Providing the best quality of life possible for our pets is a goal we all share. With this central goal in mind, you’ll discover answers to all the big questions you have around CBD for pets. We’ll learn all about pet CBD, including dosing, benefits, administration, and more.
Table of Contents:
1. How Is Pet CBD Different from Other CBD Tinctures?
2. What Major Problems in Pets Can CBD Help with?
3. Can You Give Your Pet Too Much CBD?
4. Can CBD Get Your Pet High?
5. What Are the Common Signs Reported in Pets after Ingesting CBD?
6. What Time of Day Should You Give Your Pet CBD?
7. Should CBD Be Given Daily to Pets?
8. How Much CBD Should I Give My Pet?
9. How Long before CBD Takes Effect in Dogs?
10. What Should I Do if My Pet Is Taking Medications?
11. What’s the Best Way to Administer CBD?
12. Final Thoughts
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1. How Is Pet CBD Different from Other CBD Tinctures?
Humans and pets have different needs for their CBD products. CBD products for pets have been specifically formulated to deliver what your furry friends need. This includes making modifications in the potency and ingredients used. (Click to tweet)
Many CBD oils made for humans have ingredients that your pet is better off avoiding.
Our Liposomal CBD Oil for Dogs and Cats uses new advanced liposomal CBD technology that’s been backed by studies to enhance efficiency. Furthermore, our process increases the onset of effects to provide more rapid relief.
It gets even better!
We also added a scrumptious salmon flavor that your pet will love. This delicious addition ensures that your pet will happily take their daily CBD dose. And so, you may be wondering, should I buy pet-specific CBD? The answer is a resounding “yes!”
RELATED: CBD for Cats—Dosage & Potential Benefits
2. What Major Problems in Pets Can CBD Help with?
While there is a lack of research to understand the definitive benefits of CBD for pets, we do have many anecdotal findings. Many of these align with the evidence-based effects that CBD is known to produce in humans. Taken together, there are plenty of reasons to support the suggestion that CBD may help pets dealing with: [1]
- anxiety problems
- pain issues
- seizure management
- inflammatory conditions
- immune system functioning
- sleep concerns
We know from research on humans that CBD can help to reduce one’s autonomic arousal and attenuate anxiety states. Moreover, countless humans have also found CBD to be helpful for sleep deprivation. It makes complete sense that the benefits listed above operate just as well in pets and in humans.
RELATED: CBD Oil for Dogs—What You Need to Know
But is too much of a good thing bad?
3. Can You Give Your Pet Too Much CBD?
Yes, you can provide your pet with an excessively large dose of CBD. Fortunately, the issues that this may cause are all relatively minor. For example, your pet may experience fatigue, diarrhea, and other discomforts. Just like with the benefits of CBD for pets, the side effects are closely related to those experienced by humans.
Want to know the best part?
The news here gets even better. CBD has been shown to have incredibly low toxicity. This means that your pet would have to guzzle a ton of straight CBD to even possibly reach dangerous levels. That said, call your vet if you are concerned about your pet experiencing any side effects from CBD (or THC). [2]
Speaking of THC, one major concern you may have is getting your pet high. Is this even possible?
RELATED: Liposomal CBD for Cats: 8 Things You Need to Know
4. Can CBD Get Your Pet High?
There is no possible way that CBD can get your pet high. CBD is widely understood to be non-psychoactive, at least in the sense that it does not cause impairment or a “high.” The evidence from animal and human studies is completely clear: CBD has very different effects than THC. [2]
For example, It is THC that produces the familiar cannabis high. This includes cognitive and motor impairment. Symptoms that your pet may have consumed THC include disorientation, trouble walking, lethargy, urinary incontinence, and dilated pupils. Fortunately, THC consumption does not seem to cause any long-term harm, but it’s best to call your veterinarian if you find yourself in this situation. [1]
And so, the only way your pet can get high from a CBD product is if it contains THC. As you can see from the test results on our Liposomal CBD Oil for Dogs and Cats, this product contains zero THC. We care about our pets just as much as you do, and we put every effort into ensuring they are at no risk of harm.
While you won’t see signs of your pet being high, there are several benefits you can expect to see.
RELATED: How to Use CBD Oil for Dog Seizures
5. What Are the Common Signs Reported in Pets after Ingesting CBD?
Pet owners often quickly see positive signs in their pets after taking CBD. Many pets gain a better quality of life, enhance their mobility, and demonstrate fewer anxiety-related behaviors. These changes may be small at first, but pet owners may notice less barking, better endurance during walks, and improved sleep habits. (Click to tweet)
This is crazy:
According to a study that surveyed veterinarians, CBD for pets was most frequently discussed regarding a potential treatment for: [3]
- pain management
- anxiety
- seizures
If your pet is dealing with these or other problems, have a discussion with your veterinarian about whether CBD is right for them. Regarding side effects, the most commonly reported one is sedation. Luckily, it is incredibly easy to ensure that this does not become a problem—as you’ll soon find out as we talk about timing. [3]
RELATED: The CBD Oil Effects on Pets That Will Surprise You
6. What Time of Day Should You Give Your Pet CBD?
When you begin your pet on CBD, they may experience sedation. For this reason, it is best to give your pet CBD oil close to bedtime. Sedation can be a good thing if it helps your pet sleep through the night. (Click to tweet)
On the other hand, you may find that a morning dose may slow your pet down as they experience fatigue.
Once your pet has been taking CBD for a few weeks, you can begin to provide doses of CBD earlier in the day. As their tolerance quickly adapts to the side effects, problems with sedation can subside completely. A key factor here that pet owners should consider is consistency. So, just how often should you give your pets CBD?
RELATED: Cannabidiol for Pets—Important Facts and Potential Benefits
7. Should CBD Be Given Daily to Pets?
Yes, a key aspect of pets and CBD is consistency. The benefits of CBD often take some time to take effect as the body accumulates CBD. Just like with many medications, the benefits can take days or weeks to be fully realized. (Click to tweet)
The best way you can ensure that your pet is getting the most out of CBD is by giving them a consistent daily dose. Another major consideration relates to titration. This word describes how medications are often started at a low level and gradually increased.
Titration is just as important for CBD. To avoid the potential of excessive sedation, the best thing you can do for your pet is to titrate their dose. This means starting with a lower amount than your desired dosage. Half the intended dose is generally a good starting point. [4]
RELATED: The Side Effects of CBD Explained
For example, start your pet with that half-dose and slowly increase it over several days or weeks. Going back to our discussion on time of day, titration also comes into play. As you increase the CBD dosage, you may decide to split the amount over two daily doses. This should only be done after your pet has become accustomed to their evening dose of CBD.
If you plan on taking your pet off CBD, titration should also occur in reverse. Do not abruptly cease giving your pet CBD. Instead, slowly cut down their dose over several days to avoid potential withdrawal effects.
In summary, CBD should be provided daily. Over time, you may want to even provide more than one daily dose, depending on how large the intended dosage is and how your pet responds. Throughout this entire process, do not forget about titration!
8. How Much CBD Should I Give My Pet?
There is evidence showing that CBD at a dosage of 2–2.5mg/kg of CBD twice daily was generally well-tolerated. So, you should not go over this dosage without long-term titration and veterinary support.
More research on this topic is badly needed. That said, thousands of pet owners have successfully used CBD to benefit their pets. This is what we have learned from these experiences.
The typical dosage range is 0.1–0.5mg/kg once or twice daily. It is absolutely essential that you weigh your pet and do some simple math to find a suitable ideal dose. For those who don’t know, there are 2.2 pounds in one kilogram. If you weigh your pet in pounds, divide that number by 2.2, then multiply the number by 0.1–0.5, and you will find the ideal number of mg of CBD. [1]
For those wondering whether they should start with 0.1mg/kg or 0.5mg/kg, here is the key question. How severe is the problem? Mild problems call for lower doses while more intense problems likely need higher doses. For example, stabilizing seizures will require a higher dosage than soothing anxiety.
WATCH: SOL*CBD Pet Formula
9. How Long before CBD Takes Effect in Dogs?
Onset time frame is another question mark as far as the research literature goes.
The acute effects of CBD are thought to take around 45 minutes to begin. When it comes to our liposomal CBD, these effects can occur even more rapidly. Examples of acute effects include anxiety alleviation and mobility enhancements. Keep this time frame in mind when planning your dog walk timing or in cases where you want them to relax (like before a car ride). (Click to tweet)
Now:
There is more to CBD than these acute effects, which are already great. Other symptomatic improvements may take several weeks to take full effect. This includes health issues related to inflammation, seizures, skin health, and the immune system. Health concerns such as these require time to recover, and improvements are generally more gradual.
But you won’t have to wait all that long!
Based on the research behind our Liposomal CBD, it takes around 30 days for CBD levels to normalize in the human body. Although dogs and cats may differ slightly, three weeks is a good estimate to keep in mind. To be clear, this does not include time spent titrating the dosage.
For example, if you spend two weeks titrating to the intended dosage, wait another three weeks to assess the benefits. In cases where symptomatic improvements are lacking or insufficient after this time period, you can increase the dosage. Before you get started, however, there is a critical consideration around pharmaceutical medications.
RELATED: How CBD Works
10. What Should I Do if My Pet Is Taking Medications?
You may be wondering about potential interactions with other medications. In some cases, this can be a concern for pets, just like it is with humans. If your pet is taking prescription drugs, you should have a conversation with your veterinarian before starting a CBD regimen.
Here’s the deal:
Along the same lines, if you are already giving your pet CBD oil and they need a pharmaceutical, inform your veterinarian at that time. Whether your vet approves starting CBD or they ask you to stop the regimen, do not forget about titration. Gradual changes in CBD dosing are more important than ever under these circumstances.
A common question asked both about medications and CBD is, “How do I give it to my pet?”
11. What’s the Best Way to Administer CBD?
One of the best ways to make administering CBD easy is by adding it to wet food. Not only will the CBD easily combine with the food, but it will also add a lovely salmon flavor. Keep this flavor in mind when deciding what wet food to buy—if your pet is picky, that is. [5] (Click to tweet)
Depending on your dog or cat’s temperament, you may be able to administer the oil directly into their mouth. We bet they will enjoy the delicious flavor of our pet CBD. [5]
But here’s the kicker:
Another option is to combine the CBD with some sort of hard treat. This works best with porous treats that will absorb the CBD oil well. Your pet will devour these simple hard treats that are taken to a whole new level with salmon-flavored CBD. [5]
RELATED: Liposomal CBD for Dogs—This is How it Helps Them Chill Out
12. Final Thoughts
What’s the bottom line?
We learned that pet CBD is designed specifically for your furry friends and is the best bet for their needs. Moreover, we discovered how CBD does not get your pet high, how to get your pet to ingest CBD, and more. As stated earlier, it is always a good idea to have a chat with your veterinarian before starting a CBD plan.
If you have any questions yet unanswered, check out this article: CBD Oil for Your Pet? 6 Reasons That Will Make You Say Yes. You’ll be sure to find all the answers about CBD legality, effectiveness, titration, and more in there.
Sources:
- https://www.cavcm.com/faq
- https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/CannabidiolCriticalReview.pdf
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00338/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field&journalName=Frontiers_in_Veterinary_Science&id=429875
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.00829/full?report=reader
- https://threedogbakerynash.com/news/how-to-give-cbd-to-pets/
