Can Your Pets Benefit From CBD Oil?
Debbe Ferris, July 25, 2017
One question many ask is if pets can benefit from CBD oil. The answer is a resounding yes! While Blue Moon does not offer a pet-specific products at this time, the human tinctures are appropriate for our animal friends. Blue Moon offers a full line of tinctures of varying strengths, and you can choose the correct dosage by following the instructions below.
Avoid CBD Containing THC – Consult An Expert
The first thing you should know is that animals process THC differently than humans. All mammalian brains are equipped with an inner cannabinoid system; this is called the endocannabinoid system. This system has two types of receptors – CB1 and CB2 – which play a significant role in balancing the equilibrium of neural (brain) activities. These activities run the gamut from pain, memory, emotion, carcinogenesis (cancer formation), and embryonic development.
As THC has an affinity for binding to CB1 receptors, animals with high concentrations of these receptors are the most sensitive to its effects. Studies have found that dogs have the highest amount of CB1 receptors of any other mammal, especially in areas of the brain related to coordination. Give your dog THC, and you will likely see some alarming side effects such as drooling, swaying from side to side, urinating on itself and acting disoriented – a condition known as “static ataxia.” Thus, it is critical to give your furry friends CBD oils that have been sourced from hemp and not marijuana, as hemp contains less than one percent of the substance. If you are considering giving your pet CBD oil containing THC, please consult an expert in this area of expertise to avoid a negative outcome.
However, animal treatment specialists, such as Dr. Robert Silver, have successfully treated animals with THC products and Silver has written a book on the subject. You can also find information about THC in animals online but, again, take care where you get your information. As our products do not contain THC (and the lasting effects of THC on animals has yet to be determined) we suggest you stick with hemp derived CBD products as they are safe and reliable.
How Do I Dose My Pet With CBD Oil?
Veterinary clinics that treat their patients with CBD have seen beneficial results from hemp derived CBD products, especially in pets with pain arising from arthritis and anxiety issues. As in humans, CBD could help pets with seizures, inflammation, dermatitis, cancer and behavioral problems, just to name a few.
Many online CBD vendors sell treats specifically for pets, however; according to Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic in Portland, Oregon, effective therapeutic cannabis doses have yet to be worked out in pets. They recommend beginning with the smallest dose possible, increasing every five days, until you have reached a desirable result. If you see signs of any adverse effects, stop therapy immediately then, when the side effects wear off, start again at a lower dose.
According to the Hawthorne Clinic –
“The upper oral dose limit for CBD products recommended by veterinarian Dr. Robert Silver is around 1 mg/kg/day orally, but one should start with a much smaller fraction of this dose such as 0.05 mg/kg/day…Once the pet has received the same dose over about one week without undesired effects, the pet has developed a tolerance, and the dose can be gradually increased.”
As you are beginning with the lowest possible dose, Blue Moon’s 250 mg CBD tincture would be the product of choice. One drop mixed with some water, given orally or on food, should be the largest dose to begin with for a small dog and one – two drops for a large dog weighing 55 pounds or more. Try this for five days then increase by one drop until you see the desired outcome. Take care with small dogs as they will only need a tiny amount and high dose CBD products should probably be watered down prior to administration. CBD containing treats are another option for your furry friends. A we are not experts in animal CBD treatment, it would be best to consult with your vet (or do some online research) prior to administration.
And what about your cats? Every mammal, even cats, has an endocannabinoid system. However, some animals, like dogs, have more receptors than humans. Cats are highly sensitive to human drugs and care should be taken with CBD oils. “CBD on the other hand is very well tolerated at high doses and can be used safely in most animals”, (Bergamaschi, et al. 2011). CBD oils can help cats with a myriad of conditions, such as seizures. As with dogs, begin with a drop of low dose CBD, watered down and mixed with food, steadily increasing the dose until a desired effect is detected. (This might take a while so be patient).
Very little research can be found on the use of CBD in other pets thus a visit with your vet would be the best advice.
Thousands of people have successfully used CBD oils to treat a wide array of conditions. Why shouldn’t our animal companions receive the same treatment? Science is uncovering the many mysteries of CBD oil on a regular basis and it is our hope that this indeed might be the “magic bullet” for a variety of ailments.
