Hello! Welcome to the July edition of Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) Newsletter. This month is all about CBD and your pet.
Summertime can be fun time for many pets. But if your pet struggles with anxiety, chronic pain, or other health conditions, you may be thinking about CBD as a solution. This month’s mini FAQ about CBD can help you and your pet.
Enjoy!
Mini CBD FAQ
CBD as an alternative and natural treatment for your pet. Many pet parents are exploring holistic pet care that includes cannabidiol (CBD) to improve their pet’s health.
CBD is an alternative treatment to relieve medical or behavioral symptoms in pets. CBD can reduce inflammation, pain, or digestion and stress, pet anxiety, or fear.
Good news for pet parents: Around 44% of U.S. pet parents use CBD to lower anxiety and stress for their pets. The most popular forms of CBD are edible (53%) and CBD oil (38%). And 74% of veterinarians recommend CBD to pet parents.
Bad news for pet parents: Many people don’t know the difference between high-quality or “clean,” and low-quality or “dirty” CBD products.
Or they don’t know where to find for good information on CBD for their pets.
What health conditions can be treated with CBD?
Examples of health conditions include:
- Dog anxiety: Think about animals adopted from a shelter or a rescue. Some animals lived in abusive and fearful situations like a puppy or kitten mill. Adopted animals often struggle with anxiety and fear. Behavior includes excess barking, bathroom accidents in the home, or destroying furniture.
- Age-related anxiety: Older dogs can have memory loss. They may show confusion, learning problems, and declining awareness.
- Cat anxiety: Cat separation anxiety includes destructive behavior, poor litter box habits, hiding, and excessive behaviors (scratching, meowing).
- Chronic health conditions: Inflammation from arthritis, hip dysplasia, chronic inflammation and joint pain, or loss of appetite. Your pet may also bite or avoid physical touching because of joint pain.
CBD helps to balance systems in the body and is a natural healer for mental and physical conditions.
What is CBD ?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in hemp plants. CBD helps to balance systems in the body and is a natural healer for mental and physical conditions. People and pets can enjoy CBD.
What is hemp?
Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant that contains a small amount (less than 0.3%) of delta–9–tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the compound that induces euphoric effects on the user.
Hemp itself is not intoxicating. It’s a commercial product to make rope, food, paper, clothing, CBD, and other products.
What is marijuana?
“Marijuana” is a class of cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC. This compound induces a psychotropic effect or euphoria in the user.
Is CBD the same as marijuana?
No, but both CBD and marijuana come from the hemp plant. CBD does not contain the THC compound that gets users high.
Many hemp-based CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC. And only marijuana has enough THC to cause a psychotropic or euphoria effect.
How does CBD work?
The mammalian brain and nervous system control balance in the body. This endocannabinoid system connects receptors in key areas of the brain, glands, organs, and nervous system.
People and animals depend on the endocannabinoid system to regulate their immune response. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors to raise or lower immune responses.
And CBD works by regulating the body’s immune response naturally.
Is CBD for pets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
No. As of July 2023, the FDA still has not approved CBD for medical use for pets. Epidiolex is the one FDA-approved medication containing CBD. This medication is reserved for patients suffering from severe epilepsy conditions like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome.
What the difference between “clean” and “dirty” CBD?
“Clean” CBD is a high-quality product. “Clean” CBD is organically grown, and free from pesticides, chemicals, and harmful compounds.
Low-quality or “dirty” CBD includes chemicals. Low-quality CBD has harmful ingredients and is processed using poorly maintained equipment.
How do I recognize high-quality CBD products?
Start with your pet parenting due diligence:
- Talk to your veterinarian.
- Find other pet parents who use CBD and ask for a referral.
- Visit the websites of reputable companies. Search for companies that grow hemp organically.
Are there different types of CBD?
Yes. Several choices include:
- Tinctures are most common and more potent if taken under the tongue instead of mixed with food or drink.
- Oral sprays are easy to use and taken under the tongue.
- Edibles are easy to dose throughout the day. Give your pet edibles on an empty stomach (food tends to affect the absorption rate of CBD).
- Balms and topical CBD help relieve sore joints, muscles, and skin conditions.
How much CBD do I give my pet? What’s the right dose?
Remember your pet parenting due diligence. Talk to your veterinarian before starting your pet’s CBD treatment.
When it comes to CBD dosage, you should understand the potency of CBD. For example, CBD oils come in different potencies, such as 75mg for small dogs or over 200mg for large dogs.
You should always find a high-quality CBD product. Decide what form (tincture, oral spray, edibles, ointment) of CBD is best for your pet. Tinctures or oil-based CBD can be placed in the mouth or under the tongue.
The Canine Journal described three factors that determine your pet’s CBD dose: Your pet’s size and weight, their health condition (medical, behavioral), and the potency of CBD in the oil or tincture.
Always ask your veterinarian for any questions about the proper CBD dose for your pet.
But is CBD really safe for my pet?
Yes. If you follow your pet parenting duty of care, talk to your vet, monitor your pet’s dose, and ask questions, you will understand how CBD is safe for your pet.
What are the risks of CBD for my pet?
CBD is safe for pets. But veterinarians will suggest starting with small doses. Possible side effects include feeling light-headed, dry mouth, drowsiness, increased appetite, or diarrhea.
There are potential risks of interactions with your pet’s medications. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions. Your veterinarian can help you find the proper dose for your pet.
CBD can be a life-changing product for your pet. If you choose CBD, choose wisely.
Ask other pet parents, talk to your vet, look for and buy only high-quality, clean CBD products.
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
“Only animals were not expelled from Paradise.”
–Milan Kunderah
Book Update for July 2023
Hope you’re enjoying your summer season!
This month’s update is that I’m waiting for my book designer to finish the cover. I’m excited to launch my short ebook based on Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) Newsletter.
My latest book will include new info. I’m excited to share these updates with you!
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
–Groucho Marx
Some great information here, Dr. Pet Mom…thanks so much! A very interesting topic….