There are many CBD products on the market these days for pet owners to choose from and CBD oil is one of them, but there are questions about CBD oil for cats. CBD is a cannabis product that doesn’t get you high like THC does, but it’s still illegal in many states and countries around the world. CBD has been shown to have benefits for humans, so should we be worried about giving CBD to our pets?
What is cannabis?
Cannabis, also known as marijuana and weed, has two main ingredients that humans use for treatment. The first one is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which gets you high and it’s illegal in most countries around the world. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, does not get you high but it still contains some psychoactive properties so many people find that CBD makes them feel relaxed or happy. This substance can be found in cannabis plants next to THC and both have therapeutic benefits for humans who suffer from chronic pain due to illness or injury, while CBD has also been shown to help animals. Both of these are known as cannabinoids, which means they are compounds found in the cannabis plant. At the moment, there have been 113 different cannabinoids isolated from the cannabis plant and not all of their uses are known.
The aspect of cannabis flowers are terpenes which create a unique smell depending on what plant they’re extracted from, sometimes this gives off an earthy piney smell, sometimes it smells more sweet and fruity. CBD is similar to THC but CBD doesn’t have a psychoactive effect on humans who ingest CBD oils or CBD edibles so you don’t feel high from using CBD products.
What is CBD?
CBD, as noted above, is one of the 113 distinct compounds found in the cannabis plant. CBD oils do not produce the high like marijuana or any other of its extracts. CBD oils are considered to be safe for pets provided you only buy CBD oil from reputable companies that have third-party lab reports of the CBD oil they produce. CBD oils can be purchased online or at health stores like GNC and CVS; however, CBD is not legal in all states and CBD oils that contain more than 0.3% THC are illegal in most states because they will produce a high when ingested by pets, which is the opposite of CBD oil’s purpose.
What are the effects of CBD?
CBD can benefit people in many ways as well as animals too. These include anti-inflammatory properties which help with chronic pain issues such as arthritis, nausea reduction for those going through chemotherapy treatment, seizures due to epilepsy, reducing anxiety levels by stimulating serotonin receptors, among other things.
Cannabis is a plant that can be used to produce CBD oil but most people opt for hemp plants. The difference between the two lies in the amount of THC the plant produces. If THC is ever above .3%, then it is a cannabis plant. If the THC is .3% or under, then the plant is legally considered a hemp plant. Please note the plants are the same genus, Cannabis sativa; however, the amount of THC in the end product determines whether it is a hemp or cannabis plant for legal purposes. Hemp plants are federally legal in the USA now thanks to the Farm Bill from 2018 but please check your state laws to see if it is recreationally legal for you. CBD has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the body. CBD will vary from plant to plant, but CBD oil that is produced from hemp plants has been shown to have no psychoactive effects.
Can my cats or pets take CBD oil?
CBD oils can be given to cats and other pets orally or applied topically depending on which conditions they are used to treat. CBD oils are legal in most states as long as they contain less than the federally mandated 0.3% THC. Many people are giving their pets CBD oil to help them with common problems like anxiety or pain management without the harsh side effects of traditional medications. Because CBD isn’t psychoactive, this means CBD is very safe for animals to use even on a daily basis if necessary. It’s easy to give your pet some oil, just put some into food once or twice daily depending on how much you think they need according to their body weight. CBD oil can be purchased at local health food stores or online with reputable CBD retailers.
Give your cats or pets CBD safely by following these guidelines:
- Always consult with your vet before beginning treatment
- Be careful what you buy, make sure it comes from a reputable source who knows how to extract CBD from industrial hemp effectively without using dangerous chemicals such as hexane
- NEVER give animals concentrated doses of pure CBD without checking for interactions first with your vet
CBD has been legalized in most states now but please check the laws of your state to see whether or not this is legal yet because each state will vary significantly regarding the recreational use of marijuana and its extracts such as CBD oil being used recreationally vs. medicinally
If you are a cat owner or pet owner and your pet has health issues we recommend seeing your veterinarian to see if CBD is the right medicine to improve your animal’s quality of life.
What are the effects of CBD on our furry friends?
CBD works by interacting with receptors in the brain called endocannabinoid which is responsible for regulating functions such as mood, sleep, and pain. It’s possible that CBD could increase appetite or decrease anxiety depending on what exactly they’re suffering from but no one knows yet since we don’t have enough research about this topic currently, so far studies show promising results however more information is needed. CBD can be given to cats as an alternative medicine for their ailments or used in tandem with other traditional treatments such as medications from veterinarians, CBD has been known to reduce symptoms related to pain, seizures, inflammation, and anxiety just like many human studies that show positive results including those who suffer from PTSD and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
There can be some adverse effects too which are often exacerbated by taking large doses. These potential side effects are the same as the ones suffered by humans and include:
- changes in appetite
- fatigue
- diarrhea
These symptoms tend to be mild and usually fix themselves after some time.
Is CBD oil legal? If so where can I get it?
We mentioned above that the Farm Bill of 2018 made hemp, so any Cannabis sativa plant with under .3% THC, federally legal. Some states do have different restrictions regarding CBD and we ask that you check the NORML website [Link: https://norml.org/laws/] to see your local regulations.
You can find CBD products at your local health food store or online with reputable CBD retailers which offer a variety of options to choose from such as different concentrations and flavors. If you need assistance figuring out what may be best for your pet please contact your veterinarian to which of these all-natural remedies works for you and your pet.
Summary
CBD is a compound found in cannabis. CBD products are made from the stalks and flowers of hemp plants, which have been bred to produce low levels of THC but higher amounts of CBD.
CBD oil can be used to treat pain, seizures, anxiety and other conditions in animals. CBD does not produce the psychoactive effects of THC so it’s safe for use by your pet or any animal who needs treatment with CBD oils. You will need to do some research on your own local laws before you try CBD on your pet because it varies from state-to-state and country-to-country as far as legality goes.
To learn more about growing cannabis at home consider checking out our guides on: Getting Started, Troubleshooting, and Optimizing your Grow or search our Knowledge Base.
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