By now, I think we’ve all heard about the benefits of CBD. People have used hemp for medicinal purposes for, literally, thousands of years. And in recent years, since the regulation of hemp has relaxed at the federal level, people have taken cannabidiol (derived from the hemp plant) for a number of benefits, including calming and general wellness. But can you use CBD for pets? And if so, how does that work?
Join me today as we take a look at the endocannabinoid system, CBD, and the health-boosting potential of this cannabinoid for your cat or dog.
What Is the Endocannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was first discovered in the late 1980s and, over the following years, we realized just how important this discovery was. The ECS regulates other systems of the body, helping them to maintain homeostasis (or, balance). Among the most notable of the systems the ECS regulates are the central and peripheral nervous systems. These systems regulate a number of crucial functions, such as sleep, mood, memory, pain, appetite and motor control, just to name a few.
So, the endocannabinoid system keeps all of these functions in balance. And it does so by way of neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids bind to receptors that send out messages to the nervous system to help it maintain the aforementioned homeostasis.
The endocannabinoid system can be found in all vertebrates, including humans and, pertinent to this article, your dog or cat.
What Are Cannabinoids?
It turns out that there are plant-based chemical compounds that mimic the body’s endocannabinoids when they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. These compounds are called cannabinoids, and they are produced by the cannabis plant.
A Quick Note on THC and the Question of Whether CBD Can Get Pets High
I can sense some pet owners getting nervous when I mention cannabis. Let me explain the difference between marijuana, which is what you’re likely thinking about when I say “cannabis,” and hemp. The term “cannabis” actually refers to both types of plants. But whereas marijuana is high in THC (the cannabinoid that people use to get high), cannabis hemp plants have almost no THC (under 0.3% and non-intoxicating). This is important — and not just because you don’t want your dog or cat stumbling around stoned. THC-rich marijuana is actually toxic for pets, and in extreme doses can be fatal.
When we talk about using CBD for pets, we’re talking about CBD extracted from hemp plants only. No products we talk about here can possibly get your dog or cat high. And for extra assurance, all of the CBD products for pets at CBDfx use a type of CBD oil called broad spectrum CBD. With broad spectrum CBD, an extra filtering pass is made on the oil extracted from the hemp plant in order to remove all traces of THC. So, THC levels on CBDfx pet products are so low as to be undetectable (below 0.01%), meaning these products are safe and non-toxic.
Back to the Cannabinoids
So, the hemp plant produces these compounds, cannabinoids. They actually help to protect the plant against the elements, as well as pests and other threats. But when cannabinoids, such as CBD, are introduced into the body of a mammal, a most unexpected thing happens: the body reacts!
How Do Cannabinoids, like CBD, Interact With the Endocannabinoid System?
Just as the body’s endocannabinoids interact with receptors in the nervous system, so do plant-based cannabinoids (or, phytocannabinoids). These phytocannabinoids include the popular wellness compound, CBD. So, the wellness benefits that the endocannabinoid system brings to the body are mimicked by cannabidiol, meaning it triggers the nervous system’s same receptors, positively affecting several of the body’s most crucial functions. This makes CBD a remarkably versatile wellness supplement that can be used in a variety of products — including CBD products for pets.
CBD for Aches and Pains in Pets
Because the FDA has not formally approved CBD for medicinal use, we can’t legally make any specific recommendations — and that goes for pain relief, stress, and everything else we’ll be covering here. We can tell you that, anecdotally, you can search online and find several pet owners who use CBD to help particularly older pets with things like joint pain. This is a significant issue for older animals, especially, though you can see it in younger dogs and cats, as well. Sometimes, we push our little furry friends beyond their limits on a hike or some other intense activity and they can use relief … just like we need it, from time to time! A lot of people are looking to CBD products to help relieve their aches and pains.
CBD for Calming and Relaxing Pets
One of the functions that the endocannabinoid system helps the body to regulate is sleep. So, it’s not surprising that CBD can have a calming effect on the body. If you’ve taken CBD, you know what I’m talking about: that gentle feeling of relaxation. For pets, there are a variety of applications for the calming benefits of CBD. Dogs and cats get nervous over a number of things: their owner leaving the house, a new person or pet, traveling, or some other stimulus. The right CBD product can help calm them and ease their nerves, giving them (and you!) a much better quality of life.
CBD for General Wellness in Pets
As we mentioned above, the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate many of the body’s most important functions. CBD, in mimicking the body’s endocannabinoids, is sort of a Swiss Army knife of general wellness, helping the body to maintain homeostasis in a number of areas. For many people and their pets, a daily wellness regimen begins with a CBD hemp tincture for overall general wellness. CBDfx has CBD oil tinctures formulated for multiple sizes of dogs and a CBD oil for cats. These calming, health-boosting tinctures are a great way to add natural, organic CBD to their diet.
CBD as a Topical for Pets
CBD can be used for topical relief for minor aches, pains, and irritation. Pets often get irritated skin, especially on their noses and paw pads. If left untreated, these problem areas can crack and even get infected. A good CBD balm can give healing relief to those troublesome areas and get those tails wagging again.
Dogs, Cats, and the Endocannabinoid System
We hope you’ve enjoyed this deep dive into the endocannabinoid system, and how CBD works for your pets. It’s important, as a pet owner, to try to understand how your dog or cat ticks (no pun intended) so that you can be more aware of their needs. We all love our pets, and we only want the best for them. We wish you and your pet the very best!
Got an extra-big dog? Try our extra-strength CBD Oil for Dogs!
