We love our furry friends, and, of course, we want them to live in health and comfort for as long as possible. But, like us, animals like cats and dogs can be plagued with health problems, especially as they get older. Indeed, pets experience a lot of the same health problems that we do. Problems ranging from arthritis, to indigestion, to anxiety and even depression are by no means exclusive to humans. CBD been found by many users to be an effective treatment for many similar human issues, but is there research on CBD for pets?

Since pets suffer from a lot of the same health problems as humans do, of course we want to know if they can respond to the same treatments. In some cases, yes: they can. But, just like with people, you should avoid giving your pets too many pharmaceutical medicines.  This is especially true when there are natural treatments that are just as effective, if not more so. One of our favorite natural options is CBD. 

What Is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, a naturally-occurring compound derived from the hemp plant. In recent years, CBD has seen an unprecedented surge in popularity, due in no small part to users’ reports of its ability to treat a wide array of conditions, especially ones related to inflammation. You can consume CBD  in a number of ways.  It reportedly acts on the body’s endocannabinoid receptors: part of a biological system that controls a number of important physiological processes in mammalian bodies. In this way, it could potentially achieve a variety of beneficial effects. It has been used to treat countless conditions. 

How Will It Help My Pet?

In pets, CBD owners have tied it to reduce nausea, stimulate appetite, improve heart health, treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and some have even used to treat cancer and the symptoms of cancer treatment. CBD also, for many users, boats potent anti-anxiety effects: particularly beneficial if you have a nervous animal. An animal that suffers from acute anxiety, such as what might occur during a car ride or a thunderstorm, could potentially find real relief with a drop or two of CBD oil. 

What about Research on CBD for Pets?

While CBD has been around for a while, its mainstream acceptance is a relatively recent phenomenon. Because of this, it is only the last few years that have seen any research on CBD for pets.  The product is the same as what humans use, and many of the conditions that it treats are the same, but this does not mean that there can be crossover between human and animal studies. In other words: to find out if CBD works for dogs or cats, you have to perform CBD research with dogs and cats.

Cornell University 

Fortunately, recent research has come out on CBD for animals as well as humans. In 2017, Cornell University headed a study to determine if CBD would be effective in managing pain for dogs with osteoarthritis. For four weeks, researchers treated dogs  with two different doses of CBD. Starting with a smaller dosage of around 2 milligrams per kilogram, the researchers eventually increased the amount to 8 miligrams.  They also gave a control group of dogs placebo oil, containing no CBD. According to the report, the dogs that were given CBD showed a marked improvement, with significantly decreased signs of pain and no negative side effects at all. 

Colorado State University

Two other studies were performed by Colorado State University’s College Of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The first study focuses on the potential side effects of CBD on dogs and involved 30 healthy animals. This study discovered that CBD is not toxic to dogs and does lead to a measurable blood concentration when administered. The second study aimed to discover the effects of CBD for dogs with epilepsy. Led by Dr. Stephanie McGrath, who called the results both “promising,” and “exciting,” the study yielded encouraging results. Taking place from 2016 to 2017, dogs enrolled in the trial received either CBD or a placebo for 12 weeks. By the end of this time, 89 percent of the dogs that had received treatment with CBD showed a marked improvement in the frequency and severity of seizures. 

Due to these studies, and others, veterinarians in some states are now widely recommending CBD for dogs as well as cats. Not just these animals, either: CBD oil is also being given to horses, rats, and even squirrels. The legal status of CBD and hemp products is also rapidly evolving, so check the laws in your state to find out the status. In some states, veterinarians are unfortunately not yet allowed to recommend CBD. 

Starting An Animal On CBD

If you have a pet that you think could benefit from the use of CBD, always follow the advice of your veterinarian first. The best methodology is to purchase Pet Remedy CBD Oil and add it to your pet’s food or treats. It’s best to start with a small fraction of the recommended dosage. Then, gradually increase the amount approximately every five days or so.  While CBD is not, according to current research, dangerous in animals, you will want to keep a close eye on your pet during your initial trial. Certain animals may be susceptible to mild side effects, such as excessive sedation or excitement. Occasionally, animals can also experience nausea or dry mouth from an overdose of CBD. 

It’s critical that you are careful when starting your pet on CBD. This is because dosage is usually based on the weight of the animal: smaller animals require much less product than their larger counterparts. It’s also a fact that the endocannabinoid systems of animals like dogs are a lot more complex than ours. Because they have many more receptors than we do, they are far more sensitive to the effects of compounds like CBD. Research pets’ particular needs depending on their weight, size and species. You will need to do your homework regarding the breed of your dog and its particular condition or conditions, as well. 

To ensure that you are dosing your animal with a small enough amount, the best way is to use a tincture. Then you can customtize the dose by giving them drops. By putting the oil in a syringe, you can quickly squirt the required amount directly into your pet’s mouth. 

Finding The Right Products 

When buying CBD, it’s best to educate yourself on what is available so you know what products you are buying. You’ll want to make sure your product is supplied by a company like Rooted Hemp Co, which ensure that their CBD is sourced from organically grown, small-batch hemp. A reputable supplier of CBD will also ensure that they have a third party test the product for purity in a laboratory. As new research on CBD for pets comes out, we will be sure to keep you updated!