Is Cannabis Safe for Pets?- CBD Oil Benefits For Dogs and Cats

• 1. Cbd oil for pets
• 2. Why use cbd oil for pets?
• 3. How to choose cbd oil for pets

Cannabis is a great treatment alternative for various painful physical and mental conditions for humans. But what about our pets who cannot speak and tell us when it hurts? Can we use cannabis to help relieve our pets’ issues?

Or will they not be able to manage the effects of certain cannabinoids? There is anecdotal evidence of people claiming their pets are completely okay even after consuming a few buds. We all have mischievous pets that eat straight from our grow rooms, unfortunately, accidents can happen. Since there’s no evidence of the positive effects of THC on pets, we cannot recommend it.

There is evidence that the cannabinoid CBD, on the other hand, can be helpful to pets in small doses. Data shows that CBD oils can offer pain relief to pets, making them a bit more comfortable and even reducing their anxiety. When you think of cannabis oil, though, remember that the type suitable for pets will not contain THC and other cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant, only CBD. Pet-friendly CBD oils will not contain all the terpenes and high-inducing cannabinoids of the plant. Since CBD and hemp have been legalized in all 50 states across the U.S. and other places around the world, it’s easier than ever before to purchase CBD oil for your pets.

CBD oil for pets

With CBD oil becoming a well-known consumer good, you’ll see ones that are advertised specifically for pets as well. Both medicinal and recreational marijuana is becoming legal in many countries. But CBD is different and often derived from hemp instead of cannabis.

The cannabis plant contains more than 120 different cannabinoids. These are complex compounds occurring naturally in the plant. Out of all these cannabinoids, the two most popular are CBD and THC. THC behaves very similarly to the endocannabinoids present in the human system, but it produces euphoric, high sensations that have been called ‘psychoactive’ effects. While some of us may love THC’s effects, pets are different. No matter how funny it seems, never blow cannabis or any type of smoke on your pet’s face. The smoke can be harsh on their eyes and lungs, and so it should be avoided. 

Regardless of whether your pet loves or dislikes marijuana smoke in the home, you can certainly offer them pain relief with CBD oils. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects. Studies have found that CBD oil is safe and can be used for pets.

Why use CBD oil for pets?

The image above shows the important functions of a dog’s brain. Note how it explains how cannabis affects different parts of the brain. However, while the picture demonstrates the usage of cannabis in general, we are talking specifically about CBD.

One comprehensive safety study found that hemp-derived cannabinoids are well tolerated in healthy dogs at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight/day. The CHF (Canine Health Foundation) has also sponsored a clinical trial to evaluate the benefits of CBD and how it can potentially treat problems in pets. 

Here are some studies that demonstrate the benefits of cannabis on pets:

A note on dosage

While for humans there’s always a doctor who can prescribe CBD based on your needs, for pets it is not exactly the same. If you consider using CBD for your four-legged friend, then start with the smallest dose possible, i.e. 1 milligram.

How to choose CBD oil for pets

As you might know, CBD oils can come in a range of forms and from a variety of sellers. That’s why you need to do your due diligence and pick the best option possible. Moreover, this type of oil is not standardized by relevant institutions.

Let us help you pick the purest CBD oil for your pets:

1. Get full-spectrum oils 

CBD oils come in many forms, however not all the types are suitable for your pets. We recommend using CBD oils with no THC content due to the fact that it might be toxic for pets. Instead, consider using broad-spectrum or CBD isolates.

Broad-spectrum CBD oils usually contain a small dose of THC, that’s often even less than 0.3%. This amount doesn’t cause any type of harm to your pets and it’s safe to use in small quantities.

2. Take a look at how the oil was made

There are two main ways to extract CBD oil: the first one is butane followed by CO2 extraction. The butane extraction method is not the safest for your pets due to the possible traces of butane left in the oil. So, with that in mind, verify that the oil you purchase was extracted by using CO2 and that the phytochemicals of the plant are still present.

3. Don’t look for the cheapest product

CBD oil is expensive, but if you take a look at the extraction process and the time and effort put into growing the cannabis plant you can understand why. Good CBD oil it’s on the higher end of the price scale, but it’s justifiable. If you find an extremely affordable oil, be sure to check the label carefully.

4. Analyze the label

One thing to mention is that generally, supplements like vitamin C, don’t impact the efficiency of the CBD oil, however they’re not necessary. The bottle should contain the CBD oil and the coconut or MCT oil. That’s all.

Don’t rush when you read the label because you need to ensure that the label matches the content of the bottle. Producers will use extras that oftentimes are useless. So, if you read on the label that the oil has artificial corn syrup or anything else, it’s better to stay away from it. 

5. Do not purchase anything without lab reports

Manufacturers that respect themselves are straight forwards with the way they produce the oil and its contents. A lab report should contain the origins of the hemp used for extraction, the carrier oil used and all the relevant percentages.

Make sure to be as critical as possible when purchasing CBD oil because your pets deserve only the best.