Did you know that dogs and cats have an endocannabinoid system just like us humans? One of the many things we humans share in common with cats and dogs is our bodies’ CB1 and CB2 receptors. Our endocannabinoid systems work like a lock and key. The receptors are the lock, and the cannabinoids are the key. CBD is one of the main cannabinoids found in the flowers that bloom from the hemp plant. CBD is psychoactive – meaning that it does affect the brain and central nervous system, but it is non-intoxicating (you won’t get high off of CBD). For hemp to be legally grown, it must not contain any more than 0.3% THC. Here in this post, I will be discussing the benefits of CBD oil for our companion animal friends.
CBD Oil for Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental and physical affliction that many of our pets, unfortunately, deal with for many reasons. Whether it is separation anxiety or acute anxiety like when travelling, CBD can be so helpful for our pets. It is a great natural way of helping reduce the anxiety in our four-legged family members. The cannabinoid receptors that we have in common are called CB1 and CB2. CBD attaches itself to those receptors, giving your brain a signal to calm the body.
Joint Pain and Inflammation
CBD can be very beneficial for our companion animals when it comes to joint mobility. Many dogs and cats become less mobile as they age and may feel sore in their joints. CBD can reduce the pain caused by inflammation. However, typical medications which help control pain and joint mobility can have adverse side effects. CBD’s side effects commonly include dry mouth and sedation. However, these aren’t necessarily adverse side effects either. Always ask your veterinarian about CBD for your pet, as there may be issues if your companion animal is already taking other medications.
Nausea
If your beloved pet is feeling nauseated, a CBD oil could help them out! It seems that veterinarians are becoming more informed about the benefits of CBD and the ways it can help our furry friends, and even recommending it since it has little to no adverse side effects.
Sleep
As I mentioned earlier, with the side effects of CBD, which included sedation, well, CBD can be used for that! CBD targets the central nervous system, which provides mild sedation and anxiolytic properties. So it is a great way to help our pets calm down and have a good sleep if they aren’t sleeping through the night. The cannabinoid CBD works much the same in humans in that it calms the central nervous system, and you feel more relaxed, making it easier to fall asleep at night.
Full-Spectrum or Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil is Always Better
There are also some things you should take into consideration before purchasing CBD oil. Make sure that the product is full-spectrum or broad-spectrum. Full-spectrum CBD oil means it contains all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids contained within the plant from which it was extracted. Broad-spectrum means the same, except that it does not contain the cannabinoid THC.
There are studies that show promising results with studying the different effects of CBD-only oil, broad-spectrum CBD oil and full-spectrum CBD oil. They are finding that those who took full-spectrum CBD oil experienced greater symptom relief than those who were taking CBD-only oil and even the broad-spectrum oil. It appears that the greater effectiveness is due to the inclusion of all the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. That’s where many of the benefits lay in the plant. They each play an important role in being the medicine that it is, and how it can help our companion animals and ourselves.
If you are worried about giving your pet too much THC, you shouldn’t have to worry about that with a hemp-derived CBD oil. I would still recommend just making sure that it is not a THC oil you buy and give to your pet.
Since CBD oil is typically extracted from hemp, it does not contain any more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid. This means that the full-spectrum CBD oil you want to purchase does contain THC, but only in trace amounts. So rest assured that the hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD oil is safe for your four-legged friend.
Even if you decide you don’t want the THC and want to get broad-spectrum oil, that is still a much better option than the CBD-only oil. Whether you want the trace amounts of THC in the oil or not is up to your preference and what you’re comfortable with giving to your pet(s).
Treat Your Pets With Our Selection Of High Quality CBD Products Only At Innovet Pet
Conclusion
If you’ve ever considered giving a natural supplement to your pet, a good choice would be CBD oil. It can be viewed as a general-purpose supplement since it targets so many things in your pet’s body and has no adverse side effects. It’s incredible how such a plant like hemp can be so versatile when aiding minor ailments. Even if your pup or kitty is totally healthy, CBD helps the body remain at homeostasis. It’s almost like cannabis and our endocannabinoid system were made for each other!
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.