#cbdcanada

CBD for Dogs !? That’s right, people all over the world have begun using CBD oil to help treat their dogs, cats, horses and even elephants! The practice was practically unheard of a few years ago, but Canadians have jumped aboard, with large numbers of pet parents buying CBD. But does CBD work? Is it legal? Is it safe for animals? In this article we explore those questions plus offer a few do’s and don’ts, advice on dosage, look at advantages of pet CBD oils versus treats, and offer a short buying guide.

Can CBD Oil Really Help Our Pets?

In short, yes. Though most of the research is being done for the benefit of people, many studies are conducted on animals first. The way CBD works is by interacting with our endocannabinoid systems (ECS). As it turns out, all vertebrates have endocannabinoid systems of their own. They aren’t all identical and don’t respond to CBD in exactly the same way. But, what we all share is that our ECS uses cannabinoids produced by our own bodies called endocannabinoids as messengers.

Our ECS is a homeostatic regulator, its job is to keep all major bodily systems in balance and the body as a whole running smoothly. When things are out of whack, the ECS deploys endocannabinoids as messengers to tell various systems and processes to get back in balance. For dogs, cats and people, cannabinoids like CBD can interact with the ECS in a way very similar to how our own endocannabinoids do, dialing down anxiety, inflammatory responses, pain perception and more.

There isn’t enough scientific research out there that proves CBD does what people say it does. A lot of what we understand about CBD comes from anecdotal evidence—stories from people who have tried CBD for their conditions and reported improvements. The same holds true for pets. Something like 74% of CBD users have pets, which likely explains how this practice became so popular so quickly. Pet owners have tried CBD products and, discovering that they help, bought CBD products for their pets to try as well. In many cases, the best CBD oil Canada improves pets’ quality of life.

We’ve all got endocannabinoid systems of our own!

As the practice of giving CBD to pets has popularized, the market has responded with new CBD products offerings for pets. Though we re-iterate that there isn’t conclusive science for many of the claims being made, that’s not to say the veterinary science community is not interested in CBD for pets.

CBD For Pets. The Do’s And Don’ts

Do…

Ask your veterinarian if they can talk to you about CBD. If so they can offer valuable insight and advice for how to administer CBD to your pet safely.

Do…

Find out if your pet has any coconut allergies. Most pet CBD oils use MCT oil as the carrier oil. This is fine for most pets, but some animals may have sensitivities. To read more about the benefits and possible risks of MCT oil for your dog read here.

Don’t…

Buy shoddy products that contain little-to-no CBD. Examine the label and make sure none of the ingredients are allergens, fillers, preservatives or THC. THC intoxication can be traumatic for pets, especially since they need smaller amounts than humans to get high.

Don’t…

Give pets any kind of human CBD treats—they may be toxic to your pets! Examples of human foods we shouldn’t share with our pets include:

·         Chocolate

·         Coffee

·         Nuts

·         Oils

·         Citrus

What’s the Proper CBD Dose for my Cat or Dog?

If your veterinarian is allowed to talk about CBD oil dosage, ask them first. If professional advice isn’t available, you can follow the general outlines below. These quantities are perfectly safe:

·         Mild Dose — 0.022 mg/lb or 0.05mg/kg

·         Average Dose — 0.068 mg/lb or 0.15 mg/kg

·         Strong Dose — 0.136 mg/lb or 0.30 mg/kg

It’s often too hard to give pets doses as accurately as the numbers above imply. Not to worry, these amounts are harmless and it won’t matter if you are off by a milligram or three.