Cannabidiol, more popularly known as CBD, is a naturally occurring chemical found in the cannabis plant. Unlike other famous cannabis extracts such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is non-psychoactive, which does not produce a ‘high’ effect on its users. Due to this unique feature, it has gained some popularity in the last few years.
Moreover, some research on CBD shows that it is even helpful for pets in treating conditions like anxiety, pain, cancer, and arthritis. New CBD products have emerged in the pet market, claiming to treat these diseases naturally. So the question here arises, should we give CBD to our pets?
If yes, when is the best time to intake CBD for pets? This question is still a matter of discussion among veterinarians and scientists. However, initial research shows promising results, and the number of people giving CBD to their pets has increased.
CBD for Pets?
It is safe to say that a pet parent wouldn’t leave a single stone unturned to keep their companions away from any sickness and diseases. The unconditional love for the pets has led people to regularly look for new ways to remove problems from their pet’s life. CBD is one such way. CBD is as efficient and beneficial for pets as humans, making it an excellent addition to the day-to-day medicine box for both pets and pet owners.
Research has shown that the endocannabinoid system of humans and pets are almost the same. Due to this, the benefits and uses are also almost the same. From being an excellent painkiller to having anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and anti-stress properties, CBD helps treat several diseases and discomforts that your pets may be facing and is also very helpful in increasing the natural immunity to keep the pets in their best shape.
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When is the Best Time to Intake CBD for Pets
The time for intake of CBD for pets depends upon the type of problem your pet is undergoing and the result you want. For example, if your pet is lazy and doesn’t love doing physical activities, you should give CBD to your pet in the morning.
This will increase their productivity during the whole day. CBD oil will help your pet concentrate, keep a healthy balance, and increase its overall performance. Moreover, CBD can also help your pet maintain a healthy appetite during the day if given in the morning.
CBD for Anxiety
As hard as a human finds it to cope with anxiety, a dog also develops severe personality disorders. Intake of CBD provides stress relief to your dog in various situations, from separation anxiety and loud noises like fireworks and thunderstorms to vet visits and car rides.
CBD induces calmness and relaxation by changing brain activity and improving the sensitivity to serotonin, which is the feel-good hormone. For pre-known reasons like vet visits, you should give CBD about 30 to 40 minutes before visiting the vet because CBD takes some time to show its effects on the body. If your dog has social anxiety and doesn’t like too many people, you should give CBD before going to the dog park.
CBD for Sleeplessness
Does your dog suddenly awake during the middle of the night? Or does it show physical movement during sleep? If so, he may have REM Behavior Disorder, which causes physical activity during sleep. In some cases, this activity can become extreme or violent, like running into walls or attacking nearby objects.
In such cases, giving CBD before sleep can help miraculously by calming the brain during sleep. Moreover, if your dog has seizures or snores during sleep, CBD can lower these problems to a great extent.
Other Physical Conditions
In conditions like physical pain, you should give your dog the dose of CBD only when needed. If the pain is chronic, you should provide CBD daily for better results. However, if you are using CBD for acute issues, such as anxiety, or short-term discomfort from an injury, give the CBD only when you think the dog is showing symptoms.
If your dog has a chronic illness caused by inflammation, such as arthritis, you will want to come up with a daily schedule that allows your dog to receive the consistent benefits of CBD without unwanted sleepiness. The effect of CBD on your pets is usually for 6 to 8 hours, which makes a single dose enough in most situations.
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Will your Pet get High by Intake of CBD?
One of the significant concerns of pet parents about the medicinal use of CBD for pets is the question of the psychoactive effects of the cannabis plant. While humans have a better peripheral nervous system (PNS) and still function properly even after experiencing slight psychoactive effects, it can be a serious concern if the one affected is a pet.
However, the state of euphoria caused by the consumption of cannabis products is because of another compound derived from the same plant known as THC. CBD itself does not cause any psychoactivity. More clearly, it means that it is entirely safe to be taken by the pets without worrying about them getting high.
Types of CBD Products for Pets
There are several types of CBD products available in the pet market. Although each has a different method of administration, they all offer the same benefits to the pets. Below are some of the most popular pet products available in the market:
- CBD Oil
- Cannabis-Infused Treats
- CBD Capsules for Your Fluffy Friend
- Peanut Butter with Cannabis
- CBD Pet Tincture
Final Thoughts
We all know that CBD works fabulously for us humans in several conditions like anxiety and sleep deprivation. Dogs with a similar endocannabinoid system promoting homeostasis also benefit from using CBD in day-to-day life.
But, extreme caution should be taken while giving CBD to your dogs as the human products have a much higher concentration than a dog can tolerate. Hence, you should always buy separate dog-only CBD products from the pet market.
