Is CBD Harmful to Pets?

CBD and CBD products have been in the spotlight in recent years because of their benefits. They are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects, as well as dealing with stress and migraines, and the list can go on. And although its positive effects on human beings have been proven, many people are curious to know whether or not CBD is harmful to pets. If you want to find out more about CDB and its effect on pets, whether or not it affects them, then keep on reading this article.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, as it is known by the majority of the people, is a class of chemical compounds, part of the cannabinoid family, that is found naturally in the cannabis plant. Its effect is psychoactive, which means that it does not give people the feeling of being high. In the last years, CBD has been investigated as a plausible treatment for conditions such as pain, schizophrenia, and it was even approved for use for two very uncommon pediatric disorders. 

After seeing, hearing, or experiencing on their own how CBD helps the human body, many people have started to question its efficiency in treating certain conditions of their pets. And although there has not been a great improvement in the study of CBD on pets, some conclusions have been drawn, and this is what you need to know about CBD for pets.

What Can It Potentially Do?

As mentioned before, there is no scientific guarantee that CBD is effective on pets. Nonetheless, many people have come forward and spoke about their experience of using CBD on their pets, saying that it can be used to treat their pain, in particular neuropathic pain, and to control their seizures. Doctors are also hoping to find out more about CBD’s efficiency with conditions like nausea, lack of appetite, anxiety, and cardiac problems through a recently founded study.

What are the Risks?

Because there is not much information available about this topic, many people are still very reluctant to use CBD products on their pets because they fear side effects. Doctors have been fast to point out that the side effects can be similar to those found in humans such as a dry mouth, which leads to an increase in being thirsty, or drowsy, and the calming effect of CBD can manifest in the form of drowsiness in what concerns pets and a lowered blood pressure. To avoid or to minimize these side effects, the pet owners need to follow the instructions on the right dosage of the product.

Is it Safe?

The last, but indeed not the least point of this article deals with the safety of the product for pets. While the use of CBD on pets who suffer from liver conditions is not recommended, it has not been proven particularly dangerous for healthy pets, when following the right doses. 

In conclusion, although there is yet not enough proof for the effects of CBD on pets, it is safe to say that healthy pets who are given a small amount of CBD might get to enjoy benefits similar to those found in humans.