The difference between pet CBD and regular CBD depends on the additives. Some products may contain pet-friendly ingredients, and some may be pure CBD. 

 What are the benefits and risks posed by giving CBD to pets? Is the chemical safe? And what conditions can it help your pet overcome?

Quick take: What are the benefits of CBD for pets

• CBD can treat anxiety, seizures, and pain in humans and pets.
• At extremely high doses, CBD may cause liver damage in pets (keep the dosage low).
• You may use CBD to manage skin illnesses in cats and dogs.
• Hemp derived CBD is legal on the federal level. 

What is pet CBD?

Pet or regular CBD is a chemical found in hemp and marijuana. Unlike THC, CBD will not cause a high in humans or pets. But heavy consumption may trigger side effects, including diarrhea, and fatigue. 

Is it okay to give CBD to your pet?

The majority of animal studies claim that CBD is safe for humans and pets. But the FDA recommends not giving cannabis extracts to pets because the long-term side effects are still under investigation. 

In humans, CBD may be used in the treatment of epileptic seizures, pain, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and depression.

What does the research say about the effects of CBD on pets?

Cannabis’s long-held classification as a schedule 1 substance prevented studies on the effects of cannabis on pets and humans. The studies that exist overwhelmingly claim that CBD causes mild side effects in humans and pets.

The FDA’s position may change as more studies come out. But what we do know is:

• The side effects of CBD on humans and pets, including cats and dogs are similar.
• CBD’s effects are dose dependent. At high doses, the chemical has a sedative effect, and at low doses, it has stimulating effects.
• CBD may cause loss of appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea in humans and pets. But diarrhea may be a side effect of taking large doses -or the carrier oil in use.
• CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning you or your pet will not experience a high after use.

What conditions and illnesses can CBD help manage in pets?

Because of its anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and anti-pain properties. CBD offers benefits, including pain relief, anxiety treatment and prevention, it can reduce epileptic seizures in humans and animals, and its neuroprotective properties mean that it can protect you and your pet from neurological disease. 

Can you give cats or dogs CBD oil for pain relief?

Just like humans, cats and dogs have an endocannabinoid system. The function of the system is to regulate sleep, control body temperature, immune response, inflammation, eating, and pain.

Through interactions with the endocannabinoid system, CBD may relieve pain anywhere in the body. 

More research is needed on how the chemical reduces pain, but animal and human trials say that it works in as little as 15 minutes or an hour after consumption.

Does CBD help with pet anxiety?

Studies have shown that CBD has anxiolytic properties. That means it is capable of preventing and treating anxiety. By managing pain and improving sleep, CBD can help both humans and animals manage anxiety.

How do I know if my pet has anxiety?

Just like us, pets may develop anxiety because of internal or external stimuli. Signs that your pet has anxiety include shivering, destructive behavior, some dogs may dig, hiding or running away, shivering, and panting or pacing.

Veterinarians recommend the use of CBD in the treatment of pet anxiety, coupled with:

• Regular petting or massages.
• Physical contact.
• Avoid punishing cats.
• Practice positive reinforcement.  
• Provide comfort.

Can CBD help your pet lose Weight?

CBD is a mild appetite suppressant. Because of that, if you have an obese pet, you may use the chemical to help your cat or dog lose weight. I must mention that there are no studies that prove that CBD can help cats or dogs lose weight. But, a study on the usefulness of CBD in the treatment of obesity concluded that, quote:

“CBD is in the center of interest, due to its well-established anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, and potential anti-obesity properties. Many studies indicated that CBD affects both lipid and glucose metabolism through the action on various receptors as well as several metabolites. From the existing data, we can conclude that CBD has the promising potential as a therapeutic agent and might be effective in alleviating the symptoms of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.”

Can CBD reduce seizures in cats and dogs?

Based on animal and human trials, CBD can reduce seizures in both men and animals. The mechanism through which CBD reduces seizures is unknown, but the FDA has approved a synthetic version of CBD as a medicine for epileptic seizures in humans. 

Is CBD a cure for feline HIV/FIV?

 FIV is a condition that may trigger symptoms, including appetite loss, weight loss, lethargy, and fever. Just like in humans, the condition weakens a cat’s immune system making it vulnerable to opportunistic infections.

Currently, there is no cure for FIV, but CBD can be used to help manage symptoms and to keep the cat comfortable. What you need to remember is cats with FIV may remain symptom-free for a long time. Once the illness becomes symptomatic, death is imminent.

If your cat has FIV, CBD can help in the following ways:

• Pain and anxiety treatment.
• CBD may boost the cat’s immunity, delaying symptoms. 

Other pet illnesses that CBD may treat or help manage symptoms include:

• Arthritis. 
• Skin diseases and injury. 

Is it safe to use regular CBD on pets?

Food grade CBD is safe for humans and pets. But, as mentioned, products intended for pets may contain additives that are unsafe for humans. Because of that, there is no harm in giving pets regular CBD, but dosing can be an issue because of size and weight differences between humans and pets. 

What is the right dose for pets?

To the FDA, CBD products are supplements. Because of that, there are few studies on CBD doses for pets. 

Follow manufacturer or veterinarian dosage recommendations.  

Are there warnings pet owners should be aware of? 

The issue is not CBD itself -but contaminants that may come into contact with the product during manufacturing, packaging, transport, or storage. You want to avoid any product that contains heavy metals, pesticides, or other harmful chemicals or substances.

Considering that the FDA does not regulate CBD products in the US, it is safer to purchase from trustable vendors.