If you’re sitting there tempted to reach for your pets’ CBD, you’re likely aware of the benefits it can offer.
But, while sharing CBD from the same bottle or product would be convenient, is it a good idea? Can humans take pet CBD oil?
If you’re worried about the safety and dosage of pet CBD oil, we will address all your concerns in this article. So read below to learn about the many benefits of pet CBD oil, recommended dosage, and side effects of pet CBD tincture.
What Should You Know Before Taking Pet CBD Oil?
Before you start using pet CBD oil and pet CBD tinctures, you must make yourself aware of what exactly is CBD oil? How does it affect the human body? And what are the various benefits that it offers?
This comprehensive guide will help you learn all about CBD oil. Firstly, the term CBD stands for cannabidiol which is a chemical compound present in the hemp plant.
The hemp plant is different from marijuana as hemp does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the main chemical compound that produces the high associated with smoking marijuana.
Since hemp oil is not marijuana, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of CBD oil. But the CBD oil should contain less than 0.3% THC.
How Is CBD Oil Made?
The cannabidiol compounds are isolated after extraction from the hemp plant. Then they are distilled in alcohol to remove the impurities present in the compounds.
Next, the cannabidiol compounds are suspended in a carrier oil, for example, vegetable oil, hemp seed oil, or olive oil.
The practice of using plants and herbs for medicinal purposes has been used for centuries. Even the earliest humans used herbs to treat various health concerns.
Similarly, due to modern-day research and medical practices, the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) led to the use of CBD for treating many health problems such as joint and muscle aches.
Users have reported that CBD also helps them manage symptoms of sleep disorders and anxiety disorders.
The Role of CBD on the Endocannabinoid System
The theory behind the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is that a system of neurotransmitters binds to the cannabinoid receptors in your body. CBD and THC act on this system of neurotransmitters and could therefore help regulate your mood, appetite, and homeostasis.
This system would also play a crucial role in creating your memories, stabilizing your mood, and regulating your body’s hormone production.
Moreover, the endocannabinoid system helps your body and mind to adapt to stress.
By stimulating the ECS and regulating homeostasis, CBD can reduce the sensation of pain and decrease inflammation.
This way, the discovery of ECS has provided solid evidence regarding the many benefits of CBD to heal our body and mind.
CBD for Pets
There is a lot of ongoing research regarding the many benefits and drawbacks of CBD for pets and humans, but people still use pet CBD oil, pet CBD tinctures, and CBD gummies for several treatments.
But the question is, is it safe to use pet CBD oil? Also, can humans take pet CBD oil? Well, the simple answer to this question is that yes, you can take pet CBD oil.
If the quality of the ingredients is human-grade, then there is no harm in using pet CBD oil. However, you should also be aware that the product doesn’t have any other odd additives.
It’s unlikely that these additives would be harmful to you. However, if the formulation is explicitly for pets, it’s probably best to avoid it. That being said, you probably wouldn’t be tempted by just any flavored oil or soft chews for pets — but no judgment if you are.
Pet CBD oils come in flavors that could easily be tempting for humans, particularly peanut butter. However, you should know that the FDA does not approve most CBD products for pets.
For example, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate pet CBD oil or pet CBD tincture with more than 0.3% THC.
Many veterinarians do not recommend taking most CBD products, but this doesn’t mean that all CBD products are useless or ineffective.
You can read below to learn about the many benefits of pet CBD oil. Also, we have mentioned the side effects of CBD products to create more awareness.
Pet CBD Oil for Dogs
According to studies, pet CBD oil can help reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. In addition, another study showed that pet CBD tincture significantly could help epileptic dogs as it reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures.
If you want to use a pet CBD tincture or oil, it will interact with the dog’s endocannabinoid system. This way, the CBD interaction with neurotransmitters will help calm your dog and reduce anxiety and stress.
Moreover, you can also use calming tinctures to help your pet. For example, such a pet CBD tincture can help regulate your dog’s sleep schedule. In addition, since it contains melatonin, it promotes relaxation as well.
As a result, pet CBD oil and tinctures can be a great addition to your help wellness routine to manage symptoms of stress and sleep disorders.
Pet CBD Oil for Cats
We do not have sufficient research regarding pet CBD oil for cats. However, one published study by Frontiers in Veterinary Science shows early findings leaning towards pet CBD oil to help anxiety in cats.
According to this study, 61% of 380 vets claimed that pet CBD oil and tinctures effectively treated firework phobia and anxiety in dogs.
Thus, the study concluded that pet CBD oil would affect felines the same way since all mammals similarly metabolize cannabinoids. This is also one of the reasons why humans can take pet CBD oil.
How to Use Pet CBD Oil?
The FDA does not regulate most CBD products. Therefore you must conduct your research on pet products. You can look for the amount of CBD and THC present in each product.
Also, make sure that the products contain the exact amount of CBD as it claims. It is important because many products claim to contain 0.3% or less THC concentration, but it may not be necessarily true.
Once you find a reliable CBD product for your pet, you can start with a low dose. Then, you have to experiment with doses by gradually increasing the quantity of pet CBD oil you or your pet consumes.
This gradual increase in dosage will help you find what works best for you and your pet. For example, the recommended dosage of CBD oil is one milligram per ten pounds of the pet’s weight for treating osteoarthritis.
Cats require a higher dosage as they have a comparatively faster metabolism than dogs. If your pets have chronic anxiety or epileptic seizures, giving them a higher dose is wise. You can also give them pet CBD tinctures or oils twice daily.
However, for prolonged use of CBD products, you should consult a veterinarian.
How Long Does It Take for CBD to Work?
After using CBD products, it will take about thirty minutes to two hours for CBD to start working. But this also depends on the strength and concentration of the product you use. For example, pet CBD oil tends to work faster than CBD biscuits.
It is because the oils are directly absorbed. Hence they work faster. In contrast to this, your body has to metabolize the biscuits or gummies before it starts affecting your body.
However, all the CBD products are equally effective. The efficacy of the product only differs when it comes to dosage and concentration.
Side Effects of Pet CBD Oil and Tinctures
Pet CBD oil and tinctures have mild side effects in cats, dogs, and other mammals. However, some common side effects include diarrhea, bloating, and sleepiness.
Sometimes, there can be some complications. Thus, we suggest that you consume an administered and recommended dosage.
Here are some of the adverse side effects of consuming pet CBD products.
Dry Mouth
CBD products such as pet CBD oil affects the production of saliva. Due to this, you and your pet may experience a dry mouth if you consume pet CBD oil orally.
We suggest that you drink plenty of water to avoid getting a dry mouth.
Low Blood Pressure
Higher doses of CBD products can cause a temporary drop in your blood pressure. This is one of the most common effects of CBD.
A sudden drop in blood pressure may cause dizziness. Therefore you should gradually increase your CBD intake instead of consuming a higher dose right away.
Allergic Reaction
Many industries derive CBD from the cannabis plant. So if you or your pet are allergic to cannabis or hemp, then it’s best to consult your veterinarian.
Moreover, avoid giving your dogs CBD edibles with chocolate as it may trigger an allergic reaction. Also, it is best to use pet CBD oil and tinctures topically to avoid getting allergic reactions from oral consumption.
Sleepiness
Pet CBD tinctures are made to treat panic disorders and anxiety in pets. Therefore one of the significant side effects of using pet CBD oil is drowsiness.
Pet CBD tinctures produce a calming effect, so a higher dosage will result in drowsiness and oversleeping.
How to Shop for CBD Oil?
When shopping for CBD oil, you should always be vigilant about the quality and purity that you choose. This applies equally whether you’re shopping for pet CBD products or human CBD products.
When shopping for pet-specific CBD products, the biggest thing to pay attention to is whether or not the ingredients — including any funky flavors like chicken or salmon — are human-grade.
You should also demand the same high-quality ingredients in any pet products you buy that you would use yourself.
Thankfully, all of the brands we offer on Direct CBD Online uphold these high standards. If the quality is good, you’re good!
CBD is effective and safe. Moreover, everyone can metabolize it easily. Hence it is virtually impossible to consume a very high dosage of CBD oil.
Moreover, you do not become chemically dependent on CBD as it is not addictive. Since CBD is not psychoactive, it is safe to consume it.
Things to Know about Product Strength of Pet CBD Oil for Humans
Another important aspect of CBD products, of course, is their strength. And, here’s why it’s safer for you to take pet CBD products than the other way around: pet CBD products are predominantly milder and rarely contain THC.
This mostly has to do with the simple fact that your pets are far smaller than you, so they do not need nearly as much CBD for it to benefit them.
THC, as you may know, is a psychoactive substance found in trace amounts in CBD or hemp products, particularly full-spectrum formulas. THC can affect people profoundly, and it takes even less to affect pets.
Other Tips about Pet CBD Products
Pet CBD products come in just about as many different varieties as CBD products for humans. There are topicals, oils, edibles, and even skincare-specific products.
CBD can benefit pets of all shapes and sizes in all kinds of ways. Your best bet is to choose a low-strength CBD oil (or just provide a very small serving of a higher-strength oil) that’s unflavored or natural.
You should also be sure to choose one that has 0% THC to be safe. You should also consult your doctor and your pet’s veterinarian separately for expert advice.
Conclusion
CBD helps the body to synchronize the production of hormones and various chemicals. As a result, it helps manage various medical conditions such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain.
It also improves general well-being as many people feel that CBD oils have helped them feel better. Although it is safe for you to consume your pet CBD oil and tinctures, there are some cases of cannabis toxicosis in pets.
Therefore if you suspect that your pet has any of the associated symptoms of marijuana toxicity, please consult a nearby veterinarian immediately.