Like human beings, pets are given CBD oils, tinctures, and treats. Some studies show that CBD can calm pets and others suggest that the cannabinoid can improve factors that boost relaxation. Here is all you need to know about the effects of CBD on pets’ calm.
Dogs, cats, and horses are animals whose owners give CBD for some health benefits. Many people believe that giving pets CBD will improve their fur condition and general well-being. Some CBD brands like JustCBD offers pet CBD products, including cat and dog CBD oils, cat and chicken treats, and more believed to help them calm. Early studies also see potential in CBD, suggesting that the cannabinoid may help your pet relax and manage the fear of thunderstorms, other dogs, or visiting the vet’s office. Here is all you need to know about the role of CBD in calming dogs.
Introducing CBD
Whether you have been giving your pet CBD or are contemplating doing so, you likely want to understand it better. What is CBD? Massi et al. (2006) and Bauer et al. (2020) define CBD as a non-psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis plants, primarily hemp and marijuana. Such chemical compounds are called cannabinoids, with CBD being one. There are about 140 cannabinoids in nature but because CBD is non-psychoactive, it stands out among the rest. Besides, Watt & Karl (2017) stated that CBD has therapeutic benefits, further leading to the increasing popularity and demand for CBD products.
Does CBD Calm Your Pets?
Since the partial legalization of CBD at federal levels in 2018 when the Farm Bill was passed, CBD demand has steadily increased. It’s not only people that benefit from the cannabinoid but pets alike. In fact, many reputable CBD brands have a line in their CBD inventory offering CBD products for pets. Does this mean that CBD can calm the animals? There is insufficient evidence to say this confidently. However, according to a CBD report by OKOApet.com, the cannabinoid can help calm your pets. The report looked at 98 dogs given broad-spectrum formulated nutraceuticals for 2 weeks and recorded positive results. The animals were calmer, and had reduced fear of the vet’s office, meeting other dogs, thunderstorms, loud noises, and music, and would relax even after long walks. While other studies have not clearly come out to support the role of CBD in calming pets, they suggest that the cannabinoid can improve factors that lead to a lack of relaxation, as shown below.
CBD for Stress
One reason a pet may not relax and calm down is anxiety and stress. Although the very thought of animals suffering from anxiety and stress may sound weird, these animals suffer stress and anxiety, like human beings. Stressful upbringing or vet visits may leave them stressed out and they need help to manage this. According to García-Gutiérrez et al. (2020), CBD has powerful anxiolytic properties and may help fight anxiety, stress, and depression. Of course, more studies are needed to look into these claims and narrow down CBD research to pets, yet many have already embraced the cannabinoid for pets.
CBD for Improved Sleep
Lack of sleep and calm are interrelated and each can result in the other. For instance, if your dog cannot sleep well, it may remain disturbed the next day and would be so cranky. Still, a lack of calm, possibly because of pain, can result in a lack of sleep. Therefore, lack of sleep and calm are serious issues for pets and they need help to manage them. Can CBD help your pet to have better sleep quality? According to Shannon et al. (2019), CBD can fight anxiety and manage pain, probably through its interactions with the 5HITA receptors. More studies on CBD for pets’ sleep problems are needed to support the claims or disregard them.
CBD for Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s way to respond to foreign matter. Naturally, it is a harmless process. However, when it becomes spontaneous and can be hardly controlled, it wreaks havoc on the body and is one reason pets may not calm down. Besides, it is closely linked to pain and the two usually co-exist or one leads to the other. Can CBD help with inflammation? According to Hammell et al. (2016), CBD can fight inflammation. May pet owners are applying CBD oil on pets’ skin to relieve inflammation, and their tinctures for oral and sublingual administration made to help pets with inflammation. JustCBD offers pet products for calm and inflammation, as the next section shows.
JustCBD Pet Line
Do you have a dog or a cat? Do you like offering your feline friend CBD? The JustCBD pet line offers dog and cat CBD oils that will make your furry companions feel better. The category features CBD oils for pets in general and cats/ dogs specifically to help your pet calm his stress. Besides, the line features dog treats with different flavors that your canine friend bites to take CBD with flavor and taste. There are also cat treats for your feline friend at the JustCBD store.
Buying CBD for Your Pet- Which Is the Best?
There are three types of CBD based on the composition. Consequently, many wonder which of the three would be best. Interestingly, there is no better CBD than the other, and your choice depends on your preferences. You can choose from;
- Full-spectrum CBD; comes with a whole range of cannabinoids, including the psychoactive THC. Besides, it has terpenes and flavonoids, which, according to VanDolah et al. (2019), cause the full entourage effect of multiple compounds.
- Isolate-based CBD: is pure CBD without additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Consequently, it has plain taste, making it good for pets who are starting out the CBD regime.
- Broad-spectrum CBD; pet CBD products also feature broad-spectrum formulation coming with the entire range of cannabinoids but not THC. It also features terpenes and flavonoids, offering the full entourage effect without THC.
Conclusion
Initial research sees great potential in CBD and suggests that the cannabinoid can improve various factors leading to a lack of relaxation. Besides, one report shows that CBD can help dogs relax and reduces their fear of the vet’s offices, travel, and meeting new dogs. Peer into this article to know what CBD can offer your pet to help him calm.
References
Bauer, B. A. (2020). What Are The Benefits Of CBD–And Is It Safe To Use? In Mayo Clinic.
García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: a potential new alternative for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575.
Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948.
Massi, P., Vaccani, A., Bianchessi, S., Costa, B., Macchi, P., & Parolaro, D. (2006). The non-psychoactive cannabidiol triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in human glioma cells. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS, 63(17), 2057-2066.
Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041.
Silver, R. J., & Paiss, Z. R. A. The Positive Behavioral Impact of a CBD-containing Nutraceutical Formulation on Privately-Owned Dogs.
VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.
Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.
Barbara is a freelance writer and a sex and relationships adviser at Dimepiece LA and Peaches and Screams. Barbara is involved in various educational initiatives aimed at making sex advice more accessible to everyone and breaking stigmas around sex across various cultural communities. In her spare time, Barbara enjoys trawling through vintage markets in Brick Lane, exploring new places, painting and reading.
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