People often think of CBD as a treatment for humans, but it can be just as beneficial for pets. CBD has been shown to help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and even improve stress and anxiety in animals. If you're thinking about giving your pet CBD oil, here is some information to help you get started.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in Humans and Pets
In humans, the wellness-promoting properties of CBD are realized by the way the cannabinoid interacts with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). It is said to be one of the most important physiological systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997295/. The endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors found throughout the entire body and are considered the “bridge between body and mind.”
All animals, vertebrates and invertebrates are known to have an ESC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770351/. Because of the presence of the ESC in pets, it’s suggested that CBD affects our animals in much the same way as us.
Knowing that our pets all have an ESC just like we do, it makes sense that CBD would affect us both similarly. When our ESC is functioning properly, our bodies achieve ultimate balance and well-being. The same goes for our much-loved fur babies. When there is any kind of imbalance in the ESC, various concerns can manifest. This is as true for us as it is for our pets.
What Is the Difference Between CBD for Humans and Pets?
As far as CBD is concerned, what you give your pets is often the same thing you take yourself. The biggest differences between CBD for pets and humans is the CBD oil milligram content and any added pet-friendly flavor that will make CBD pet products even more enticing.
Anisoptera Mercantile’s CBD Pet Products include Premium CBD Dog Chews, Broad Spectrum Tinctures, and our Pet Salve Sticks. Like us, they will have their own favorite.
Choosing the Best CBD Products for Your Pet
When looking for CBD products for your pet, follow a few simple guidelines to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product. Always review the ingredients in any CBD product. If you notice a long list of hard to pronounce ingredients, it’s most likely not an all-natural product that your pet will be able to easily digest and metabolize. You also want to choose something with natural, pet-safe additional oils like coconut or olive.
It's very important to ensure any product you’re considering is THC free. THC is NOT good for animals and should be avoided. Be sure to look for products that have been lab tested to ensure there is no detectable THC content and the product has a general purity. And be sure that any products in your home containing THC are stored in a pet-proof container.
One other note is to review the CBD content in any product you are considering as well. You’ll want to confirm the amount in each recommended serving size and whether it can be modified for the age and size of your pet.
How Many Treats Should I Give My Dog or Cat?
CBD pet treats are a popular CBD pet product that makes giving your pet a regular serving of cannabidiol effortless and fun. They are a perfect treat to calm stress caused by loud noises such as those caused by fireworks and to soothe aching joints and muscles.
Most CBD pet treats come with a recommended serving size on the package.
Dog treats typically come in 2mg-5mg servings of CBD. It is recommended that dogs be given 0.2mg of CBD per pound. So, if your dog is 25lbs you’ll give him/her 5mg. Larger dogs close to 100 or more pounds can likely be given a few extra treats depending on how many milligrams each contains.
For your feline friends, cat treats typically are infused with 2mg-4mg of CBD per treat with serving size recommendations on the package. As a general guideline it is recommended to give your cat 2mg-4mg of CBD for every 8-10lbs of body weight.
Typically, dog treats will take treats 30-45 minutes to take effect while with cats it is only 15-30 minutes.
Anisoptera Mercantile’s dog treats are made with 2mg of CBD plus ingredients like liver powder and natural bacon flavor for a taste you dog is sure to love.
For your feline family members, Penguin CBD brand offers premium cat treats made with all-natural ingredients and 3.3mg of CBD per serving.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
When using CBD oil for pets in the form of a tincture, it’s important to keep the right serving size in mind. While there’s no standard serving size of CBD oil for all pets, like humans, veterinarians with experience using CBD for pets recommend one milligram per ten pound of body weight.
If you have a 30-pound dog, start off by giving your canine companion three milligrams of CBD. Our 30-milliliter bottle of CBD for example, contains a dropper that holds about one milliliter of tincture. Four drops equal about 1.1 milligram of CBD. In the case of a 30-pound dog, you would start by providing approximately 12 drops of oil.
If getting your pup to take the CBD directly from the dropper is difficult you can add the desired serving size to their food or water!
CBD oil usually will start soothing your dog within 30-60 minutes for anxiety problems. For more chronic problems like joint pain and mobility, optimum results can take 2-4 weeks, particularly as you are experimenting with how high a dose your dog needs to get relief from its symptoms.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Cat?
As is with the case with dogs, dosing guidelines remain the same, with a suggested starting serving size based on weight.
Start with a dose of 1mg-2mg per 10 pounds increasing the dose slowly as necessary. Age, weight, and health factor into the equation so it is always a good idea to check in with your vet if there are any specific concerns. And as always, be sure you’re only purchasing pet CBD oil products that have been lab tested and vetted for safety and purity.
It usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes for CBD oil to start working in your cat's body. This means that you can give your cat CBD before a meal and expect it to work within half an hour.
If you don't see any improvement after the first 15-30 minutes and your cat is not improving, consider increasing their dose and giving it another hour before deciding whether it's working. CBD can take up to 2-4 hours to fully absorb in your cat's body.
CBD Pet Topicals
If your pet needs support for his/her skin, muscles and joints, CBD-infused topicals designed specifically with pets in mind are a great option.
CBD topicals for pets are typically made with all-natural ingredients such as CBD, shea butter, olive oil, and beeswax to ensure your pet’s safety.
Using a CBD topical on pets is easy. Simply apply a small amount to the area that needs care and allow it to absorb into their skin.
Pet CBD Testimonials
After working with Rosemary and consistent use of Anisoptera Mercantile Dog Chews, my once very anxious puppy has calmed down. Stress when leaving the house and little things that would get her worked up have since has since dissipated and I am very grateful.
Maddie C., Lexington
Both of my dogs are petrified of loud sounds, specifically thunder and fireworks. I don’t like the idea of giving them actual prescribed anti-anxiety meds for the entire season between Memorial Day and July 4. Nothing has been able to help until I tried Anisoptera Mercantile dog chews! I made sure I had extra this season because it makes me so sad to see my fur babies have such a hard time! Please help your fur babies out too!!
Samantha C. Halifax
