CBD for pets is becoming more popular, but many pet parents still wonder how safe it is. CBD isn’t a magical fix for some of your pet’s most pressing issues, but it does provide a range of wellness benefits that can help your pet live a happier, healthier life.
When you’re thinking about adding CBD to your pet’s life, it’s only normal to have many questions as you get deeper into your research.
- How much CBD do you give your pet?
- Are there any side effects to know about?
- How long does it take for my pet to feel the results?
If you’re still wondering if CBD is safe for your pet, this blog post is for you! Keep reading to get all the answers you’ve been looking for.
What is CBD for Pets?
CBD is a compound that comes from the hemp plant. It’s important to note that while hemp plants are similar to marijuana plants — there’s a BIG difference that comes down to potency! Hemp plants have less than 0.3% THC levels, while marijuana plants can go upwards of 30% THC.
So what does this mean for your pet?
This means you don’t have to worry about your pet having to deal with any of the psychoactive effects that can accompany THC. On the other hand, CBD has a natural abundance of helpful cannabinoids that work together to provide your pet with a wide range of therapeutic benefits.
However, you can always speak with your veterinarian if you have specific questions about your pet’s health history. Let’s talk about a few reasons you may want to consider adding CBD to your pet’s daily routine.
Why Use CBD for Pets?
When you’re a pet parent, you’re always thinking about ways to ensure your pet is happy and healthy. There are plenty of studies that speak to the effectiveness of CBD for pets, but some of the most common uses include sleep, anxiety, appetite, nervousness, mood issues, and pain and discomfort.
Side Effects of CBD for Pets
There’s no guarantee that your pet will experience any side effects from their CBD products, but it’s still helpful to know what they are. The most common side effects are dry mouth, drowsiness, lowered blood pressure, and possible stomach issues like nausea and/or diarrhea (although rare).
A lot of this boils down to how much CBD you give your pet. If your pet is starting its CBD journey, it’s essential to start with small amounts and work your way up in concentration to minimize any side effects. This also ensures you find your pet’s CBD “goldilocks zone.”
Overall, when starting your pet out on a new CBD routine, it’s vital to keep track of the serving amount, and you want to keep an eye on how they’re responding to the serving amount you give them — especially if you’re increasing day by day to find the perfect amount for them.
Let’s move on to things you should look for when shopping for high-quality, safe CBD products for your pet.
Shopping for CBD Pet Products
This might not come as a surprise, but CBD shopping for your pet isn’t too different from shopping for CBD products for yourself. However, shopping for CBD can get confusing and overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for.
Let’s look at a few things you should look for when shopping for top-tier CBD products for your pet.
Third-Party Testing
CBD farming techniques have come a long way, but you still have to ensure the CBD products you purchase don’t have harmful chemicals or toxins. Any reputable CBD company understands this, and that’s why they send products off to an independent, third-party laboratory to test each product’s overall purity, potency, and efficacy — often at batch level.
When shopping for your pet’s CBD, look for a lab results section of the site. Sometimes you’ll even find a QR code on the bottle for easier access.
Human-Grade Ingredients
You want to feel good about anything you give to your pet, and that’s where human-grade ingredients come into the picture when you’re shopping for CBD pet products.
High-quality pet products don’t contain any artificial fillers, colorants, or chemicals. Make sure to pay close attention to the ingredients in any potential CBD pet product. You want to stay away from ingredients like gluten meal, soy, corn, and rendered fat are just a few to avoid.
Positive Reviews
Did you know that 95% of consumers read online views before purchasing a product? It’s true and for a good reason! Checking out what other pet owners say can be incredibly helpful because you can see if other pets have similar concerns and gain insight into what works for them.
Of course, all pets are different and have varying experiences based on age, weight, metabolism, concentration, serving amount, and other things — but most people still consider consumer reviews an essential part of the shopping process.
Organic Hemp Source
Okay, this is a big one — you’ve got to make sure the hemp comes from a good source, preferably those who utilize organic farming techniques. When organic farming techniques aren’t used, the overall composition of the hemp plant will contain pesticides and other chemicals used during the maintenance of the growing process.
Final Thoughts on CBD for Pets
CBD has come a long way since its inception, and there’s an abundance of safe CBD products for pets on the market because of this. Still, if you want to add CBD products and still have some lingering concerns, we suggest researching on your own and following up with your vet if you have any specific questions regarding your pet’s health.
Looking to start your pet’s wellness journey?
Check out our collection of safe, effective CBD products for pets!