CBD is a natural supplement for both man and hound. When used in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, CBD is shown to support optimal immune health, reduce inflammation in the body, and lessen symptoms of anxiety and pain.

Cannabidiol, being a nutrient-rich superfood, may also be helpful in supporting gut health, promoting rapid healing, and making your pets skin and coats healthy.

As more information on CBD is spreading, CBD based pet products are gaining popularity. According to a 2020 Pet Industry report by Nielsen and Headset, hemp-based cannabidiol pet products represent 3-5 % of all hemp sales in the U.S market. The report also showed that 74% of CBD buyers have pets and that cannabis retailers have generated over $9.4 million in pet product sales.

If you choose to introduce CBD into your pets’ diet, being mindful of the quality of the cannabidiol pet product you choose is critical. Be sure to avoid low-quality CBD supplements that may contain harmful contaminants like glyphosate, which may be deadly.

What is CBD?

Fido Friendly states “CBD is more than just a hemp-based supplement. As an alternative health regimen, CBD holds a strong appeal to pet parents who opt to accept a natural wellness mantra for themselves and their pets over Big Pharma… the highest-quality full-spectrum hemp products containing CBD ensures natural cellular healing.”

CBD offers an array of therapeutic benefits for pet parents and furry best friends and is becoming one of the most popular ways of treating pets naturally without the long- term side effects of traditional pet meds.

Cannabidiol is one of the 104 chemical compounds from cannabinoids found in cannabis. With no “high effect” that comes from regular marijuana, CBD has been found to be beneficial for numerous health conditions and ailments such as pain and anxiety. CBD also has no dependency potential when it has not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Additionally, cannabidiol oil is packed with essential minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium which are all beneficial for human and pet health. Zinc is key to hair health and healthy skin in pets. Cannabidiol oil also contains elastin and collagen, is high in antioxidants, and is rich in vitamins like A, E, and C, which protects from free-radicals caused by everyday pollution.

CBD as a pet supplement

Cannabidiol offers numerous antioxidant properties that may prevent cancer, treat tumors, manage pain, reduce the side effects of chemo and radiation, and more. That said, it’s necessary to choose the right form of administration whether it be via capsules, tinctures, edibles, patches, and so forth, to get the best bioavailability for a specific health issue.

The World Health Organization, states that cannabidiol is a safe supplement when it has no contaminants or heavy metals. The most safe CBD products are third party tested and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Hemp-derived CBD products that are organic, grown and manufactured in the USA, and that use a full spectrum CBD oil, administered in the correct potency and dosage via tinctures, capsules, and edibles, will offer optimal health benefits.

CBD benefits

CBD is regarded as a superfood due to its high amount of minerals and antioxidants, which protects the body from free radicals that are encountered in everyday pollution. CBD also offers all 21 amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein and contains phyto-cannabinoids, terpenes and fatty acids which all help with stress relief.

Full-spectrum CBD oil works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system to promote optimal health and well-being.

Cannabidiol may be beneficial for the following conditions in pets:

• Reduce anxiety and stress in pets during travel, fireworks, thunderstorms and when moving to a new home.
• An appetite stimulant to help with the side effects of cancer treatments and other pet meds during treatment and recovery.
• May work together with several canine cancer treatments by targeting specific cancer cells, as well as limiting the growth of blood vessels to tumors. (Hemp is rich in natural compounds like terpenes and flavonoids that fight cancer)
• Luteolin and kaempferol are found in hemp, and promote disruptions to cancer cells.
• Help curb allergies in dogs, cats & horses.
• Easing post-surgical pain, and aid in healing, all the while encouraging appetite and weight gain, which is important for recovery.
• Reducing the side effects of chemo and radiation in dogs.
• Promoting fast wound healing and decreasing pain.
• Help combat inflammation.
• Reduce seizure activity in pets.
• Promotes rapid healing with skin issues like hot spots and other common skin irritations in dogs.
• Promote well-being, digestive and cardiac health.
• Ease chronic pain.
• Help with autoimmune issues.
• Beneficial with urinary tract disease
• May help with post COVID-19 back to work separation and anxiety relief in pets.

CBD dosage as a natural supplement for pets

When CBD pet products are not as effective as you thought they would be, it’s best to consider whether you purchased a high-quality CBD pet product. Your furry best friend may not be getting the right potency, dosage, or CBD product. In this instance, it’s best to consult with your vet.

Because our pets are always exposed to free radicals that damage healthy cells, it’s important to add beneficial nutrients like CBD to help boost immune system health, reduce inflammation, and has neutralizing antioxidant effects.

Because pet food may not be as healthy as it should be, adding a daily CBD supplement together with your dog’s other supplements like probiotics will help to increase all the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut, and also strengthen immune system health.

For example, a Cornell veterinary CBD study worked with dogs on a 2mg/kg every 12 hours for chronic pain. The study also demonstrated the efficacy of a 2mg/kg pet CBD product and researchers found that CBD is effective in managing chronic pain in dogs.

Several other studies have demonstrated evidence that CBD reduces inflammation and chronic pain in pets. It was also found that pets taking CBD pet products with no THC did not build up a tolerance to CBD, so doses did not have to increase with time. Additionally, there were none of the side effects that usually resulted from long term use of traditional pharmaceuticals. 

CBD as a nutraceutical supplement for pets in pain

With the gaining popularity of CBD as a nutraceutical supplement for pets, it’s important to understand how cannabidiol works. CBD as a plant-based nutraceutical helps to promote brain health, combat insomnia in post-surgical pets, and help pets in pain that suffer from insomnia. CBD may also offer protection against chronic diseases in pets and delay the aging process in dogs and people by combatting inflammation and neutralizing antioxidants.

Disparities between CBD pet brands

The disparity with CBD pet products comes into play with all the differing CBD pet brands that have suddenly become available. Since these products may vary in potency and efficacy, it’s important to know what works for your dog. That said, to determine the best CBD pet products, potencies, and dosages for your dog, you’ll need to reach out to your veterinarian. Understand the risks with the product by understanding the exact composition!

 Just because thousands of consumers are purchasing a particular CBD pet product, does not mean it’s right for your dog’s specific health condition.  It’s also good to consider USA made, non-GMO, and finally, organic full spectrum hemp CBD for pets, and to take heed of misleading labels.

CBD research

A 2020 study demonstrates that CBD significantly improved the quality of life in dogs that were diagnosed with arthritis. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), one in five dogs in the U.S are affected with arthritis. The study goes on to explain that “both in laboratory tests and mouse models that CBD, a non-addictive product derived from hemp (cannabis), can significantly reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and immune cells associated with arthritis.”

“CBD is rapidly increasing in popularity due to its anecdotal health benefits for a variety of conditions, from reducing anxiety to helping with movement disorders,” said corresponding author Dr. Matthew Halpert, research faculty in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor.”

The study concluded the following:

• CBD treatment resulted in reduced production of both inflammatory molecules and immune cells linked to arthritis.

• The effect was quicker and more effective when CBD was delivered encapsulated in liposomes than when it was administered ‘naked.

The study concludes that “Nine of the ten dogs on CBD showed benefits, which remained for two weeks after the treatment stopped. We did not detect alterations in the blood markers we measured, suggesting that, under the conditions of our study, the treatment seems to be safe.”

CBD may be beneficial in reducing pain and inflammation in pets

Another  study from the European Journal of Pain demonstrates that CBD can be added to the skin to reduce pain and inflammation. Additionally, there are plenty of studies showing how CBD may be used to decrease inflammatory and neuropathic pain, which are two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat in both people and pets.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is beneficial to pets via the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS has receptors that control pain, mood, stress levels, and inflammation.

Phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant are well-known for their analgesic and antispasmodic properties. Without THC, CBD is non-psychoactive, and when administered to our furry best friends, will not make them “high”.

 How CBD interacts with CB1 & CB2

CB1 is the most abundant receptor in the brain and other central nervous system regions that control pain transmission and regulation. CBD regulates CB1 and CB2 receptors in pet parents and pets.

CB1 is also found in neuron and non-neuron tissue. On the other hand, CB2 are mainly found in immune and brain glial cells. That said, both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found to be effective in easing pain, regulating mood, affecting appetite, modulating the immune system, as well as having an effect on gut motility, after the administration of a cannabinoid. 

Studies about the functional role of cannabinoid receptors in the urinary bladder indicated that “The diverse effects of CB₁ and CB₂ receptor system in lower urinary tract may be novel targets for therapies designed to treat diseases afflicting lower urinary tract. The growth-inhibiting action of cannabinoids acting on these receptors expressed on transformed cells might be useful for the management of malignancy in bladder. Recently published pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids appear to act principally as prejunctional modulators of neurotransmission to affect the micturition process indirectly by affecting the nociceptive responses pathways,” via NCB1.

How to choose a CBD pet product?

Cannabidiol pet products in the form of treats, balms, chews, tinctures, transdermal patches, and capsules are available for dogs that are anxious or that suffer from separation anxiety, noise sensitivity, thunderstorm phobia and health issues.

 Products should contain cannabinoid- rich hemp, since this is generally a higher-quality when organically cultivated and grown in the U.S. It’s important to purchase CBD pet products from a reputable brand, to and consult with your veterinarian to ensure optimal pet health and safety.

CBD tinctures for pets should contain vegan (if possible), rich hemp oil from a cannabinoid hemp extract, and should be free of contaminants like glysophate, as well as other contaminants. Here’s what to look out for when choosing a CBD oil for your furry best friends:

• Opt for veterinarian approved and US sourced
• Opt for a high-quality CBD product using the CO2 extraction method
• Choose a CBD oil product that is specifically made for pets. Do not use a human CBD oil on your dog or cat.
• The CBD oil for pets should be third party certified for purity and safety. Inquire about a certificate of analysis(COA), so that you can inspect THC levels, and all the ingredients in your CBD pet product.
• Most importantly, cannabidiol pet products that have added the following to their label “improved absorption and bioavailability” are of a higher-quality and efficacy, and potency.
• With all cannabidiol pet products that have higher levels of CBD, you must check dosage and potency with a veterinarian. Your dog needs to have a complete veterinarian diagnosis before trying out a CBD pet product for a serious health condition, and even for things like anxiety or pain, since they may be related to a health condition.
• Certain CBD pet products have a rapid effect that should be run by your vet prior to using.
• Full- spectrum CBD oils for pets are best, so are CBD organic, vegan, non-GMO hemp cannabidiol products.
• Organic is very good!
• Look for a CBD pet product that has no contaminants, has only good carrier oils with a high-fat content, and that also has no alcohol.
• CBD product pet brands that contain full-spectrum hemp oil together with numerous cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBDA will be more beneficial in helping with pain relief, skin conditions, slowing tumor growth. As well as providing positive effects for an array of veterinary issues like autoimmune diseases, arthritis, seizures, fear, and allergies. Opting for the purest cannabidiol pet product that have been least affected by environmental pollutants ensure optimal efficacy and safety.

Whether it comes to treating anxiety, stress or a serious health condition, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian first. While CBD is not a quick fix, it’s an effective supplement that can be used as a food topper, administered directly into your dog’s mouth via a dropper, given as a treat or CBD chew, or as a capsule for optimal efficacy.