CBD for Pets Buying Guide

Why Use CBD for Pets?

CBD (cannabidiol) comes from cannabis, a type of hemp plant. If your pet is experiencing anxiety, chronic pain, separation anxiety, seizures, or skin conditions, CBD may be able to help. Many owners give pets CBD before a car ride, fireworks, traveling, or during a separation period. This can help the pet stay calm during a stressful event. CBD can also aid a pet’s chronic anxiety and help them sleep. CBD is a natural remedy that can be bought over the counter.

Research shows that CBD lowers anxiety in dogs (Albright, 2021). Separation anxiety in dogs is common, and CBD is a natural treatment for dog anxiety. CBD can also be used as pain relief for dogs which can in turn reduce anxiety with no reported side effects (Gamble et al., 2018). Arthritis in dogs can be hard to treat. CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory for dogs as it does for humans. CBD may be a useful dog arthritis treatment and an alternative to NSAIDs for dogs. Research shows CBD is helpful in treating osteoarthritis and seizures in dogs (Gamble et al., 2018, McGrath et al., 2019). When it comes to treating seizures, CBD may be a replacement for gabapentin for dogs.

How Does CBD Work?

Although CBD comes from cannabis, it does not have psychoactive properties. CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that many mammals have including dogs, cats, and humans. ECS is a network of chemical signals and receptors that regulate different cell functions. Cannabinoids interact with this system to produce different effects on almost all parts of the body. CBD works on animals and humans similarly to reduce pain, inflammation, and anxiety.

Are There Other Cannabinoids that Can Also Help Your Pet?

There are five cannabinoids that come from hemp commonly found in CBD products: CBD, CBN, CBC, CBG, and THC. All of these cannabinoids have different benefits and can have enhanced effects when combined with each other. CBN helps with sleep, pain relief, and high blood pressure. CBC reduces inflammation and has anti-depressant effects. CBG can assist with IBS and promote bone strength. THC is what produces the “high” feeling associated with marijuana. However, most CBD products contain 0.3% or less of  THC in order to comply with federal law, so the effects are not felt.

How Do You Know You Are Buying the Right CBD for Your Pet?

At Hempeutics Pharmacy, we give individual consultations for each patient, including your fur babies. We provide custom CBD products that are personalized for each pet’s specific health goals. It is important to make sure that the products you are using are safe and effective. Safe CBD products for pets include less than 0.3% THC, as THC is not well tolerated by animals. Because the FDA does not regulate CBD products, owners must ensure the products have been independently lab tested and have a certificate of analysis that details the amount of each cannabinoid found in the product.

How Much CBD Does Your Pet Need?

Generally, CBD dosages are based on the severity of your pet’s condition, the weight of your pet, and how your pet responds to the treatment. Below is a general guide to dosage based on the pet’s weight, but we recommend starting with a small dose of CBD and closely monitoring your pet for changes. If there are no changes, owners can increase the dose, but if your pet displays adverse side effects such as extreme drowsiness, an upset stomach, or diarrhea, owners should decrease the dose. It often takes a few days of trial and error before finding the dose that works best for your pet. Hempeutics pharmacy offers a pet calm tincture for dogs and cats. A CBD tincture is an oil that is ingested orally. The easiest way to administer the tincture to pets is to drop the correct dosage on their favorite treat or into their water bowl. The most effective method of administering CBD is dropping the tincture directly into the pet’s mouth, but this may be more difficult for owners.

Dosages:

Under 25 lbs: 0.5 mL (10mg),

25-75 lbs: 0.5 – 1mL (7.5-15mg)

Over 75 lbs: 1 – 2mL (15-30mg)

Add the tincture to something tasty, and it can be a calming treat for dogs!

How Long Does CBD Last?

Pets should feel the effects of CBD about thirty minutes after consuming it. CBD effects will last about five to six hours depending on many factors such as your pet’s metabolism, age, and if the pet ate before consuming the CBD.

Is CBD Safe and Legal?

Yes!

Although CBD comes from cannabis, it does not have the psychoactive properties associated with THC in marijuana. So, CBD will not make your pet high. Studies show that dogs tolerate CBD medication well, but not medication with THC (above 0.3%) (Yu & Rupasinghe, 2021). Hemp-derived CBD is legal in all 50 states. Hemp and CBD products, by law, contain less than 0.3% THC. Owners should look for lab tested CBD products. Hempeutics Pharmacy products undergo regular independent laboratory testing and are certified by an independent lab to ensure compliance with guidelines, quality, consistency, and safety. We source our CBD from U.S.-grown hemp and use natural ingredients. The laboratory results for each product are posted on our website. 

Give It a Try!

If you are considering using CBD products for your pet, we may be able to help you. At Hempeutics Pharmacy, we specialize in custom compounding CBD products  to cater to our patients and their furry friends’ individual needs. Hempeutics Pharmacy is partnered with the Veterinary Cannabis Society to ensure our products are safe and effective for pets. We are transparent with our customers and provide them with high-quality products so they can give their beloved pets the best quality care. Contact us for a free consultation from our in-house licensed pharmacist, Dr. Peggy, to discuss what options are best for you. We conduct follow-up appointments to track the effectiveness of the treatment and adjust dosage and ingredients if needed.