Should I give my Pet CBD?
Cannabis has been streaming across the headlines for the past few months and it is unlikely that it will disappear from the news headlines for quite some time. This is because cannabis is steadily gaining the attention of many consumers and business owners alike as CBD gains in popularity for its health potential. CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis sativa plant and does not appear to contain any psychoactive ingredients. This is causing many researchers and scientists as well as the FDA to turn their attention to this plant and the potential good it could bring.
CBD and CBD oil products are also now being marketed towards another member of the family, the family pet. many American households are now asking themselves the question “should I give my pet CBD oil?”
The answer, quite simply, is yes. CBD can be given your pets. Pets and animals benefit from the properties of CBD almost exactly as humans do. This is due to the fact that all mammals that have a vertebrate system and are connected to they internal endocannabinoid system which is the same system that the cannabinoids (CBD, CDG, etc) interact with. This means that in all likelihood mammals (your mammal pet) can benefit in the same way that humans have been shown to benefit from CBD.
The benefits of CBD hemp oil stems from the cannabinoid’s ability to interact and trigger the body’s own endocannabinoid system. The body’s own endocannabinoid system in turn effects the regulatory processes and the endocannabinoid is then responsible for triggering these regulatory systems to perform efficient maintenance of a state of homeostasis within the body. This includes the regulation of essential cell communication, immune system response and efficiency, appetite, sleep patterns and the metabolism. All of these functions are essential in maintaining a balance within the body without which the body falls prey to disease and illness. Because of this pet owners have begun turning to CBD oil and other CBD infused products for the health of their pets.
CBD is gaining popularity amongst these families and pet owners mainly because this cannabinoid does not have any toxic properties and mammals respond well to the cannabinoid. The best oils are oils that are produced with hemp and contain trace amounts of THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect.
For many years the United States declared hemp as illegal. In fact many other countries did as well, not just the United States. This is mainly due to a lack of education and fear mongering about the cannabis plant. Hemp was thrown in the same category as different forms of cannabis that produces the psychoactive ‘high’. Fortunately, times are a changing. Hemp can now be found across the world in many different products. You can purchase hemp seed oil form the local grocer or you can buy hemp hand lotion form one of the biggest beauty stores across the globe. Not only that but hemp seed powder is a huge hit with vegetarians looking for a protein supplement due to its high and complete protein value. This type of hemp won’t necessarily be beneficial for you beloved pet, in fact the perfect CBD infusion for your beloved animal is probably not going to be in the supermarket.
Still have some doubts? Okay, let us start by demystifying the differences between hemp and cannabis.
Both marijuana (the kind that gets people ‘high’) and hemp (the kind you can find in the supermarket) come from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is important here to understand that while they both come from the Cannabis Sativa plant, marijuana can also come from a different leg of the cannabis plant family- the cannabis indica.
The cannabis plant contains more than sixty different chemicals that are called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are dominated by two main ones, the canabidiol (CBD) and the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The CBD cannabinoids contain the potential health boosts while the THC cannabinoids are the guys responsible for causing the mental high. Marijuana can have a THC content up to the high 20’s (if you do find yourself in possession of one of these buds then strap yourself in, because it’s going to be a wild ride through your mind) while the legal limit for the THC content in hemp products is a maximum of 0.3 %. Now, for those that may be concerned about this tract THC you do not need to worry, because by nature CBD actually counter affects the high that THC causes. Which means that even if your CBD oil has at the very most 0.3% then the high CBD content in your oil will most likely out the THC effect. With these cannabinoid readings your CBD products will have no hallucinogenic or mind altering effect on you or your pet.
You may have heard by now many statements about the wonders of CBD, but how does this little acronym actually work? The cannabis plant is not only comprised of cannabinoids. The cannabis plant is made up of cannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. Within the bodies of humans and other mammals that have vertebrate systems there is an intricate network that is the endocannabinoid system. Yes, thats right, you have endocannabinoids within you. These endocannabinoids are receptors for the cannabinoids and are dispersed through the body, from the brain to the immune system. There have been studies done that have produced results that show CBD cannabinoids have a positive anti-inflammatory effect. This anti-inflammatory is not only for the swelling you can see on the outside of your body but also inflammation that occurs on the cell level, the type of inflammation that can cause pain, tumours, seizures, heart disease, skin conditions, appetite issues, aggression, anxiety, nervousness and other neurological disorders. The anti-inflammatory effect of the CBD cannabinoids could potentially be beneficial in the treatment of all of these diseases.
More specifically, CBD from hemp can assist your pet in the treatment of acute and chronic illnesses and diseases. CBD can help the following chronic conditions:
– arthritis
– immune systems that have been compromised
– stress triggers and responses
– aggression
– digestive problems
Furthermore, there are studies being done on how CBD can assist in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, cancer and other diseases of the organs.
In acute treatment, CBD can assist with the following:
– sprains or strains
– torn ligaments
– swelling reduction after operations
– broken bones
– pain and stiffness associated with healing
Many dogs, cats and other mammal pets could be taking intense drugs for existing conditions. The introduction of CBD could help to lower these dosages and reduce the associated side effects.
Many pet owners will be concerned about the safety and efficiency of CBD treatments. CBD is a herbal medicine, it is not a quick fix- on the contrary, CBD allows the body to relearn how to heal itself. CBD triggers responses and communication for healing to take place and to allow a healthy state of homeostasis to be present. Pain relief could come fairly quickly however issues like inflammation and other serious symptoms could take longer to manifest in your pet.
You can never be too careful with your loved ones and this is true for many people looking for relief for their pet. The first thing to understand about CBD from hemp oil is that it will not make your pet high. Without THC, there is nothing to cause this reaction. Secondly, make sure that your cBD oil or CBD product is coming from a source that is reputable and uses an extraction method that will not compromise the purity and quality of the CBD oil.
And most importantly, give your pet a little at a time. Monitor you pet after administering the CBD- after all it is a new component being introduced into the body.
There is still a vast amount of detailed research that will come in the next few years that will reveal new facts about CBD, or just prove what many consumers have been saying for decades about this plant. CBD has thousands of reports of health benefits and more are coming in each day as awareness grows and the cannabis plant is demystified.