Cannabidiol, or CBD is being praised as THE magic medicine. It’s everywhere from your local coffee shop selling CBD lattes to trendy massage parlors offering CBD massages.

There is a growing body of research supporting the therapeutic use of CBDs for people with conditions ranging from joint pain to cancer prevention, but we aren’t the only ones suffering from these ailments. What about our furry friends?

The first hand accounts of CBD success stories for people’s pets are incredibly promising and the research is catching up. With the historical passing of the Farm Bill legalizing industrial hemp farming in the US, the floodgates have opened for domestic CBD production and it’s becoming increasingly easy to find even during this shifting landscape of its legality.

If you are like thousands of other American’s ready to ease the conditions of your furry companion then there are a few things you need to know before you start dosing your pet. So let’s discuss the benefits of using CBD for your pet, what to be wary of and how to choose the best medicine for your friend.

Just like humans, animals have an endocannabinoid system. This is a regulatory system that helps the body stay in a healthy state of balance. All mammals produce cannabinoids internally to help regulate this balance but a growing body of research supports that taking cannabinoids supplementally can boost this support and can be therapeutic for a number of conditions.

Some benefits of CBDs for animals include:

• Anti-anxiety
• Anti-cancer
• Anti-inflammatory
• Easing aggressive behavior
• Increased appetite
• Pain relief
• Reduction of seizures and spasms

CBDs are also very safe for your pet. Many commonly prescribed pet medications cause side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, lumps and bumps and loss of appetite. Meds can also be really hard on your pet’s kidneys and liver, which can be even harder on their owners. CBDs have none of these effects and save for the odd anecdotal tale of them making pets a little drowsy, the consensus is that they are very safe when dosed properly.

And the scientific support is finally catching up. Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a veterinary neurologist out of Colorado State University has completed trials using CBDs for dogs with osteoarthritis and epilepsy with incredibly promising results. Cornell University’s studies also concluded the efficacy of CBDs for canine osteoarthritis and their improved effectiveness compared to traditional anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS).

Just like for people, CBDs for animals can provide support and relief for many common conditions, are non-toxic and readily available!

Not all CBDs are created equal, or even from the same plant. While pets have endocannabinoid systems just like us, they have way more receptors in their brains than we do. This is why, just like chocolate and xylitol, THC is incredibly toxic to your pet.

For this reason it’s crucial that you use a product that contains no TCH. This is possible with CBDs made from marijuana but is guaranteed with products made from hemp as in the US hemp is required by law to have less that 0.3% THC.

Because CBDs have existed in a legal grey zone, testing and labeling is far from standardized. This means that you, the consumer, need to do your research to ensure the safety and quality of the product that you are using.

One way to do this is to look for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) label. This ensures the product has gone through third party testing that has produced accessible lab results showing how much CBD is actually in the product and any contaminants that might be present.

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When choosing which product is best for your pet, make sure that it’s organic, has an adequate concentration of CBDs, no THC and no other solvents or mystery contaminants that could potentially cause any harm. And, if your pet is taking any other medication, definitely consult with your vet before making any decisions, as interactions can be dangerous. It’s still not legal for veterinarians to prescribe CBDs, they are however allowed to answer your questions about them.

Once you have sourced a top quality CBD product for your pet it’s time to administer it. There are a few ways to do this but first lets talk dose.

The safest practice for dosing your cat or dog is to begin with 1mg/10lbs of body weight twice per day. While there is no known toxicity associated with CBD it is best to start low, and raise the dosage slowly until you notice an effect.

There are a number of ways to give CBDs to your pet. You can hide capsules in their treats or empty them on their food. You can give them treats that are bought in specific doses and use salves for skin conditions. But the most researched and best-absorbed method of giving your pet CBDs is with a tincture.

Using a tincture lets you control your pet’s dosage and is the most bioavailable. For optimal absorption, put drops of the tincture under the tongue twice per day and you’re all done! They may not like it at first but many pets come to love it over time. And while using a tincture under the tongue is the best way to get the most medicine into the bloodstream, you can also use it to dose your pets treats or to apply it to the inside of their ears for a calming effect.

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There are wonderful benefits and no known side effects of CBD use for animals. If you think that the therapeutic use of CBDs would benefit your pet then find a high quality product that fits your pet’s needs and get started!

Need help choosing the product that is right for you and your furry family?

Learn more at our online CBD University or contact us here.

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