How Safe Is CBD Oil for Pets?

CBD oil as a treatment for pets raises safety concerns for some pet parents. The reasons are not far-fetched. For starters, CBD is from cannabis, a plant that is known to contain psychoactive compounds.

Another reason that the safety of this treatment is questioned is that there is no conclusive stance about its safety in the world of veterinary medicine. What’s more? Some veterinary doctors seem not to be in support of it as a form of treatment for animals. While some vets would tell you that you are at your own risk if you use cannabidiol oil for your pet, some others agree that this treatment is effective but must be used in controlled amounts.

Hence, the rising question, “How safe is CBD oil for pets?”

In this article, we will carefully examine the benefits, risks, and, of course, the safety of CBD as a treatment for pets so that you can make an informed decision before you treat your animal.

Where Is CBD Oil From?

This oil is gotten from CBD, which is short for cannabidiol. It is a natural compound that is found in the cannabis plant. The extracted cannabidiol from cannabis is often combined with oils like coconut oil to produce CBD oil.

Read:- What To Consider When Choosing The Right CBD Vape Cartridges

While THC, another cannabinoid in cannabis, tends to make a person psychoactive, CBD does not exhibit such characteristics.

What Are the Benefits Of CBD?

Cannabidiol is mostly used to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, pains, inflammations, arthritis, etc. However, it has also proven to be effective in treating epilepsy syndromes like Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) which are not usually responsive to anti-seizure drugs.

Certain studies of cannabidiol show that it significantly reduces different kinds of seizures in animals. In rare cases, it completely stops the seizure.

What the FDA Has to Say about CBD for Pets

The FDA, also known as the Food and Drug Administration, has listed a couple of safety concerns with this drug.

1. Drug Testing and Regulation

The FDA says that many cannabidiol products have not been tested and regulated by them. According to them, they have tested some cannabidiol products that were said to contain cannabidiol and could not find any trace of it while other tests have shown that several CBD products contain tetrahydrocannabinol which is harmful to pets.

2. Side Effects

The agency conducted a few tests and found out that cannabidiol has some side effects, such as diarrhea, liver irritation, drowsiness, etc.

Read:- Five Things To Consider Before Starting A CBD Business

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it is not possible to give a definite answer as to whether it is safe for animals and humans or not as many other researches still have to be conducted.

This is why it is advisable to consult a vet doctor before you administer this treatment to your animal.

Factors to Consider When Choosing CBD Oil for Pets

Extraction Process

The safest way to extract cannabidiol in a form that is not toxic to animals is by using carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is pressurized to produce it in a cold state. This extraction process is the safest because it prevents cannabidiol contamination.

Certain brands use cheap methods where toxic and harmful solvents such as propane are used. So, ensure that you ask about the extraction process that a brand uses before you buy its cannabidiol pet products.

High-Quality Hemp

When it comes to high-quality hemp, pet owners tend to not know how to go around it. For that reason, it is preferable to use brands that grow their hemp on their farms. This is because they are more likely to provide you with the basic information you need about the product compared to brands that do not grow their hemp.

Lab Tests

Some companies test their cannabidiol oil in labs after producing them. They do this to be certain of the quality and purity of the oil before it goes out for pets’ consumption. A company like this is more likely to guarantee safer results than those that do not carry out lab tests on the final products.

Lab tests help to detect any contaminant and also let you know how concentrated the cannabidiol is.

THC Content

Unlike humans, THC is not good for pet consumption. It has been tested and revealed to make a person psychoactive. For pets, it causes vomiting, difficulty in walking, wildness, and can sometimes lead to death if it is above the recommended amount.

That being said, it is recommended that the THC content in CBD oil administered to pets shouldn’t exceed 3%.

You can check out this link to know where you can buy cannabidiol products that pass the THC content test.

How to Use CBD Oil for Pets

There are various ways to use CBD oil for pets.

1. You can administer it by using a dropper bottle.
2. You can mix it in their food/water.
3. You can apply it underneath their tongue.
4. For a skin blemish, gently apply it to the skin.

Conclusion

There are indeed emerging brands that sell untested cannabidiol products; posing a safety concern for your pets. However, you can prevent unpleasant outcomes by taking the precautionary measures we mentioned in this article to avoid being a victim of such brands and their products.

Cannabidiol is not as toxic as THC, but it is recommended that you know the amount of dosage that is required for your pet to take. This can be determined by the weight and size of your pet, the purpose of the treatment, as well as the CBD concentration.