Animal lovers consider their pets to be part of their family, which is why people are not afraid to try alternatives when the conventional treatment options are not enough to help their beloved pet.
One of those alternatives is an option whose popularity, debate and presence has grown rapidly in the past few years as more and more people have become aware of its benefits for both humans and animals alike; the alternative of cannabidiol.
CBD oil for cats and dogs
Cannabidiol is more commonly known as CBD. It is a compound found in abundance in the hemp plant and which has a wide range of beneficial properties. All these benefits can be joined together in oil form, which has gotten great attention by media, governments and people in recent years: CBD oil.
The reason why CBD oil can be so beneficial for both humans and pets is that all animals have an endocannabinoid system. The word “endo” means within, and a cannabinoid is the beneficial property from hemp, such as CBD. This means that all animals (including us humans) have an inner system filled with cannabinoids that the body produces itself.
Cannabinoids – both the internal and the external (which are called “phyto”, meaning plant) – helps the body regulate a long line of functions, such as hunger, sleep and pain. A healthy body is able to produce and regulate the perfect amount of endocannabinoids that it needs, but if we are stressed, exhausted or eat an unhealthy diet, then our inner system can become imbalanced. And when the body is in a state of endocannabinoid imbalance, we are more prone to disease.
Because all animals have an endocannabinoid system, our pets can also get sick due to an imbalance in their inner system.
And just like humans, pets can benefit from a daily dose of cannabinoids. This makes CBD oil the perfect, natural and ideal choice for a healthy pet.
Is CBD oil for pets safe?
CBD oil is extracted from hemp, which means it contains none of the psychoactive compounds that are often associated with cannabis. Hemp is an “immature” version of cannabis, which is why it contains only miniscule amounts of THC (the cannabinoid that can get you “high” or “stoned”).
As such, there is no risk of your cat or dog getting “high” from CBD oil, because CBD is not psychoactive. Instead, CBD can cause a relaxing, calming and pain-reducing effect, which will only benefit your little friend. Pet owners who have given their animals CBD oil even report that it works better for their pets than for themselves, and that even at low doses, CBD can be very effective. Research has also found that even very high doses of CBD are not lethal, but will only cause your pet (or yourself) to be more tired than usual for a few hours.
So there is no adverse risks in giving your dog or cat a daily dose of CBD, as long as you keep the dose at a level where your little friend will stay their own, happy self. To help you decide if CBD is the best option for your pet, we have gathered a few frequently asked questions below to help you make the best decision for your friend:
How can CBD help my pet?
CBD is known to reduce pain, anxiety, depression and in general help improve the balance between our body and mind. The same is the case for our pets.
If your cat or dog for example has strong reactions of fear and anxiety to external threats (such as loud noises or sudden movements), this might be a natural reaction. But if your little friend feels anxious while eating or immediately hides at the sound of the wind, the reaction may be a little less natural. This is where CBD oil can help.
CBD oil can help your pet relax, both on a day-to-day basis and in especially stressful situations. Transport is for example something that can induce a lot of stress and anxiety in many animals, but a little dose of CBD oil can help your dog relax during the long car ride or calm your cat down enough to get him/her into the cat carrier.
CBD oil can also come in handy once a year, when the loud bangs of fireworks and New Years parties can scare the little furballs out of their wits. So a small dose of CBD oil can help our cats or rabbits enter the new year with the same sense of joy that we do.
Are the effects of CBD oil the same for humans and pets?
CBD has the same benefits for pets and humans, but the intensity of a dose may vary. The exact reason why this is, has not yet been identified by researchers, but they do believe it has something to do with metabolism. The liver enzyme in dogs is slower at metabolising CBD than are human liver enzymes, which means that CBD’s calming and pain-reducing effects may last for longer in our pets than in us.
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What is the ideal dose of CBD oil?
Due to our pet’s slower metabolism, our little friends need a smaller dose of CBD oil than we do in order to feel the same beneficial effects. Also, the CBD stays in the blood of our pets for longer, which means that the frequency of CBD dosing needs to be lower than if you were treating your own pain or anxiety.
Because the metabolising of CBD depends on a long list of factors that vary from person to person (or from pet to pet), the best way to find the ideal dose of CBD oil is to simply try it. Start small and see how your pet reacts to it. If your dog for example suffers from anxiety or pains, then pay attention to how many drops of CBD oil it takes for him/her to relax. We advise you to start with one drop of CBD oil a day, but in the end, you are the one who knows your pet best and knows how he/she feels.
Finding the ideal dose of CBD oil can be tricky. One cat’s ideal dose may be a lot less than another’s, and some situations may require a larger dose than others. It takes some trial-and-error to find the perfect CBD dose and frequency. To help you figure this out, we have provided our own example of a good way to start a CBD dosing scheme.
And remember; if you are uncertain about how your cat or dog might react to a dose of CBD, try out a drop for yourself. There is no “pet CBD oil” or “human CBD oil”, but simply just CBD oil. The oil comes from the exact same plant and can be beneficial for both you and your pet.[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1521427923924{background-color: #dfe5e8 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Usual initial dosage: 1-5 mg per 5 kg body weight
(1 drop of CBD oil = 1 mg)
Remember: CBD oil should always be shaken well before use
Cats
1-5 mg
Dogs
5 kg: 1 – 5 mg
10 kg: 2 – 10 mg
15 kg: 3 – 15 mg
20 kg: 4 – 20 mg
25 kg: 5 – 25 mg
30 kg: 6 – 30 mg
35 kg: 7 – 35 mg
40 kg: 8 – 40 mg
Start with a low dose. Changes usually take place within 30-45 minutes. If the CBD oil does not work after one hour, try to increase the dose. Sometimes a single intake is not enough. To relieve pain, you can administer it every 8 hours. To modify unwanted behaviour patterns or for other purposes, CBD oil can be used once or twice a day. Remember that overdoses should be avoided, and that CBD has no toxic side effects.
How do I give my pet CBD oil?
CBD can be administered in a lot of convenient ways. CBD oil is an easy administration method, where the oil can be placed as drops under the tongue, used in meals, added on top of a treat, rubbed into the fur or the ear, or simply placed on your little friend’s paw so that he/she can eat it themselves.
It is really quite easy to give your pet a dose of CBD, but what if your pet does not like the taste of CBD oil or refuses to eat it?
Hemp can have a very sharp taste that some just do not like, so we have looked around the web for a bit of inspiration and created out very own recipe that will surely help your little friend get his/her daily dose of CBD oil:[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1521427923924{background-color: #dfe5e8 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Homemade CBD biscuits for your pet
300g flour (plain, almond or coconut)
8 oz water
8 oz peanut butter
2 tbsp honey
1 egg yolk
15mg CBD oil (which is equal to 15 drops of our 3% CBD Oil or 3 drops of our 15% CBD oil)
Knead the ingredients together and shape the dough into cookies on a sheet of baking parchment. Bake them in the oven at 175C for 15 minutes.
