You’ve been thinking about trying CBD for your pet. It’s a little overwhelming. Is CBD safe for pets? Why give CBD to your pet? How do you get your pet to take CBD? If you’re a dog or cat owner, it can feel like there are more questions than answers when it comes to CBD.
In this guide, we’ve collected everything you need to know about giving your pet CBD for the first time. We’ll discuss the effects of CBD for pets, the best ways to give your pet CBD, and how much CBD you should give your furry friend.
From anxiety to achy joints and muscles, there are a lot of reasons pet owners look to CBD.
Is CBD Safe for My Pet?
The World Health Organization says that CBD is safe for pets, and professional organizations like the American Kennel Club show increasing interest in its potential benefits of CBD.
The FDA hasn’t ruled on therapeutic use of CBD for dogs and cats yet, largely because the scientific research on CBD for pain and other treatments in pets is still ongoing. This means that there are limitations on what anyone can claim CBD does for animals. But, there are some very important scientific facts about dogs, cats, and CBD that we can look at.
The Endocannabinoid System
Just like us, dogs and cats have an endocannabinoid system. What’s that?
The endocannabinoid system is a network of cell-signaling receptors that is closely integrated with the nervous and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the gastrointestinal tract and immune system. CBD interacts with these receptors to impart a wealth of therapeutic benefits.
Pets, such as dogs and cats, benefit from CBD the same way we humans do.
Will CBD Get My Pet High?
CBD is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the hemp plant. CBD, or cannabidiol, is non-psychoactive, which means it won’t get you or your pet “high.”
THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a high. While THC and CBD are both cannabinoids, these distant cousins couldn’t be more different. THC mainly exerts its effects by activating your body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors, which essentially overloads your endocannabinoid system and causes intoxication.
THC is also toxic to pets in high doses.
CBD is non-toxic and possesses no psychoactive properties, meaning that you never have to worry about it getting your pet “high.”
Choosing the Right CBD for Your Pet
It can feel overwhelming trying to find the right CBD product for your pet. There are so many CBD products on the market, and certain manufacturers think you won’t examine labels as closely. Some products either contain almost no actual active CBD, or the product may contain potentially harmful fillers.
You want to make sure the company you choose meets the high standards you want for your CBD products. The product should contain no
t only 100% organic CBD, but also only natural ingredients and flavors.
And since you know you don’t want to give THC to your pet, make sure the CBD product you give to your dog or cat is a broad spectrum oil formulation, processed to contain less than 0.01% THC.
For example, our CBD Pet Tincture is formulated with 100% organic broad spectrum CBD oil. Our CBD Oil for Dogs is all-natural, vegan, and produced in CBD dose amounts appropriate for dogs of all sizes — we make it for small dogs, medium dogs, large dogs, and extra strength for the largest dog breeds. We also have a CBD Oil for Cats, with a strength suitable for your kitty.
This CBD oil contains coconut-derived MCT oil, increasing the effective absorption of the CBD. As an added bonus, the natural bacon flavor makes it even tastier for your pet!
When you’re choosing a pet CBD product, you should keep two additional quality indicators in mind.
First, you should be able to easily and clearly learn exactly what’s in your CBD product. Look for a lab report from third-party lab to tell you exactly what’s in the product you’re giving your pet.
Second, make sure to look at the reviews to understand what other pet owners have experienced with the product. The company should have plenty of reviews from other customers about the product’s quality and their experience with their pet.
Why Do People Give Pets CBD?
From easing a new pet from the shelter to their forever home, to helping anxious dogs deal with fireworks, to soothing the aches and pains of aging, there are a number of situations where pet owners need a helping hand.
We always recommend talking with your veterinarian first about how to help pets cope with challenging situations. Your vet knows your pet’s healthcare needs, and can give you signs to look for to make sure your pet is healthy and safe.
CBD for Aging Pets
Aging pets, just like aging humans, face awide array of healthcare and comfort challenges. Weight management, chronic joint issues, muscle pain, and other common woes of aging hit our pets just like they do us.
Joint and mobility treats that combine CBD with superfoods and healthful natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, like spinach and turmeric, are a popular choice for aging pets who have trouble getting around. Dogs love the taste, so you’ll have little trouble getting your pooch to eat its CBD treat.
Pet Stress and Anxiety
Cat owners are familiar with the zoomies, and dog lovers know too well the pains of fireworks and separation anxiety. Pets grapple with anxiety and stress just like humans. And, just as we use CBD for ourselves when we want to chill, our pets can benefit from it, too.
Stress and anxiety pet treats are a popular choice, especially with dog owners. By combining CBD with calming natural supplements, like chamomile, passion flower and valerian, these treats are a yummy way to help a pet relax.
Pets With Dry Skin
Noses, paw pads, toe beans… they can get irritated, dry, and sensitive. A CBD pet balm with moisturizing shea butter, rosemary, and lavender can provide soothing relief.
There is a wealth of options out there for helpful CBD treatments for your dog and cat.
Finicky Dogs and Cats: 3 Ways to Get Your Pet to Take CBD
If you’ve ever tried to get your pet to eat anything other than their favorite food, then you know that getting even the most cooperative animal to take something out of a dropper is harder than it looks.
If things go well, your pet will swallow it all, but you could easily end up with CBD tincture on the floor, the walls, and yourself. CBD fans have doggedly developed new techniques for giving CBD to their animals over the years, and here are some tactics that work.
1. Don’t Tilt Your Pet’s Head
In the past, it was common practice to tilt your pet’s head back while you held their mouth closed, and this tactic was believed to force your pet to swallow.
In reality, however, tipping your pet’s head back after you squeeze a dropperful of tincture in their mouth could cause choking and stress. If you do hold your pet’s mouth closed after you administer a CBD tincture, make sure to keep their head level.
2. Use a Treat as a Reward for Your Dog or Cat
More than 100 years ago, pioneering Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov discovered that dogs could be trained to behave predictably by associating behaviors with pleasure or discomfort. Called Pavlovian conditioning, this technique holds true today, and it can be incredibly useful when you want to make it easier to give your pet CBD in the future.
Practicing classical conditioning with your dog or cat is easy; simply follow up every CBD administration session with a delicious treat. Over time, your pet will start to associate taking CBD with getting a treat, and your cat or dog will be happy to comply with the process to get a tasty snack at the end.
3. Pick a Flavored CBD Tincture Your Dog Will Love
Many self-respecting dogs and cats turn their noses at anything that smells like hemp. As natural carnivores that were only forced to become omnivores after domestication, cats and dogs like things that at least taste like meat, and thankfully, it’s easy to find flavored CBD tinctures for pets that taste just like your furry friend’s favorite snacks. Bacon, anyone?
If you’re still unsure how to get that pup or kitty to try CBD, here are a few more tips.
CBD Dosage for Pets | Finding the Perfect Serving Size for Your Cat or Dog
When you’ve just started giving CBD to your pet, determining the right amount to use can be confusing. Remember that every pet is different, which means there’s no ideal amount of CBD for every cat and dog. What we can do, however, is give you some general information on CBD serving sizes for cats and dogs that will help you find the perfect amount for your furry friend.
How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog?
With so many different dog sizes and breeds out there, it can be hard to find the right amount of CBD for your canine friend. Here at CBDfx, we offer different pet CBD tincture options to help you find the perfect serving. While you might want to stick with our 250mg option for your teacup poodle, your neighbor with the Newfoundland might go straight for the big dog size!
Take a look at this article on How to Choose CBD for Your Dog Like a Pro.
How Much CBD Should I Give My Cat?
Although CBDfx cannot make any concrete serving recommendations, you should keep in mind that just like dogs, cats also have endocannabinoid systems that produce natural cannabinoids. Therefore, it’s natural if you want to give your cat CBD. Keep your cat’s age, size, and metabolism in mind as you find the perfect CBD serving.
Be sure to check out our post Can I Give CBD to My Cat? for a thorough look at cats and CBD.
Beyond Dogs and Cats: How Much CBD Should I Give My Other Pets?
Almost all animals have endocannabinoid systems. Even if you have a chatty parrot, you might want to try giving your animal companion a tiny helping of CBD. The same suggestions for the previous two answers apply here as well; focus on weight and metabolism — and consult with your veterinarian.
The Benefits of CBD for Pets: The Bottom Line
With so many ways to give CBD to your pets, don’t despair if your first attempts don’t bear fruit. It can feel overwhelming when you want to give your pet the best lifestyle possible, since there’s a significant communication barrier. But the love between pet and owner seems to always win out.
If you think you’ve found the perfect way to give CBD to your pets, feel free to share. CBD for pets has only reached its current level of popularity due to the massive groundswell of public support this cannabinoid has enjoyed, and we’re counting on you to help spread the word and share your knowledge of CBD with other pet owners in situations similar to yours. As always, count on CBDfx as a primary resource in your quest to use CBD to its fullest potential, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your unique perspectives and pressing questions.
Curious where to begin? Check out our complete collection of CBD products for pets!
