Using CBD on your Pets

The CBD industry has been continuously growing and becoming more popular amongst pet owners. CBD has become a viable alternative medicine for pet owners to use on their pets. CBD is known to interact with the endocannabinoid system found not only in humans but in pets as well. The endocannabinoid system helps to regulate physiological functions in the body such as brain and immune function. Many pet owners have used CBD on themselves and because of their positive experience they decide to do research on whether their pet can benefit from CBD as well. Believe it or not, 50% of Americans who use CBD have said that they use CBD on their pets.  

CBD Benefits for Pets 

CBD has a variety of positive health benefits which can help animals achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Some of those benefits include: 

The most common issue that pet owners use CBD on their animals is for anxiety-related reasons. Our furry friends tend to experience anxiety just as much as we do. Whether it be fear, separation from family members, age-related changes or loud noises, pets can become overwhelmed by their anxiety because they are unsure of how to handle it. Many pet owners who have animals that suffer from anxiety have seen drastic results with using CBD on their pets. 30% of Americans who have used CBD on their animals have substituted their pet’s prescription medication with CBD. Animals are not susceptible to the placebo effect, and we can only communicate with them by their actions so when you see a positive change in their behaviour, you can immediately see a difference with using CBD.   

Which Pet uses CBD more? 

CBD can be used on both cats and dogs, as well as pretty much any animal that has an endocannabinoid system. The most common animal that pet owners use CBD with are dogs. Recent data shows that 77% of pet owners use CBD with their dogs while 21% has been using CBD for their cats. There are a variety of reasons why dog owners use CBD more than cat owners do. Some of those reasons include: 

What is the right dose? 

There is no recommended dosing for pet owners to follow when choosing to try CBD on their animals. Just like for humans, CBD requires an experimentation phase with dosing to achieve the effects you are looking for in your pet. An ideal starting guideline for dosing animals is 1mg of CBD per 1kg of weight of the animals. For example, if a dog weighs 22kg, they can start at a dose of 22mg of CBD per day. Because this is a ‘starting point’ a dog or cat can potentially require more or less CBD to achieve positive results. Start a low dose according to their weight and monitor their behaviour for at least three days to see if you notice a difference. If more CBD is needed always increase the dose by 0.5 to 1mg and repeat the cycle monitoring their behaviour.  

Once the right dosing is achieved, pets should be on CBD daily, that way the body can begin to come to a balanced state. When on the right dose, pet owners have seen positive results and have been happy with their pet’s lifestyle. 90% of pet owners who use CBD products have said that they are happy with the results of CBD products and say that it has been effective in improving their pet’s life. Having a happy pet makes for a happy life, no matter what the concern is. 58% of pet owners have said that CBD has made their pet calmer. Having a calmer pet can help easy their anxiety while around loud noises like a thunderstorm. 46% of pet owners say that CBD has improved their pet’s sleep. This can eliminate a stressed dog roaming the home in the middle of the night or trying to escape from their crate. 41% of pet owners have said that their pet’s mobility has improved while taking CBD. This is a game changer with pets who suffer from arthritis or an injury which causes pain and inflammation. 

Types of CBD Products for Pets 

There are a variety of products on the market that can be used on pets. It is important to always review labels on CBD products to determine if the ingredients found in the product are safe for pets. The following CBD products can be found on the market for pets: 

The most popular CBD product for pets is edibles. 48% of pet owners choose to use a ‘hemp-derived’ CBD edible on their animals. Hemp-derived CBD is known to have little to no traces of THC in the product. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid known for its intoxicating ‘high’ effects. CBD that has been derived from the cannabis plant tend to have higher traces of THC and pet owners like to stay away from those products for many reasons. Pet treats are the form of edible which can be found widely in the market. A pet edible is the easiest product to use with your pet because a treat is something they are familiar with, and this eliminates the stress of introducing a new supplement.  

Veterinarian’s Opinion on CBD 

Whether using CBD for yourself or for an animal, it is always recommended to speak to your physician or the veterinarian before starting to use a CBD product. Sometimes veterinarians are not familiar with using CBD on pets and the conversation can become a bit challenging. This tends to turn pet owners away from using CBD. Fortunately, there are more studies that are emerging that prove CBD has many health benefits for pets and humans. These studies are great for healthcare professionals because it is scientific data to support their medical opinions. A study showed that 35.12% of veterinarians have heard of CBD and recommended CBD products to their pet patients. Only 6.06% do not advise using CBD on pets while 1% of vets have not heard of CBD at all. This is a great statistic because it shows that most veterinarians believe in CBD and your pet can in fact get positive results from using alternative medicine.  

Be sure to do your research on CBD products before purchasing what product is right for your animals. Look for reputable companies who have third-party lab testing results to show the quality of the CBD product. Read labels and make sure the ingredients are safe for pets to ingest. Lastly, look at reviews and other pet owners’ experiences with CBD to see if you can relate and give your support that the product is right for you and your fur baby. CBD2GO.co has a variety of pet products to meet every animal’s needs. One of the most popular products is the Full Spectrum Pet CBD oil which has Alaskan salmon oil in it. Salmon oil is known to improve skin and coat health in pets and is high in Omega fatty acids. Check out CBD2GO.co’s selection of pet products to find a high-quality, hemp-derived product that is right for you and your pet!