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CBD for Pets: Everything You Need to Know

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CBD products are taking the world by storm. That’s because CBD can help support a wide range of mental and physical ailments.

However, did you know that our furry friends can also benefit from the aid that CBD products provide? It turns out that cats and dogs have an endocannabinoid system, much like our own.

That means that our pets can get support for pain, hyperactivity, anxiety, nausea, and much more with CBD.

If you’d like to find out all about how CBD works for pets and if it’s safe, then continue reading below.

What Is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the hundreds of compounds found in the cannabis plant. Alongside THC, CBD is one of the main cannabinoids in cannabis.

Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids, meaning that they have an effect on our endocannabinoid system (ECS)—but more on that later.

It turns out that CBD is great for aiding plenty of different types of ailments, such as:

What separates CBD from THC is that it doesn’t have any psychoactive effects. Meaning, CBD doesn’t get you (or your pet) high like THC does.

Scientists have been able to breed cannabis plants, called hemp plants, with little to no THC. They then extract the CBD from hemp and create a wide variety of products from candies to tinctures.

How Can CBD Help My Pet?

CBD can help pets much the same way that it supports humans. However, most pet owners give their pets CBD to help their aging dog or cat, reduce anxiety or pacing, aid in pain relief, and much more.

CBD for Older Cats and Dogs

A large number of older pets will develop joint pain. Most of the time, it’s due to age, but the genetics of some animals can make it worse.

You’ll notice that your older dog has a little trouble moving around before becoming sedentary. However, CBD can help your pet move around and do the things they love.

Since CBD can aid in inflammation—that means it can help get your pet up and moving again.

CBD for Calmness

Many of our pets suffer from separation anxiety, stress, and phobias. Imagine how terrified your dog or cat is during the fourth of July or how sad they get once you leave the house for work.

Luckily, CBD can support anxiety relief and help your pets feel calm. CBD can help pets cope with these difficult emotions by soothing them.

CBD for Pain Relief

Our pets can get aches and pains after an accident, surgery, or illness. When our pets are recovering, and in pain, we feel helpless.

However, owners have started using CBD to help relieve their pets’ pain. After all, CBD is known to support pain relief in nerves and reduce inflammation.

How Does CBD Work in Pets?

To understand how CBD works in pets, we need to dive a little bit into the science. As we mentioned, CBD can interact with something called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The amazing thing is, basically every animal with a spinal column has an ECS. After all, it’s estimated that the ECS evolved over 600 million years ago.

That means that your cats and dogs have an ECS, and so do reptiles, birds, fish, and even sea urchins.

At its core, the ECS helps protect us and helps us relax, sleep, eat, and forget. It does this by maintaining the body’s internal balance.

That means if something happens—like if we get sick or injured—then the ECS kicks in and tries to bring us back to a normal, healthy state. However, the way the ECS works is incredibly complex.

Basically, the ECS is a relay of receptors found within specific cells. Most ECS receptors are found in brain cells and immune cells.

We can imagine a receptor as a “lock,” which is attached to a cell. Only very specific “keys” can unlock the lock.

CBD is one such key to the ECS receptors or locks in this example. Once the CBD binds to the receptor, it opens the lock.

When that happens, it tells the cell to do something. If the CBD is binding to an immune cell, it might be activating that cell to tell it to stop causing inflammation.

What Dose Should I Give My Pet?

It makes a big difference whether you’re giving CBD to a Saint Bernard or a cat. Not all doses are equal, and it depends on weight.

It’s estimated that you can give your pet 1 – 3 milligrams (mg) of CBD per 10 pounds of weight. Since this is a wide range, it’s best to start on the lower end if you’ve never given your pet CBD before.

You can give them a dose once or twice a day, but remember to start slow. Give them one dose once a day for a few weeks before increasing to see how they react.

Is CBD Safe for My Pets?

One of the main concerns of pet owners is the safety of CBD. We know that CBD is completely safe in humans, but what about pets?

So far, there haven’t been too many scientific studies on CBD and cats or dogs. However, in the past few years, research has been ramping up.

For example, in 2019, researchers gave CBD to dogs with epilepsy and found that it was not only safe but reduced their seizures.

On top of that, the World Health Organization (WHO) also concluded that CBD is safe and well-tolerated by animals.

Where Do I Find the Best CBD Oil for My Pets?

Our pets are like family, so you want to make sure to get the highest quality CBD oil for them. That’s easy once you head over to Real Releaf CBD.

Real Releaf CBD makes the highest quality CBD oil that’s formulated specifically for pets. It’s made with organic hemp that’s free from pesticides, fillers, and preservatives.

Help your pets feel young, calm, and great by trying Real Releaf CBD’s Pet Drops today.