Does CBD work for dogs and cats? Is it safe? How do we know how much to give them? Pet owners have a lot of questions about CBD for pets. Fortunately, we have a lot of answers.
We share more with our furry friends than a home and companionship. Our pets can feel get stressed out, just like us, and they also grapple with the effects of aging and joint pain.
There’s something even deeper and more physiological that we share with our pets, as well. We both have an endocannabinoid system. And that’s why we and our pets can benefit from the therapeutic effects of CBD.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at the endocannabinoid system in your pet, examining what it is and how it operates. And we’ll talk about how to know when CBD is the right choice for your dog or cat.
Pets and the Endocannabinoid System
Every animal on Earth has an endocannabinoid system. That includes you and me, as well as dogs and cats.
It’s what scientists refer to as a cell-signaling system, meaning that it’s a complex system that allows cells to communicate by sharing molecular compounds, hormones, and chemicals.
The endocannabinoid system in all mammals is tightly integrated with our central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as other systems throughout the body, like our immune, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and skeletal systems.
That means that the endocannabinoid system plays a part in regulating everything from sleep and memory to appetite, pain sensation, and stress response in humans and animals both.
How It Works
The endocannabinoid system interacts with … you guessed it, cannabinoids.
As the name suggests, cannabinoids are found in the cannabis, or hemp, plant. They’re also naturally produced by our and our pets’ bodies. Endocannabinoids are produced by our bodies, and phytocannabinoids come from plants like hemp.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a hemp-derived cannabinoid, and it’s important to know that it is not psychoactive. That means you’re not getting your pet, or yourself, “high” when you ingest CBD.
Instead, it interacts with receptors in the endocannabinoid system.
These receptors are proteins located on cells. There are two kinds. CB1 receptors are located in the brain and throughout the body in the central nervous system and certain organs and tissues. CB2 receptors are mostly located in the peripheral nervous system and the immune system.
Dogs actually have far more CB1 receptors in their brain stem and cerebellum than humans. Outside of that, the structure and operation of the human endocannabinoid system is very similar to that of dogs and cats.
When cannabinoids meet these receptors, they bind with them and begin the process of neurotransmission. That’s when the therapeutic effects of CBD start to take effect.**
Is CBD Safe for My Pet?
Yes. In 2017, the World Health Organization declared that CBD is safe for animals.
THC, which is the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, can be toxic to animals in certain situations, so it’s important to avoid products that contain it. The CBD products we’ll discuss today are made with broad spectrum CBD, which does not contain detectable levels of THC.
When Should I Try CBD for My Pet?
Our pets can’t talk, and scientific studies on CBD for dogs and cats is limited and ongoing — it’s mostly centered around pain control and seizures.
What we do know is that pet owners rely on CBD to deliver the same soothing, therapeutic effects to their pets that it does in humans.**
Stress
Stressful times, like transitioning from a shelter, fireworks season, and disrupted family routines, are when many animal lovers look to CBD to help their pets cope.**
CBD Dog Treats: Calming Chews are a convenient way to work CBD into an animal’s routine, from training rewards to comforting prizes inside puzzle toys. In addition to 600mg of CBD, they contain healthful supplements, like chamomile and passion flower, known for their soothing properties. As with our other dog treats, these biscuits are available in hard and soft chews.
Aching Joints and Muscles
The aches and pains that accompany aging and stressful activity on the muscles and joints are as much a health concern for our cats and dogs as they are for us. CBD Dog Treats: Hip and Joint Chews are formulated with broad spectrum CBD, as well as natural antioxidants and pain relievers like glucosamine and chondroitin, to help ease your dog’s aches and pains and help them live a happier life.**
Skin Health
Healthy coat, happy doggo! Our canine friends sometimes need extra support for a healthy skin and coat. Our CBD Dog Treats: Skin Health Chews deliver 600mg of broad spectrum CBD, plus soothing supplements like fish oil, biotin, and more—ideal for skin health.**
Overall Wellness
Supporting your dog or cat’s endocannabinoid system means improving balance (homeostasis) throughout the body. That means a happier, healthier pet in your household.** You can give your pet daily wellness support with one of our human-grade, vegan pet tinctures. For pooches, you can try our bacon-flavored CBD Oil for Dogs or our chicken-flavored CBD Dog Tincture. Each comes with a variety of strengths to suit your dog, no matter the size or breed. We also have a vegan bacon CBD Oil for Cats and a chicken-lickin’ CBD Cat Tincture to give your kitty all the calming wellness benefits of CBD.
How Much Should I Give My Pet?
There’s no universally recommended dosage amount of CBD for dogs or cats. How much CBD your pet requires depends on a lot of factors, including their weight and the concentration of CBD in the product you use.
We remove the guesswork from dosage by creating CBD tinctures specifically formulated for animals of certain size ranges.
Dogs that weigh less than 20 pounds respond well to the 250mg small breeds tincture, and this is also the go-to for cats. We also make a 500mg tincture for animals of 20–60 pounds, 1000mg for puppers over 60 pounds, and 2000mg for those big dogs over 100 pounds.
Did we mention that those tinctures are bacon flavored?
When it comes to how much to give to your pet, it’s best to start small and observe how they respond. It will generally take 30–45 minutes for CBD to take effect for your pet, depending on their metabolism and size.
When giving your dog CBD treats, remember that edibles take a longer amount of time to take effect, because they have to be digested and metabolized. Do not give your pupper additional CBD dog treats until you know for sure that the first one has taken effect.
Talk to your veterinarian. Always start with your vet when it comes to trying any new supplement or therapy for your pet. They know your animal’s medical history and personality, and can give you good advice.
We always want to provide the best life possible for our beloved pups and kitties. We’ll do whatever we can to improve our pets’ comfort, mental health and quality of life.
CBD is a safe therapeutic supplement for our dogs and cats, and available in products geared for nearly any specific need. Give it a try. We bet your pet will thank you.
Wondering where to begin? Check out all our CBD solutions for pets!
