More and more pet owners are catching on to the benefits of CBD. As a pet owner, you’re probably head over heels for them, right? Most of us would do anything for our lovable pets, whether they be dog, cat, bunny, or crocodile. But seriously, no matter what type of pet you own, we know that you’ll go to great lengths to help them. For animals that are suffering from one of a variety of ailments, CBD can spur an incredible change in their lives.
HOW CBD WORKS
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of 113 cannabinoids that have been found in hemp or cannabis. While it’s true that cannabis can elicit a “high” that humans are get when consuming it, that feeling comes from the THC in cannabis. This cannabinoid doesn’t have the same effect, so it won’t get your pets high, yet it can cause some profound changes.
How CBD works is that it binds to their endocannabinoid system, something found in all mammals, including humans. This system has two main receptors, labelled CB1 and CB2. They’re there to interact with cannabinoids produced in the brain, yet they can also interact with those that come from plants, such as CBD. When influential cannabinoids like CBD attach themselves to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, the body experiences changes on a molecular level. This is how CBD can create relief and support the health of your pets.
CAN CBD HELP YOUR PET?
The number of ailments that CBD can help a suffering pet is numerous and growing as much research is conducted. The truth is, many pet owners are finding that there are additional benefits to giving their pets CBD, ones they were not expecting. Here we’ll focus on what we already know has worked for pets across the spectrum, especially those facing chronic conditions.
First and foremost, CBD is an excellent pain reliever. If your pet is suffering from pain, either as a one-time byproduct of a medical issue or as something chronic, you should consider trying CBD oil. It also has been shown to help with stress and anxiety in animals, especially dogs. These are common ailments that pet owners will come across at some point, and a natural treatment of CBD can be highly effective.
Beyond those wide-ranging symptoms, CBD can help with specific chronic illness. If your pet experiences seizures, CBD has the power to reduce or eliminate them entirely. It can also help pets dealing with cancer by encouraging their appetite, reducing nausea, and settling gastrointestinal issues. It can also be the perfect remedy for an elderly animal living with arthritis, since CBD reduces pain and encourages heart health as a whole.
DOES CBD WORK FOR ALL PETS?
Out of all pets, the benefits of CBD for dogs is probably the most talked about. The next would be cats, but isn’t that obvious? Dogs and cats are the two most popular animals to own as pets, so naturally CBD for pets would primarily be spoken about in those terms. Yet, CBD has been shown to help all types of pets.
One great example is pet rabbits, where some owners swear by the ability of CBD to reduce seizures. The truth is, we’ve heard of CBD being used to help change the lives of not only dogs, cats, and rabbits, but also birds, horses, and pretty much any pet you can think of.
CBD oil could be a great solution for your pet and alleviate pain and other ailments. You should always consult with your veterinarian if you are considering a new treatment for your pet. However, keep in mind that your vet may not know a lot about CBD, as it is a natural alternative and not being funded by any of the major pharmaceutical companies. Despite that, there is a huge community of owners who have seen the massive change CBD has made in the lives of their pets and absolutely swear by it.
HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I GIVE TO MY PETS?
When it comes to how much CBD oil is required to administer to your pets, it’s important to follow a few simple guidelines with dosages varying depending on the individual animal.
As with humans, the best rate of absorption is to place a few drops underneath the tongue, hold in place for 30 seconds to a minute, and then swallow. This method is also the best route for dogs and pets, though this might not always be the easiest thing to do, and if this is the case, simply add to their food. Note, that this method will not have the same effects and will require more drops.
A good way to work out how much your pet might need is to use this handy, yet unofficial therapeutic dosage rule of 2 mg of CBD / per 1 kg weight of your dog or pet.
CBD DOSAGE GUIDE FOR PETS
To give you an idea of how much CBD to give to your pet, use this guide,
1 drop of 5% CBD oil contains approximately 2 mg of CBD. A 10 ml bottle of our 5% CBD Oil (ie. our 500 mg CBD oil) will provide 200 – 250 drops of oil.
- A 3 kg cat should require 3 drops of 5% CBD oil
- A 15 kg dog should require 15 drops of 5% CBD oil
- A 500 kg horse should require 500 drops of 5% CBD oil or 250 drops of 10% CBD oil
1 drop of 15% CBD oil contains approximately 6 mg of CBD. A 10 ml bottle of our 15% CBD Oil (ie. our 1500 mg CBD oil) will provide 200 – 250 drops of oil.
- A 3 kg cat should require 1 drop of 15% CBD oil
- A 15 kg dog should require 5 drops of 15% CBD oil
- A 500 kg horse should require 165 drops of 15% CBD oil
If in doubt, start with a low dose and gradually adjust the dosage after observing the effects. Similar to “self-titration” in medicine. You will eventually find an effective dose for your pet.
CBD sublingual oil can be given to pets on the tongue with the pipette.
