Today, CBD and its promising health benefits are becoming a hot topic in the pet world. Whether your pet is subjected to anxiety, chronic pain or nausea, CBD has a great potential to enhance the quality of life for many pets.
However, if you consider using CBD to help out your furry friend as well, there is something you need to know before giving your pet a CBD treat or applying a dropper of CBD tincture into their mouth. Here are six things to keep in mind when giving CBD to your pet.
Consult With Your Veterinarian
You should always consult a certified veterinarian before introducing any new product or supplement into your pet’s daily regimen. This will help you to identify the correct dosage and method of intake for your pet’s condition, as well as find answers to any questions you may have regarding CBD benefits, effects and adverse reactions.
Your veterinarian will also check your pet’s health, review any other medications they are currently taking and identify whether CBD is right for your pet. Since CBD can adversely interact with some drugs, your vet needs to know if you decide to use CBD to come up with a good plan for giving CBD products to your pet.
Opt For Proven CBD Brands
The CBD market is filled with a plethora of CBD pet products these days that vary in terms of potency, type of CBD extract, product format and other factors. However, although most of them are produced from hemp, that doesn’t mean they are created equally. The CBD industry remains largely unregulated, which creates space for dishonest manufacturers and sellers.
So, you should do proper research and opt for well-established CBD companies that are aimed at holistic pet health and committed to offering the best CBD oil for sleep, anxiety, pain or another ailment. Make sure to look through the website and check online reviews and comments on social media about the chosen brand to ensure you purchase safe and effective products for your pet.
Check The COA
Most CBD products’ labels have these promising claims like ‘THC-free’, ‘non-GMO’ or ‘organic’, but there is no way to verify these statements. This is where third-party testing comes in. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is made by an accredited third-party laboratory and can show you detailed information about all the detected substances in the particular product, with a percentage amount of each ingredient.
Thus, it is strongly recommended to go through the brand’s website or ask your seller to provide you with the lab tests to ensure that the CBD product is free from heavy metals, pesticides and other fertilizers and contains the claimed CBD and THC concentrations.
Determine The Suitable Method Of Administration
Now that you know all the essential things about the future purchase, how do you administer CBD to your pet? There are several methods available, and you should know each of them to find the right one for your preferences and that works for your pet.
CBD edibles
When it comes to CBD treats and capsules, it is easier to give them to your fluffy friend as part of your pet’s diet. While such products come in a pre-measured dosage and eliminate the need for dosing, they usually take longer to kick in. As oral products need to pass through the digestive system prior to entering the bloodstream, the first positive effects can appear within 45-90 minutes, depending on the individual rate of your pet’s metabolism. At the same time, CBD edibles like capsules and treats also offer long-lasting effects, meaning they are beneficial for pets that need a consistent supply of CBD oil throughout the day.
CBD tinctures
Unlike edibles, using CBD tinctures gives you more control over the amount of cannabidiol you administer and lets you adjust the daily dosage based on your pet’s needs. Also, most tinctures are manufactured with a glass dropper, which allows you to mix CBD oil with their food for the less cooperative pets or place it directly into the pet’s mouth for the more friendly ones.
When administered sublingually (under your pet’s tongue), CBD is absorbed through sublingual membranes and enters the bloodstream faster, which in turn provides potential benefits more rapidly. However, pure CBD oil has an earthy, bitter taste that some pets don’t like. In this case, you can look for certain CBD tinctures with pet-friendly flavours like chicken, bacon or salmon or as we have already mentioned, you can mask the natural taste of CBD oil by mixing it with different foods.
CBD topicals
Pet owners whose four-legged friends suffer from skin irritation, arthritis or cracked paws in winter can also purchase CBD oil in the form of topical products. Whether it is a CBD balm, ointment or salve, these products are specially designed for pets when they need quick and consistent pain relief.
CBD topicals are easy to apply and provide an almost instant effect as the active components penetrate through the skin layers. However, because they do not hit the bloodstream, the level of effectiveness of topical CBD products is moderate compared to other methods of application. In addition to CBD oil, topical products are usually blended with other essential oils, herbal extracts and therapeutic compounds to enhance its calming and healing effects for pets. Also, this type of products can only be used to treat certain physical conditions such as inflammation, joint, muscle or nerve pain and various skin problems.
Start With Low Doses
Much like with any medication or supplement, it is always best to start slowly with a low dose to give your pet’s body time to adjust to the new product and prevent any unpleasant reactions.
CBD products usually come with a suggested dosage, so you can start with the lowest dose possible and slightly increase it until you find the most appropriate one for maximum results.
Remember To Pay Close Attention To Your Pet’s Behaviour
No matter if it is a supplement or medication, whenever you give your pet something new, you need to monitor their behaviour. With possible side effects from CBD use, this is even more essential when giving cannabidiol for the first time. For example, after administering CBD, do you notice that your pet’s eating habits have changed? Have your pet’s stool have changed? This will also show you if the dosage you are using is effective, so keeping a journal is so important.
Make sure to write down what product you give your pet, the dose of CBD oil you have given, and when you have given it. Then, note any reactions or changes in your pet.