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Is CBD Safe for Pets?



Good news! CBD is safe for pets. Whether you have a dog, cat, goldfish, lizard, or snake, your pet most likely has an endocannabinoid system that can be stimulated by CBD. Therefore, it is perfectly okay to give your beloved pet some of our Adam’s Organix CBD Oil.


Here are a few things for pet parents to know when considering giving animals CBD.

 

The Endocannabinoid System in Animals


The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present in most animals. All vertebrates, including common household pets like birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals, have an endocannabinoid system. Additionally, most invertebrates such as crabs and spiders have an ECS. Insects are the only animal without an ECS.


The ECS in animals and humans have the same components: endocannabinoids; cannabinoid receptors; and enzymes. While the structure of the CB1 receptor is similar across all mammals, dogs have a higher distribution of CB1 receptors in the brain compared to humans (Gyles 2016; Varadharaj and Griffiths 2020). Moreover, due to the location of their CB1 receptors, dogs are more sensitive to psychoactive cannabinoids (THC)


Most animal studies on the effects of CBD focus on mice and, to a lesser extent, dogs. However, the endocannabinoid system in animals possesses the same benefits regardless of species (Silver 2019). Therefore, plant-based cannabinoids like CBD can interact with the ECS in animals to help restore the body.

 

Studies on the Benefits of CBD in Dogs


There is some evidence to suggest that CBD can help to manage pain and aggressive behaviour in dogs. Gamble et al. 2018 conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of CBD as a treatment for dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. Sixteen (16) dogs received either CBD oil (two mg per each kg of body weight) or a placebo oil every 12 hours for four weeks. After a two-week washout period, the dogs got the opposite treatment for another month. There were significant decreases in the pain levels in dogs in the CBD treatment groups compared to the placebo groups. Moreover, dog owners reported increased physical activity in their pets.


A study by Corsetti et al. 2021 indicates that CBD can potentially be used to help animals manage aggressive behaviour. Twenty-four shelter dogs were placed in either a CBD group or a placebo group and treated daily over 45 days. Behavioural data on the shelter dogs were conducted regularly before, during, and after the study. Dogs in the CBD treatment group showed less aggression towards humans than dogs that received the placebo.

 

Safety Profile and Drug Interactions


As with humans, CBD has a good safety profile for animals and is not addictive. Hence your pet will not develop a dependency on CBD. However, it is necessary to consult your veterinarian before giving your pet CBD as it interacts with prescription medication. CBD either increases or decreases how liver enzymes metabolise some pharmaceutical drugs. It depends on the type of medicine and doses of CBD. For instance, if you are using CBD to control seizures, it may interact negatively with other anticonvulsant medication, causing them to be less effective.

 

CBD Dosage for Pets


At Adam’s Organix, our CBD oils are completely free from THC and safe for your pets to use. CBD works best if placed in your pet’s food. The exact dose is dependent on your pet’s size. For every 10 pounds of weight, your pet will need about one to five mg of CBD oil. A full dropper (1 ml) of Adam’s Organix 500mg CBD oil is 16.6mg in strength, while one dropper of the 1000mg CBD Oil bottle is 33.3mg. Therefore, a 10-pound pet will need about a quarter of a dropper (0.25 ml) of CBD oil, which works out to be a 4.15mg dose.


You should avoid using CBD on baby animals or those who are pregnant or lactating.

 

References


Corsetti, S., Borruso, S., Malandrucco, L., Spallucci, V., Maragliano, L., Perino, R., . . . Natoli, E. (2021). Cannabis sativa L. may reduce aggressive behaviour towards humans in shelter dogs. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 2773. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82439-2


Gamble, L.-J., Boesch, J. M., Frye, C. W., ., S. W., Mann, S., Wolfe, L., . . . Wakshlag, J. J. (2018). Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5(165). doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00165


Gyles, C. (2016). Marijuana for pets? The Canadian veterinary journal, 57(12), 1215-1218.

Silver, R. (2019). The Endocannabinoid System of Animals. Animals, 9(9), 686. doi:10.3390/ani9090686


Varadharaj, S., & Griffiths, J. (2020, October 27). Understanding the endocannabinoid system in cats and dogs. Retrieved from Innovative Veterinary Care: https://ivcjournal.com/endocannabinoid-system-cats-dogs/



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