You may not be aware of it, but your furry friends can benefit from CBD oil just like you. All mammals, including cats and dogs, of course, have an endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a network of neurotransmitters throughout our bodies that help our bodies to function properly; it is part of the central nervous system.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, interacts with our endocannabinoid system to help restore and maintain balance inside us. Many of the ways it helps humans, such as with joint pain, skin conditions, anxiety, appetite, and so on, also apply to your pets. We understand that you want to treat them like family and make sure that they have long happy, and healthy lives. We believe that CBD oil is a great way to make that happen.
Table of Contents
- What Health Issues Can CBD Treat in Pets?
- Is CBD Safe For Animals?
- What Types of CBD Can I Use for My Pet?
What Health Issues Can CBD Treat in Pets?
Your pet can experience a lot of the same problems that you do, such as anxiety, arthritis, nausea, and more. CBD oil drops for animals will help improve your pet’s health through promoting joint health, cardiovascular health, and general wellness.
If you have a pet that is skittish around new people or places, is afraid of loud noises, has separation anxiety, or is generally very uptight and anxious all the time, CBD oil will help to calm their nerves. In pets that have a tendency to panic or become aggressive, CBD has also shown a positive impact in these areas as well.
Studies dating back almost two decades have found that cannabidiol has a positive impact on anxiety because of the way it interacts with our brains to help it to properly use serotonin. Dogs and cats both have serotonin and if they are exhibiting any signs of anxiety, compulsive behaviors, or even depression, they will benefit from medications that affect the level of serotonin in their brains. CBD oil is a proven and natural way to help their brains even out.
Hormones also play a large role in a lot of the problems your pets might have, like trouble sleeping regularly, behavior, and lack of appetite. CBD oil works to regulate hormones in the body so that enough of them is being produced and used properly. Because of that, any problems with regular sleeping, regular eating, and mood that might be caused by a hormonal imbalance would improve with the use of CBD.
Pain and inflammation from chronic conditions, just as well as acute ones, are something that is extremely stressful for your pet to deal with. This type of stress can delay healing from injuries, but it can also exacerbate chronic conditions. CBD oil is a great natural remedy for both acute and chronic conditions that lead to your pet experiencing pain or inflammation.
Animals also can experience gastrointestinal problems, whether that is as minor as nausea and car sickness or as serious as IBS. Cannabidiol has been shown to decrease nausea and vomiting in animals, promote regular eating habits, and will also help with motility. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties that you read about, gastrointestinal irritation from something like eating something new (or that they shouldn’t have) or a condition such as colitis will also improve with the use of CBD.
Cats and dogs are also subject to the possibility of developing neurodegenerative conditions, arthritis, nerve damage, spine conditions, degenerative myelopathy, autoimmune disease, epilepsy, and more. Our pets are a lot like us, and they can experience some scary and sometimes fatal health problems as they age. CBD oil will help to promote hormonal balance, brain function, and the general health of your pet which can help ward off more serious problems. CBD oil also protects brain cells from toxicity by fighting free radicals, helping to keep their brain healthy and decrease the likelihood of encountering neurodegenerative disease.
Is CBD Safe For Animals?
The short answer is an absolute yes. CBD oil is not currently FDA approved for animals but there are many veterinary doctors and experts that assert that this is a great supplement for animals. Because of the almost identical nature of the endocannabinoid system in cats and dogs compared to our own, we can understand that this is a safe and viable option to help keep your pets healthy.
Prescription medications are a necessary part of managing conditions sometimes; however, they can just sedate your pet to the point that you can’t see they’re exhibiting certain symptoms, they can have side effects ranging from mildly inconvenient to quite severe, and some of them may even lead to organ damage after prolonged use. Cannabidiol has been proven to do no organ damage in animals, nor does it have any significant side effects.
What Types of CBD Can I Use for My Pet?
The most important thing to note in regards to this question is that it is in your best interest to always use a CBD product that has been specially formulated for your pets. The products that are not designed especially for administering to animals are not going to have the appropriate formulation for size and body weight. Think of it the same way that you do aspirin. There is aspirin for dogs and cats and aspirin made for humans. Supplements should be taken as seriously as medications because they can play as important a role in your health; the same goes for your pets.
CBD oil for pets comes in very specific doses and sometimes you will be able to find a formula that is tailored to the symptoms you’re trying to treat. It is always best to pay close attention to the dose and make sure that it is the appropriate amount of CBD to give your pets based on their size and body weight. You may find that you see better results when you get a specially formulated product that is geared towards the problems your pets are exhibiting, but this isn’t mandatory.
Some ways you can give your pet CBD include in drop or tincture form over food or directly, CBD pet treats and topically. It isn’t recommended that you give your pets CBD in their water dish because the drops are not water-soluble so some of them may splash out, throwing off the dose that your pet receives. There are salves as well that you can apply topically, which is great for problems like poison ivy or flea allergy dermatitis.
Another great option is in the form of treats! There are plenty of different treats out there for cats, dogs, and even other small pets that come in varying textures, flavors, and dosages.
If you’d like to learn more about what CBD products are best for dogs, you can check out our article of the Top 10 Best CBD Oil for Dogs.
