CBD, or cannabidiol, is famous for the numerous purported health benefits it induces in humans. However, the good news is that CBD has similar therapeutic effects on other mammals, including cats and dogs.

Your priority as a pet parent is keeping your fur baby healthy, happy, and safe. Therefore, besides high-quality, nutritious meals and exercise, most pet owners use CBD products as a herbal remedy to support their pet’s health and wellbeing.

So, how do CBD pet products enhance your pet’s health? Learn how CBD for dogs can support your fur baby to live a longer, healthier life.

What Is CBD

CBD is the primary non-psychoactive compound or cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, predominantly found in hemp. Therefore, unlike delta-9 THC, the primary cannabinoid in marijuana, CBD will not make your pet “high.”

The cannabinoid’s mechanism of action in the mammalian body system entails activating endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors. You probably didn’t learn about the ECS in your biology class, but it is an elaborate signal transmission system. According to one literature review, the ECS facilitates communication between body systems, regulating vital activities like sleep, pain control, inflammation, appetite, emotions, memory, and immune responses.

Endogenous cannabinoids produced in the mammalian body system modulate the above body functions to maintain a state of homeostasis or balance. However, CBD for pets enhances the endogenous cannabinoid’s capacity to stimulate ECS receptors, optimizing ECS-controlled body functions to improve overall wellness.

Therefore, although CBD functions as ancillary therapy for cats and dogs with specific ailments, you can administer CBD pet products to healthy dogs. Below are the top CBD benefits to healthy and ailing pets.

Benefits Of CBD Products For Pets

Relaxation/ Anxiety Relief

Your pet’s mental wellbeing is as important as its physical health. However, pets can develop mental health problems, with anxiety being the most prevalent mental health condition among cats and dogs. The types of anxiety experienced by pets include separation anxiety, social anxiety, and noise anxiety.

Pet anxiety may arise from loneliness, boredom, negative experiences or past trauma, aging, illnesses, and environmental and routine changes. Anxiety symptoms among dogs include appetite loss, excessive barking or howling, panting, shivering, aggression, property destruction, pacing, and excessive drooling.

On the other hand, cats come off as asocial to most people, but one study concluded that the domestic cat is more socially bonded to human beings than previously thought. Therefore, cats also experience anxiety triggered by separation, negative experiences, and fear. Feline anxiety symptoms include behavioral changes, increased meowing, withdrawal to corners, hypervigilance, appetite loss, and vomiting.

However, a dose of CBD can help alleviate anxiety among pets. One animal study model featuring 16 dogs as test subjects showed that CBD supplementation lowered blood plasma cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

Besides diagnosed stress conditions, isolated incidences like loud fireworks on the 4th of July can trigger stress in an otherwise healthy dog. However, a regular CBD dose can help your dog remain calm.

Pain Relief

Your furry friend may seem happy and cheerful all day long, but cats and dogs experience pain and discomfort from everyday activities, injury, and disease. According to one study, 20% of dogs and 14% of cats experience hyperalgesia (heightened pain sensitivity).

Common health conditions that cause pain to pets include ear infections, dental infections, periodontal diseases, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or arthritis. Additionally, dogs may experience muscle pain from everyday play activities; injuries to various body parts, including foot pads, can also be a source of pain.

However, CBD products for pets have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties that alleviate pain among pets. CBD’s interaction with the CB1 ECS in receptors blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. However, pain can be the symptom of an underlying disease, so consult a veterinarian before using CBD to manage your dog’s pain.

Musculoskeletal Health

The musculoskeletal system is responsible for multiple mobility-related functions, including posture, body weight support, and balance. However, musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among pets, especially huge dog breeds. Such disorders include arthritis, hip dysplasia, muscular dystrophy, and tendinitis.

The above musculoskeletal diseases are progressive and accelerate muscle and bone regeneration, especially among older pets. However, one study shows that CBD enhances mineralization in the bone collagen matrix.

Mineralization is the process of laying the mineral foundation necessary for the formation of the collagen matrix; collagen is the primary structural protein in the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, CBD’s influence on mineralization helps generate strong bones and accelerates bone healing, restoring some degree of function in pets with musculoskeletal conditions.

Skin Irritation

Pets have sensitive skin underneath seemingly impenetrable fur; hence they are susceptible to skin irritation caused by allergies, injuries, food reactions, and pests. Such skin conditions cause itching and sores that lower the quality of life for your pet.

However, one study shows that CBD pet products have potent anti-inflammation properties that soothe and heal irritated skin. Nonetheless, pet skin irritation may be a symptom of an underlying condition, so consult a vet unless you are sure the irritation or injury has superficial courses.

Car Sickness

Motion sickness is common in pets, especially younger cats and puppies with underdeveloped inner ear mechanisms. However, it may also be a symptom of anxiety.

The condition’s primary symptom is a sick stomach, culminating in nausea and vomiting. According to one pre-clinical study, cannabinoids like CBD can quell nausea and vomiting, reducing the discomfort associated with motion sickness.

How Much CBD Should You Give Your Pets?

There is no standardized CBD dose for pets because different pet breeds vary in size, body weight, and vulnerability to specific health conditions. Age is also vital when deciding the ideal CBD dose for your furry friend.

However, most CBD pet product companies recommend a CBD dose per kilogram of your pet’s body weight. Some brands have apps to help you identify products with the ideal CBD concentration for your pet.

Alternatively, although veterinarians in the US cannot legally prescribe CBD, they can recommend CBD pet products. Therefore, consider consulting a veterinary doctor on the ideal CBD dose to administer to your pet. Most CBD products kick in between 30 minutes and one hour.

Conclusion:

CBD is an invaluable herbal remedy to promote the health and wellness of your pets, and its effects are cumulative; therefore, you can give your fur baby a daily CBD dose. However, the CBD industry is highly unregulated, and some products are of low quality. Therefore, consult a veterinarian before adding any CBD products to your pet’s wellness routine.