healing many conditions in your pet.

CBD is believed to be an effective pain killer, an anti-depressant, an anti-anxiety substance, and a cure for arthritis — just to name a few.

Out of their own curiosity, some pet owners have started administering CBD oils to animals in order to relieve them from their ailments.

Is CBD for pets the right way to go? Find the answers in the next headlines.

CBD for Pets: The Realities on the Ground

Of late, pet owners have been consulting their vets to find out more about the therapeutic value of CBD for pets. In fact, a 2019 veterinary survey found out that many vets get asked about CBD, at least once every 4 weeks.

The renewed interest in CBD for dogs has been sparked by the huge hype around CBD in general. After all, the idea is that if CBD is good for treating pain, anxiety, epilepsy and arthritis in humans— why can’t it be used to treat the same conditions in pets?

It turns out the situation is a bit complex than we thought. The problem is that, in many places, CBD for pets hasn’t received the required legal backing.

While the legality of CBD for humans had broken down barriers in the United States and other places, veterinarians have not been given the green light to prescribe CBD for pets.

Do federal restrictions completely stop people from experimenting CBD for dogs? Hell no!

CBD pet products, in the form of tinctures and capsules, are already out there on the market. Even though vets are not supposed to be openly suggesting CBD for pets, they can discuss the subject if clients approach them.

Eager to try CBD oils? Check out the official site for CBD products.

In the state of California, experts have confirmed that legislation permits vets to discuss CBD matters with their clients.

As pet lovers keep going crazy about CBD, they must understand that their veterinarians may not have researched much into cannabis oils for animals. Some vets actually think that CBD pet products come with risks. Even though side effects may be uncommon, CBD does interact with other veterinary medicines.

There are reports that some animals have suffered ill-health after taking contaminated or expired CBD compounds.

In other instances, some pets appeared to exhibit “high effects” after taking CBD. In theory, the high feelings should not have occurred unless the CBD had way more THC content than was required.

CBD Products for Pets: The Bottom Line

It’s important to note that researchers are yet to confirm the therapeutic benefits of CBD for pets. When it comes to CBD research, physicians have the upper hand over veterinary officers.

Cannabis laws vary from region to region. So, it’s advisable to be mindful of the products you buy for your pets; the CBD market for pets still operates under the cover of darkness.

That said, here are 3 things you should do when you want to try some CBD products for your pets:

•         Consult a veterinarian. Even if CBD is legal in your region, consult a vet before trying it on your pets.
•         Watch out for contaminated CBD products.
•         Ask for Certificate of Analysis (COA). This will give you an idea about the laboratory test results for the specific products.
•         Start with minimal doses before scaling up.