CBD pet treats are a huge part of the global hemp industry. In fact, market analysts claim the international CBD pet industry grew to about $125 million in 2020. If pet owners and vets continue to “adopt” CBD at these rates, then the CBD pet sector could expand by a compound annual growth rate of ~ 60 percent till 2028.
Why are so many pet owners splurging on pet CBD oils? Well, according to countless testimonials, this non-psychoactive cannabinoid has many noticeable benefits for cats and dogs.
How Could Pet CBD Oils Help Dogs And Cats?
Although most of the positive reviews on pet CBD oils come from anecdotal reports, a few fascinating studies show this cannabinoid has measurable benefits on dogs and cats.
Most notably, Cornell University examined the effects of CBD oil on a group of dogs with osteoarthritis. Some of these dogs took a CBD pill each day, while the control group got a placebo. After a few weeks, vets noted the dogs in the CBD group seemed to have less inflammation and greater activity levels. Arguably, CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects had a positive effect on these older dogs.
Although arthritis is one of the most well-studied conditions related to CBD, some people claim CBD has anti-anxiety effects on their pets. It’s common nowadays for pet owners to feed their cats or dogs CBD treats before a thunderstorm or loud fireworks. Some customers swear CBD oil is great for relieving stress if a dog or cat has separation anxiety.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any evidence examining CBD for stress relief in pets. However, many clinical trials show CBD positively affects social anxiety disorder. Patients who took CBD oil in these trials seemed to have lower anxiety scores than people who took placebos.
Considering CBD shows anti-anxiety potential for humans, it’s not far-fetched to assume it would have the same effect on cats and dogs. The endocannabinoid system is a natural part of mammal physiology, so CBD should interact similarly in animals like dogs and cats.
Lastly, some online reviewers swear CBD helps keep their dog or cat’s fur healthy and beautiful. Arguably, this has to do with CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There’s some evidence that our scalp has endocannabinoid receptors, which may explain CBD’s benefits on hair appearance. However, we still need more scientific trials to understand how CBD affects hair growth.
Is It Safe To Feed Pets Human-Grade CBD Oils?
While it’s not “bad” to feed high-quality human-grade CBD oils to dogs or cats, customers should strive to purchase pet-approved CBD. Pets like cats and dogs have an ECS, but that doesn’t mean it works the same as a human’s ECS. Most often, pets need a lower dose of CBD to have a noticeable effect. Only manufacturers who make CBD products with pets in mind will factor these dosing considerations into their formula.
Also, many human-grade CBD products could contain harmful ingredients for pets. For instance, you wouldn’t want to feed a chocolate-containing CBD edible to a dog! Knowing that CBD products were specifically manufactured for pets should put your mind at ease when giving them to your furry friends.
As a final note, please remember CBD could have adverse interactions to various medications. If you’re feeding your pet prescription pills, you must speak with a vet before experimenting with CBD oils. Also, please never use CBD oil as a replacement treatment for a pre-existing medical condition.