CBD for Pets

Wondering how CBD for pets works and how it can help your pet?

As a veterinary professional, I am a strong believer in the importance of client education. If you understand how cannabinoid therapy works, you’ll be equipped to make the best decisions as an animal caregiver. 

But with so much information available on the Internet regarding cannabis and CBD products for pets (much of which contains inaccuracies), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused. If you were to do a search for CBD for pets, your browser would be saturated with thousands of sites!

FAQs

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s one of a group of molecules (phytocannabinoids) that comes from the cannabis plant. 

Many of these compounds have shown potential benefits as therapeutic agents to treat a wide variety of diseases. CBD is one of the largest compounds of this group that continues to be actively studied by both veterinary and human medicine. 

CBD is not the psychoactive part of the plant (translation: it won’t make you feel like you’re in an altered state, or “high”.

How does CBD work?

We all play an integral role in achieving the best quality of life possible for our clients. 

In my role as a VCC, I follow these professional guidelines:

• Only VCCs who are veterinarians are permitted to diagnose or change/update a treatment plan.

• I do not suggest cannabis as a substitute for pharmaceutical drugs.

• I ensure the pet parent’s veterinarian remains informed of the cannabis administration schedule.

• I abide by the ethical position of “do no harm.”

• I provide Harm Reduction Education (HRE), guidance, monitoring and case oversight for cannabis therapy while staying within the limits of the scope of practice.

• I provide thorough information that is science-based and safety-focused, while ensuring the pet parent has a comprehensive understanding of their guidance plan.

What conditions can cannabis treat?

People often associate cannabis treatments with providing calm and alleviating anxiety. It can certainly do these things, but it can potentiate therapeutic responses beyond this scope. 

Interaction between the ECS and cannabis is vast and unique to each individual. This means there is no set list of what cannabis (including CBD) can treat, because it can have therapeutic benefits throughout the entire body.

Conditions such as osteoarthritis, anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, cancer and immune-mediated diseases (eg. allergies) are all potential targets for CBD.

What forms do cannabis treatments come in?

There are a variety of ways for people to use cannabis — smoking, vaping, orally, sublingually (under the tongue) and topically. 

In my work as a Veterinary Cannabis Counselor, I focus on oral and topical applications in the form of cannabis tinctures or CBD oil for pets.

Is the effectiveness of CBD for animals backed by science?

The short answer: absolutely! I wouldn’t have devoted my career to this area if it wasn’t built on a strong scientific foundation with ongoing, vast studies. 

You can find a sampling of recent studies on veterinary cannabis here.

What are some considerations before using cannabis for my pet?

Used properly, cannabis (including CBD) is an extremely safe and effective treatment for animals.

But as with any medical treatment, you need to make sure you’re using the right product, at the right dosage. 

A product that works well for one pet might not work for another — and even the best product won’t work if the dosage is wrong. Improper dosing can be harmful to your pet, as well as giving marijuana-based products with high levels of THC.

You also need to be aware of any possible interactions cannabis products can have with pharmaceutical drugs or supplements your pet is already taking.