CBD products for pets aren’t necessarily safe just because they can be purchased over the counter. Before you buy one for your pet, here are some things to keep in mind.
The market for CBD products for pets has never been so lucrative. Because there are more and more of these products, people are less worried about giving them to their pets to help with things like anxiety and arthritis.
According to a 2019 Packaged Facts poll, 11% of dog and cat owners have used CBD or hemp supplements.
An earlier survey that year found that pet owners were enthusiastic about CBD products, despite their small size.
Dog and cat owners were found to be interested in CBD supplements, with 39 percent and 34 percent saying they would use them if it was legal.
(CBD products derived from hemp are now legal in the United States.) There are, however, a few things you should be aware of before administering CBD oil to your dog or cat.
CBD in pet products can come from cannabis or hemp
How does CBD oil differ from other types of oils? There are two types of Cannabis sativa plant: one that produces cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, and the other that produces hemp, which both produce CBD, a cannabinoid.
Wane Marshal, a veterinary technician and cannabis counselor, says that the main difference between these two strains is how much THC (the psychoactive part of cannabis) is in the dry matter when it is harvested.
Consultancy for Veterinary Cannabis Use in Michigan Hemp has less than 0.3 percent THC, whereas marijuana has more, making it more dangerous to your pet.
Knowing where CBD comes from is important
If you don’t know where the CBD is coming from in a product, it doesn’t mean anything. This is important to know because of the potential side effects. Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian, medical director of Holistic Veterinary Care, and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide, says that hemp-derived CBD products are generally safe.
Hemp, even when combined with CBD derived from marijuana, still carries significant risks, as does the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC). Lethargy, loss of balance and coordination, loss of consciousness, and even death are symptoms of THC toxicity. Because of this, Dr. Richter does not recommend using these products without consulting with him first.
Unless you’re in California, your vet can’t talk to you or recommend any products that contain cannabis.
Dr. Richter warned that veterinarians who suggest CBD products for your pet could face sanctions and even lose their licences if they do so because marijuana is listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. “Since no one can help you, this is absurd.” Is it the store’s new employee? “He goes on to say,
For the first time, a state has allowed veterinarians to discuss cannabis with patients, but not prescribe or recommend it. The fact that the FDA hasn’t yet approved any CBD products for use in animals makes things even harder for vets and pet owners.
There are few studies on the effects of CBD in pets
Canine osteoarthritis is a condition that can be treated with hemp-derived CBD. There are currently two published studies on the effects of CBD in pets that examine hemp-derived CBD for canine osteoarthritis. Another one is for seizures caused by epilepsy.
Wane Marshal, a veterinarian and technician, said both studies showed positive results. An osteoarthritis study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that CBD oil helped dogs lessen their discomfort and increase their level of activity.
In a second study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, CBD was also found to lessen epileptic seizure frequency. Additional research is currently being conducted, so more data will be available soon.
The benefits for pets are the same as for us
Dr. Richter says CBD’s potential health benefits for pets are the same as those for humans. Pain relief, anxiety management, seizure control, gastrointestinal disorder improvement, and cancer therapy are all on the table.
“Cannabinoid use has the potential to solve any problem you can think of.” According to the author, cannabis, when used correctly, has the advantage of being safer than most pharmaceuticals.
There could be side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite. In the worst cases, the drug could even be poisonous.
CBD can be especially helpful for anxious pets
When you take your cat or dog to the vet, the noise can cause them to panic or become extremely nervous, and CBD can help alleviate that anxiety. In fact, this is even true for pets that are extremely stressed out.
Wane Marshal cites the example of her dog, who panicked at the sound of the stove being turned on because she was so afraid. Because Reanna’s dog was hopeless, the vet advised her to consider euthanasia. As a result of her decision to give him CBD, she is now in excellent health.
That is a huge improvement in her quality of life.
Your veterinarian should be informed if you are giving your pet CBD
You should tell your veterinarian if your pet is taking CBD if you suspect that it may interact negatively with other medications. Dr. Richter explains that certain components of cannabis are metabolised in the liver via specific pathways that may also be used for the metabolism of other drugs. Some of these drugs may become more or less effective as a result of this.
It doesn’t matter that cannabis is “natural” if it is harmful. If you want to know if CBD is right for your pet, your veterinarian can point you in the direction of a veterinary advisor.
Any pet product you buy that contains CBD should have a Certificate of Analysis.
Toxins, moulds, and heavy metals can be removed from soil using cannabis, but this comes at a cost. Toxins like mould and heavy metals could end up in the CBD products you buy, according to Wane Marshal, a researcher in the field.
As an example, nail polish remover acetone could make its way into CBD. Make sure the company you’re purchasing from has a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for that product, which explains why the product was tested and how many cannabinoids it contains.
“Since there is no standardization, it says a lot about a company’s willingness to do testing that it is expensive.” Unless a Certificate of Analysis is provided, Wane Marshal will not consider purchasing a product. The company’s website usually has this information, but you can also ask for it directly.
There are CBD products for pets everywhere, but it is at the buyer’s risk.
Almost anywhere you look, you can find a pet product containing CBD, which Wane Marshal considers alarming. “Be careful because some contain harmful additives like xylitol because store workers don’t know what these products are made of,” she says.
For this reason, you must first check to see if the item in question has a Certificate of Analysis. No single product is suitable for all dogs, and safety can vary from one product to the next. As a final precautionary measure, consult a medical professional.
You should check the Certificate of Analysis every time you purchase a product
Does checking the Certificate of Analysis really need to be done again after your first purchase of a particular product has been a success? Yes, that’s correct. According to Wane Marshal, every crop can change for reasons beyond the control of the company.
Giving the wrong product or dose could have the opposite effect
In the event that you administer CBD to your pet in error, you may come to believe that it has failed to have the desired effect and give up on it. As Dr. Richter puts it, “In reality, it could be very effective… but because you haven’t done it the right way, your pet suffers from an error in therapy.”
Start with a small amount and gradually increase it. Most packages have a suggested dose, but since every pet is different, this information doesn’t help much.
Wane Marshal warns that if you administer the medication insufficiently, it will have no effect, but if you administer it excessively, you risk experiencing negative side effects. For the best results, you must instead find the optimal dosage, which can be achieved by starting with a small dose and gradually increasing it.
You must watch your pet
Wane Marshal warns that when it comes to CBD and the potential side effects it may have, it is even more important to keep an eye on your partner’s behaviour.
Do you notice a difference in your pet’s bowel movements after giving them CBD? Has he changed his eating habits? Wane Marshal recommends keeping a journal because it will tell you if the dose you’re taking is working or not. Record what you fed your dog or cat, how much and at what time you fed them. Observe if he changes.
Drops have an advantage over treats
The drops have some advantages, such as the ability to dose precisely. According to Wane Marshal, “You can see how many drops you are giving your pet and how much is in one drop.” Because they need to be digested in the stomach, chews take longer to absorb than powdered supplements. In the end, only your dog knows what works.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.