What You Need to Know Before Giving Your Pet CBD
Understanding Cannabidiol (CBD) and Its Benefits For Dogs & Cats
First let's answer this question: What is CBD (cannabidiol)?
It is made from hemp plants using various extraction methods (more on that later) and contains the most prominent naturally occurring cannabinoid compounds found in the hemp plant. Full spectrum hemp extract (CBD) contains natural compounds and terpenes that have various health and wellness benefits. CBD differs from cannabis because it is low in the psychoactive component (THC) while being higher in the effective compounds known as cannabinoids.
CBD has less than 0.3% THC; whereas recreational cannabis plants can contain anywhere from 5% to 20% or higher.
The concentration of THC and of beneficial cannabinoids is the most important aspect to look for when choosing a brand. That is why 3rd Party Testing and transparency in CBD companies is crucial so that we are getting all of the cbd benefits for our cats and dogs safely.
What Are the Different Types of CBD Products Available For Pets?
If you do a google search for cbd, you'll find words like "full spectrum pet tinctures, hemp derived cbd treats for cats &dogs, and a million and one different brand and product options.
Here are the Top 5 Things I look for when choosing a CBD product for my pet:
Transparency I check that the company's products are 3rd party tested and the results are available to verify. This ensures the level of THC is at or below 0.3%, the cannabinoid and other beneficial compounds are at the quantities that they claim on their products, and the overall quality is high. There isn't a lot of regulation on CBD products and, therefore, many of the brands you see don't have the data to back up their product's quality. Plus CBD is expensive, I want to make sure I am getting what I pay for.
USA Grown without Pesticides or Herbicides & Organic Preferred This circles back to the quality of the product. I want the cbd that I purchase for my pets to be free of chemicals. My goal is to help my pet without increasing the toxic load on their body.
Does NOT use Chemical Solvent Extraction Methods I stay away from companies that either are not transparent about how they extract the cbd from the plant or if they use chemical solvents (examples: butane, isopropyl alcohol, or hexane). Cold Pressed CO2 extraction or solventless infusion are used in the two brands that I trust and will share in a bit.
Pet Parent Reviews! There is no better indication of a product that works than good reviews - and a lot of them! These should be easily available on the company's website.
Bonus Points for having a great FAQ page about their products & openly Educate about CBD This tells me that the company has put in the time and effort to research cbd. They know what they are talking about and want to share it will us pet parents!
What is CBD Used For?
The short answer...anything that has an inflammatory component and for emotional stresses!
Here is a list of the most common uses:
General Anxiety & Separation Anxiety
Fear of Storms, Car Rides, Vet Visits, etc. (pairs well with Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy for Pets!)
Car Sickness
Allergies
Cancer
Seizures
the list goes on and on...
How Much CBD Should You Give Your Pet?
Besides, the question of "will cbd oil make my pet high?", the other common question I hear is "can I overdose my pet on cbd?" The good news...the answer is NO.
Each company will have different recommended doses based on your pet's weight and the concentration of CBD in their product. But the biggest factor to take into account is how your pet reacts. It is best to start at a low dosage and then increase if needed. Every pet is different and their body will react a little differently to the amount of cbd given. Some pets will need much less than the recommended dosage based on their weight and others may need more. Start with a quarter or half of the recommended dosage and if your pet needs more than give them more. When in doubt you can also reach out to the company directly and ask their suggestion. They have the most experience with their own product and have heard from countless pet parents that probably have the same question as you! The amazing thing about CBD is there are no known negative side effects. Only good ones!
How will my pet react to CBD?
As long as you have chosen a company that produces a high quality product and you have found the dosage that works for your pet, your pet should be calmer, maybe a little sleepy (if too much, just reduce the amount given), and physical symptoms should start to improve if given daily.
If you are giving cbd to help reduce inflammation (allergies, cancer, etc.) or to reduce seizures, it may not be an immediate response. Your pet should seem calmer, but you also will need to take a look at diet since that plays a major role in seizure care, allergies, cancer, and other inflammatory-ridden ailments.
My Go-To CBD Brands
I am going to share two. I love them both for different reasons and they offer different products.
Treatibles is the brand I have the most experience with both with my own pets and with recommending to other pet parents. Treatibles has a nice selection of both treat and oil options. They offer different cbd doses so you can choose the one that will work best for the size of your pet. They also have both treat and oil options. I've had some clients who find the treats to work best. Others prefer the oil. Their treats are easy to give to pets and they come in crunchy or soft and in a few different flavor options.
CBD Dog Health is one that other company that I am new to, but am LOVING! They make great cbd oils with added homeopathic blends - one with turmeric for inflammation and another with lavender for extra calming.
They also have different salves - ones specific for cysts and tumors, hot spots, and more.
You can use code Welcome15 to get 15% off plus free shipping on your first order HERE! CBD Dog Health recently had a great Facebook LIVE chat with one of my favorite companies for Air Dried Chews & Treats Real Dog Box. Lots of useful info, especially if you are dealing with a pet that has cancer and even the prevention of it! Here is the link to the video. Both of these companies check off all of the boxes in my Top 5 Things to look for and are doing amazing things in the cbd world for pets!
If you are interesting in watching the Instagram LIVE that I did on this topic, you can watch the replay here!
References
CBD Dog Health. “About Us.” CBD Dog Health, 7 Oct. 2022, cbddoghealth.com/about-us/.
Keenan, Joanne. “Hemp Seed vs Hemp Oil for Dogs.” Dogs Naturally, 10 Feb. 2022, www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/hemp-for-dogs-should-you-use-it/.
Scott, Dana. “The Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs.” Dogs Naturally, 12 Apr. 2022, www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/cbd-oil-for-dogs/. Treatibles. “Our Hemp.” Treatibles Best Price per Mg, 1 Nov. 2021, treatibles.com/our-hemp/.
DISCLAIMER: The information offered by The Balanced Companion is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace regular veterinary care. I strongly encourage you to seek the professional advice of a holistic veterinarian that supports your efforts to incorporate species appropriate nutrition and holistic lifestyle choices into your pet’s life. To locate a holistic integrative vet, please visit www.ahvma.org or ask me for a referral.
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