CBD and Animals
While your pet may not be so much into the smoke of your burning joint (it does get them high if it's too close, and it's not good for them), it may benefit from CBD. Oil from cannabis can have benevolent effects on your furry or feathery friends, although more scientific research is still needed to know the exact impact. Many pet parents have also reported positive outcomes from nourishing their four-legged buddies with CBD hemp treats.
Pets such as cats and dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than people, which means they can feel the effects of cannabis more strongly. When it comes to THC though, secondhand smoke may do more harm for them than good. Smoke irritates the lungs, which might lead to health issues such as bronchitis or asthma. Everyone who has had their dog ill from bronchitis will know how irritating those hacking, honking, and whooping sounds are both for your pet and you as the owner. Disturbing for the ears, too.
With CBD, it's a bit different story. You may use it as a diet supplement and a health ingredient for your pet, however, you need to be mindful of the dosings. Your pet has less weight than you, meaning it may not need much cannabis oil for whatever it is you want to treat or help with. It also doesn't speak a human language, so it is unlikely to report when it has had enough or if it feels drowsy, dizzy, high or sick. For that and other reasons, it's best to consult a veterinarian experienced in CBD before feeding any cannabis-based supplement to your animal friend.
When Does CBD Help Animals?
According to some research, CBD can help pets with conditions like anxiety, chronic pain, and seizures. CBD can also be added to the treatment plan if your pet suffers from cancer.
Anxiety and Noise
Just like us humans, our furry and feathered buddies can suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. Anxiety and noise reactivity are the most common reasons dog owners seek CBD help.
The source of stress can be many things. Moving to a new house could become a terrifying experience for a cat that has spent its entire life at the same address and has suddenly lost all its territory. Or come holidays when fireworks are involved, such as the 4th of July or New Year's Eve. Firework displays can be alarming to pets, and pet owners usually take special precautions to protect them on those days.
These instances are a good time to consider dispensing a little bit of CBD to your pet friend; however, do not forget to consult a vet first. Especially if it's the first time your pet is going to try anything cannabis.
Chronic Pain and Cancer
Animals can experience pain due to various health conditions. It could be a broken bone that needs to heal, but it can also be chronic from a condition such as arthritic pain, parasites, or cancer.
The effects of CBD as a pain reliever are well known, and it can be a remedy for your pet. This has also been backed by some actual research. A study from Cornell University has found dogs suffering from arthritis experienced significant pain relief and improved quality of life after being given CBD at a rate of 4.4 mg per pound twice daily for a month.
Another Cornell University study showed that CBD combined with a standard chemotherapy drug was more successful at diminishing cancer cells and preventing metastasis than the chemotherapy drug alone. Which corresponds with anecdotal reports from veterinarians who've used CBD in cancer treatment and claim that CBD shrinks cancer cells and puts the disease in remission.
Seizures
Cannabis has superior anti-epileptic properties and can help treat the most severe types of seizures in humans. A lot of dog owners report that CBD has helped their canine friends, too. And same is for cats.
CBD has shown to be a potent medication in cases where the animal does not respond to conventional treatment. Regular CBD use decreases both the frequency and severity of seizures. Relief from seizure attacks is usually best achieved by dosing twice a day.
How to Feed Animals with CBD?
CBD is available in many forms, so the same methods humans use also apply to animals. Extracts can be dispensed directly into the mouth with a dropper, or you can drop it on the paw, and they will lick it off. It can be added to food and treats. Or directly on the skin or ears if you treat skin or ear infections, wounds, or hurting leg.
When your pet is on CBD therapy, it is further advised to upgrade their diet. Avoid giving them problematic foods such as meat by-products meals, high starch grains, or anything that may contain artificial sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives.
When to Consult with a Vet?
Before adding CBD as an ingredient to your pet's diet, it is still best to consult with a vet. Discuss if CBD is the right choice for your pet, but first confirm if they have experience and knowledge of cannabis. A vet can give dosing recommendations and propose elaborate treatment plans, plus they follow special protocols for prescribing cannabis oil, which is very important if it's a serious diagnosis in question.
What to Do in Case Your Pet is Intoxicated?
You want to avoid accidentally intoxicating your pet with cannabis products. But in case anything like this happens. For example, the oil you supplied contained a significant ratio of THC (or you smoked and fumed in their presence). In these cases, keeping your furry buddy in a safe, familiar, comfortable place is crucial. Your pet will probably don't know what is happening to them. They may be agitated and wouldn't know when and if the sensation will end. They don't have a concept of what high is. So sit it out with them, and try making them drink some water with a dropper if that's possible.
S
Stephen Andrews
