CBD For Pets
You’ve probably heard of CBD, a natural compound that’s gaining a lot of popularity with people, and now with their animals too. Pet owners dose their animals with CBD for a variety of reasons, such as behavioral issues like anxiety, or even medical issues such as cancer pain, and arthritis.
With this recent hot topic on the minds of pet owners, it’s time to go in depth on the use of CBD for pets, while considering regulations and safety concerns.
What Is CBD For Pets?
Before diving into CBD for pets it is necessary we talk about CBD as a whole. There are two most notable compounds in marijuana, THC, and CBD. Marijuana users are affected by the “high” caused by THC. In contrast, research shows CBD is non-psychoactive and can provide relief for a broad range of ailments, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Certain types of Epilepsy
- PTSD
To understand more about how CBD works, we should have a grasp on how the endocannabinoid system operates. The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors located throughout the body of most living things, such as all vertebrates and invertebrates. The regulation of the internal environment of the body, known as homeostasis, is maintained by natural endocannabinoids produced by the body. A CBD supplement can be helpful to fill the void if the body is unable to produce enough endocannabinoids. This is why CBD can be useful to both humans and pets.
The key function of the endocannabinoid system is to modulate the immune system’s response to inflammation. When the immune system is too active, allergies and auto-immune conditions can develop. On the other hand, underactive immune responses can expose the body to infections or make it a more favorable environment for cancer cells to form.
With the potential benefits of CBD use in mind, we must now consider the regulatory side of things, where we will answer the question: are CBD products approved for pets?
Are CBD Products For Your Pets FDA Approved
Animals cannot be administered prescription or over-the-counter CBD products because the FDA currently has not approved them. Consequently, products available on the market may not have been tested for safety or effectiveness prior to their sale. Given that, we will break down the possible risks and benefits to ensure you can make an informed decision for your beloved pet.
Is CBD Safe For My Pet
CBD in its purest form will not make your pet disoriented or high and it does not have any serious side effects. Although, since there is no FDA regulation, a major concern regarding CBD is the product quality and purity. Depending on the product, it could have a different amount of CBD than what is expressed on the label, or it could be contaminated by THC or pesticides.
Companies may market their products with baseless medical claims that are not reviewed or approved by medical authorities. Please see the brand’s website or contact the company to obtain their Certificate of Analysis (COA) which verifies the listed ingredients are indeed in the product. The company should be able to provide you with the most recent COA before you purchase a product from them. If they can not, it might be a good idea to try a more reputable company that can.
More About CBD
If you would like to learn more about CBD, check out the articles below!
