CBD offers some great benefits to humans, but our furry friends can also take advantage of this natural compound for some common issues. CBD is natural, safe, and has been found to be quite effective at managing pain, inflammation, and much more. 

Don’t let your doggo suffer from chronic pain or anxiety any longer! Using CBD doesn’t require a trip to the vet (though you should always update your vet on any changes you make to your pet’s health regimen), doesn’t require any special tools, and is (often) more affordable than prescription drugs; without the harmful side-effects. 

Here are five reasons why you should try CBD with your pet! 

1. Chronic Conditions/Inflammation

Even our pets aren’t immune to chronic conditions like arthritis that cause uncomfortable and often painful inflammation. No one wants to watch their pet suffer, and CBD can offer a safe and natural way to reduce the inflammation and chronic pain associated with it. 

CBD has natural anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties, which makes it the perfect remedy in one simple product. 

You can try oils (250mg CBD oil works well), or even flavored CBD pet treats. These tasty snacks come in bacon, steak, and other meaty flavors your pet will love, and they’ll be none the wiser! 

If you’re having trouble figuring out what dose of CBD to give your pet, consult your veterinarian. They’ll be able to help you figure out dosing and whether or not it should be used in addition to current medications or in place of them. Don’t make any major changes without consulting the vet first! 

2. Seizures 

Seizures are actually quite common in household pets, including dogs. It can be a little frightening to see your pet seize up, and while there are medications that can help control seizures, CBD oil for dogs is also a natural anticonvulsant. This simply means that it has properties that naturally combat seizures and convulsions. 

As a natural alternative, CBD has been used in both children and adult humans to control, manage, and reduce the number of and the frequency of seizures in epileptic patients and other seizure-inducing conditions. The FDA even approved an anti-seizure medication that’s derived from CBD. 

Research into CBD’s effectiveness against seizures has shown promising results, and, as CBD has few to no side-effects, it’s desirable as an anti-seizure supplement. Often, prescription drugs come with nasty side-effects that almost make them worth not taking at all! 

3. Anxiety

If your pet(s) suffer from anxiety, it can be heartbreaking to watch. Anxiety in pets can be caused by any number of conditions or environmental factors, including abuse. If you’ve got a rescue dog or cat from a shelter who’s been abused, they could be suffering from anxiety. 

Anxiety can cause pets to run away, hide, urinate or defecate on surfaces uncontrollably, pace back and forth whimpering, and chew or destroy things out of habit. While you want to give your pet the best home possible to live in, you can’t exactly spend all of your time cleaning up waste on fabrics or flooring or repairing chewed/damaged household items. 

CBD is effective at treating anxiety in humans, helping to regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which is responsible for emotional responses. While research is scarce, the evidence does suggest that the same effects can apply to pets, making CBD a great natural alternative for your pet’s anxiety. 

The best way to start with CBD is to talk to your vet. If your pet has been diagnosed with anxiety already, your vet might be very open to introducing CBD into their health regimen as a way to either supplement or replace anti-anxiety meds. 

4. Homeostasis 

Your pet doesn’t have to suffer from any specific medical conditions to benefit from CBD. According to Penguin CBD, CBD by itself helps support homeostasis, which is essentially the natural rhythm of things. The body has very specific conditions that must be met in order to thrive, including body temperature, appetite, etc. These things are included in homeostasis. 

Keeping a healthy natural rhythm by supporting homeostasis, providing your pet with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, and regular vet visits can help extend their lifespan and make the time you spend with them happier and healthier. 

The more healthy your pet is, the better they’ll feel! And we all know that pets aren’t afraid to show when they’re feeling well. Get ready for a little extra love from your furry friend. 

5. Natural Painkiller

Some people don’t like the idea of giving their pets painkillers, and it’s easy to see why. Painkillers can cause liver damage in humans and pets alike, along with other side-effects that vary in severity and impact. If you’re looking for a more natural approach to pain management, CBD might just be it. 

Cannabinoids seem to have natural painkilling effects, interacting with specific receptors in the nervous system to mitigate the severity of pain responses. Whether your pet has a chronic condition, injury, or a belly ache, CBD can help minimize the pain and get them moving again. 

Not to mention, pain causes stress, and CBD also helps manage stress and anxiety. It’s a win-win when you use CBD. CBD doesn’t produce a high, either, so you won’t have to worry about your dog or cat seeming a little “out of it”. 

This is a common misconception with new CBD users, simply because CBD comes from hemp, which is a strain of Cannabis, which you’ll probably recognize as the same plant the marijuana strain comes from. The two are not the same, and CBD and THC are two different cannabinoids. 

Conclusion

While there isn’t a mountain of evidence to support CBD use in pets, the evidence we do have suggests it’s just as safe for them as it is for us. It’s an excellent painkiller, anti-anxiety supplement, and much more; without the harmful side-effects that accompany many prescription drugs. 

Try some tasty steak-flavored CBD treats with your pet, and see the difference that choosing a more natural route can make.