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Will CBD Really Work for My Pets?

March 24, 2020

Pets and CBD

Anecdotal evidence and the experience of many pet owners suggests yes, CBD products designed for pets do work. However, there have yet to be any formal studies on the exact effects CBD has on pets. 

The senior vice president and chief of veterinary staff of the North Shore Animal League America, Mark Verdino, MD, was recently interviewed on the topic of giving pets CBD. He gives his dog CBD, which should be a comfort to pet owners considering trying it with their pets. 

Verdino doesn’t claim to know whether CBD actually relieves pain or whether it just makes pets care less about the pain, but the effect in his experience is not dissimilar to sedation. CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it shouldn’t get dogs or cats “high.” Pet owners should be concerned about giving their dogs THC – being stoned could understandably be upsetting and confusing to a pet. That’s thankfully not what CBD does. 

Verdino’s dog is older and gets jumpy and anxious in the evenings before bed. He administers CBD and the dog relaxes and goes to sleep. His hypothesis is CBD either reduces the dog’s anxiety or simply makes him drowsy. Either way it accomplishes the goal of letting the dog rest peacefully.  

There are some important things pet owners should keep in mind, according to Verdino. The two key points he had were:
  • This is a relatively unregulated industry so it’s important to do your research on the legitimacy and efficacy of any CBD products you buy for your pet 
  • If you do try giving your pet CBD, use a product specifically formulated for pets 
The same dosage recommendations for people applies to pets. Start out small, observe the effects and increase the dose as necessary to achieve the optimal anxiety reduction or pain relief results. 

It’s not always easy to figure out what’s working for your pet and what isn’t. We encourage you to look at some of the pet CBD dosing charts developed by King Kanine® before administering CBD to your pet. 

Observe your pet closely after administering CBD for a week or more to ensure you understand the effects CBD is having on your pet and to determine whether the dose your administering is adequate to their anxiety, arthritis pain or chronic pain needs. 

CBD Is Not Necessarily a Product You Should Price Shop

If you’re like most people you often look for products, like generics, that are just as good as their more expensive name brand counterparts. This is a great strategy for many purchases, but likely not the safest approach when it comes to CBD. For most pet owners this likely isn’t the biggest problem – they want the best for their dog or cat and aren’t afraid to buy the reliable option. 

One of the things that has hurt the CBD industry more than anything else are unreliable players who aren’t honest or upfront about the concentration of CBD in their products or don’t use the highest quality ingredients. 

Make sure to read reviews on any pet CBD supplements you buy. Many of the trustworthy CBD companies will put batch numbers on labels and allow purchasers to look up the lab reports for their batch number so customers can confirm the CBD in the product they buy is verified in a qualified third-party lab. 

Documented Negative Side Effects 

Reporting of side effects for dogs are relatively rare and some could be considered part of the benefit, such as drowsiness. Other side effects include the potential for a temporary drop in blood pressure, which could result in light headedness. CBD also has the potential to decrease saliva production, causing dry mouth and increased thirst.  

Pet owners should always check with their vet before giving their dog or cat any new supplement or medications, including CBD. If your dog is on any medications, it’s important to find out if there’s a potential for CBD to react negatively with their existing treatments. 

Keep in mind, CBD isn’t toxic to pets, but marijuana is. You should not attempt to treat your own pet by feeding it edibles made with marijuana or attempt to administer marijuana to your pet. Too many beloved family pets have to visit vet offices after accidently ingesting edibles or otherwise inhaling or eating marijuana. If you do keep marijuana or marijuana products in your house, make sure to keep them out of reach of your dogs and cats. 

You know your pet; are they willing to eat just about anything? Keep that in mind when storing any products that could potentially make them sick. 

Find the Right CBD for Your Dog or Cat 

Our research has indicated King Kanine has the best reputation for developing high quality CBD products specifically designed for dogs and cats. The team at King Kanine is comprised of pet owners who take the safety and health of their pets seriously, which is why they put such an emphasis on developing products that are both safe and effective. 

Several other companies have also developed specially formulated and concentrated CBD products for pets, including Receptra, Charlotte’s Web, NuLeaf and 4 Corners Cannabis. You can learn more about pet CBD on our website. 

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