30 Aug How CBD Can Help Your Pet

With over 60 percent of the American population owning a pet – and half of those owners letting their pets sleep with them in bed at night – it’s very common to have your furry friend by your side! Not only can this lower the resting heart rate and blood pressure of the owner…but, it can also relieve any anxiety that your pet may be feeling.

Sleeping is just one of the ways to relieve any stress your pet might have (and yourself, as well!) …however, there is another method, and that is with the usage of CBD. From seizures and cancer to arthritis and stress, CBD has been shown to be a positive treatment option for many pets today.

So, what exactly is CBD, and how can it help your pet? Essentially, CBD is cannabidiol, and it’s a component of the hemp and cannabis plants. With the majority of CBD products, there won’t be any presence of THC, which is what gives marijuana the psychoactive properties that it has. This doesn’t mean you should go out and just buy the cheapest CBD that you find though – many products can contain unnecessary ingredients that could harm your dog if you’re not paying attention to the labels (like xylitol, which is harmful to pets).

Typically given orally to pets as an oil (although also available in treats and pill form), the positive effects are administered through receptors in the body as they react with cannabinoids in the plant. These receptors can then decrease feelings of anxiousness and pain, and without the dangerous side effects that can be seen in correlation with some prescription medicines.

Although much research still needs to be done, there are several ways that CBD can help your pet; CBD has the ability to decrease inflammation, stimulate the appetite, reduce anxiety, and has positive benefits on the cardiovascular system, just to name a few. CBD has also been touted as being useful in treating noise phobias, even though items like white noise machines can have the same effect.

If you’re giving your pet CBD, keep an eye out for any adverse reactions – just like you would with new toys or updated prescription medicine. Dogs can’t tell us what’s wrong, but a good majority of the time we can tell if something isn’t right. Human side effects to CBD consumption include factors like drowsiness, dry mouth, and decreased blood pressure – all factors that you should look for in your pet as well. If they’re drinking more water, seem disoriented, or more tired than normal, speak with your vet regarding dosage.

CBD is on the rise as having major health benefits for both humans and pets alike, even though more research needs to be done. If you’re wanting to try CBD for your pet, make sure to check your state laws first (it’s not legal in every state just yet). Likewise, speak with your local vet and determine if CBD is the right path to take for your pet and their symptoms, so you can determine the best plan of care for your furry friend.