CBD or cannabidiol is the non-psychoactive ingredient found in the marijuana plant. In short, it doesn’t make you “high,” unlike THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the compound that causes this sensation. CBD oils are basically oils with high concentrations of CBD, and it’s used for many health purposes, such as treating problems like anxiety, pain, and skin concerns. But did you know that CBD is now also used for treating similar health conditions in pets?
Keep in mind, however, that not all of these are the same. You’ll want a high-quality product so make sure that you find the best CBD oil for your pet. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of applying oil on your pets, CBD drops are a great choice as well.
Read on to find out if CBD oil can help improve your pet’s health.
Is CBD Oil Safe For Pets?
Just like us, our pets, particularly cats and dogs, also suffer from anxiety, arthritis, and other health conditions. This is especially true during holidays such as the Fourth of July, where fireworks are pretty common.
Fireworks can trigger anxiety and stress in pets because of the sudden loud bangs. These sounds cause their body to release adrenaline and stress hormones, which tell their instincts to run. This can cause pets to run away and go missing because they were scared of the loud sounds released by the fireworks.
Pets, especially dogs, are more sensitive to THC because they have more CB1 and THC receptors in their brain compared to us, which can increase anxiety in your pets. Dogs, in particular, may experience adverse reactions from ingesting too much THC. If dogs ingest too much THC, they may experience body tremors, excessive drooling, and low blood pressure, which can last for a couple of hours to a full day. Because of their sensitivity to THC, it is advised that your pets only ingest products that only contain CBD.
CBD oil, in particular, can help regulate your pet’s response to anxiety, nausea, physical pain, and the like. When CBD oil is applied to your pet, it can greatly lift their mood, as CBD boosts their dopamine levels.
Below are just some of the many benefits that CBD oil can provide to your pets:
- Improves their sleep.
- Improves their digestive and nervous system, as well as their appetite.
- Helps treat allergies.
- Reduces seizures and epilepsy.
- Reduces nausea and vomiting caused by medications. Relieves anxiety, especially after scary situations or events caused by thunderstorms, fireworks, or a visit to the veterinarian.
- Relieves arthritis, muscle pain, and joint pain.
- Reduces inflammation.
However, this is only possible if you administer CBD oil in the proper dosage. Problems will occur if your pet somehow gets overdosed with CBD oil, or if the oil also happens to contain THC. It should be easy to identify if your pet suffers from an overdose, as you would see them getting drowsy or having a stomachache. To avoid this from happening, make sure that you only supply them with CBD oil in the proper dosage.
Side Effects of CBD Oil For Pets
While it can help alleviate or regulate some health issues, take note that CBD oil can also cause side effects to pets if they are taken in high doses. Here are the most common side effects of too much CBD oil in pets:
- Low Blood Pressure - CBD oil can cause the blood pressure to drop temporarily. If you notice that your pet seems to be light-headed, consider reducing the amount of CBD oil you give him.
- Drowsiness - When CBD oil is used to treat the anxiety of your pets, they may experience drowsiness. If you don’t want your pet to be too drowsy, consider reducing the dosage of CBD oil you give them.
- Dry Mouth - This happens if your pet ingests CBD directly into their mouth. After ingesting CBD, their mouth will become dry, which causes them to become thirsty. If you notice that your pet becomes more thirsty than usual after ingesting CBD, consider reducing the amount of CBD you give him the next time.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that the risks of giving CBD oil to your pets is not yet fully researched. There is no official amount of dosage published by health organizations yet. This means that there’s no consensus about how much CBD is safe or toxic for pets. Therefore, it’s important that you only administer small amounts of CBD to your pets and always consult with your veterinarian.
