Will My Pet Get High On CBD Oil, and Is It Safe?
It wasn’t too long ago that CBD oil and other marijuana products were considered unsafe for human consumption. While those misconceptions still exist today, in modern times, the physical and mental health benefits of CBD products are far more widely known. They’ve had positive effects on pain relief, anxiety, and depression, with studies showing further benefits for cancer and epilepsy symptoms.
However, while CBD is generally safe for us, what about our pets? A recent trend in the pet health market is owners giving pets cannabis supplements to relieve symptoms similar to what you’d find in humans. While CBD oil is an unorthodox treatment method for our pets, we still want the best for them to live as healthy a life as possible.
It’s understandable if you’re still on the fence, however. While some have given CBD oil to their pets with few ill effects, it’s still a new area of study. The idea of their pets ingesting the main ingredient in marijuana can naturally put people off. Below, we provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether CBD oil is right for your pet.
What Is CBD?
First, we’ll give you a quick rundown on the exact nature of CBD. Short for Cannabidiol, it’s one of the primary substances found in the Cannabis sativa plant or marijuana plant. Unlike THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient in cannabis, CBD isn’t psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t affect the brain.
Its lack of brain-altering properties allows companies to extract the substance and use it as an ingredient in various other products. For example, here at Supa Naturals, we have a wide variety of organically sourced tinctures, creams, and gummies that include CBD in their recipes.
CBD’s various forms allow individuals to take it in any way they choose and benefit from its positive effects. You may remember when using anything related to marijuana was frowned upon; however, scientists have slowly whittled the stigma away thanks to mounting evidence of CBD’s medical benefits. There are accounts of the substance providing relief from the symptoms of various illnesses such as:
Those are the health benefits for humans, but can CBD be helpful for your dog or cat? More than that, will its unique chemical get them high?
Can Your Pet Get High From CBD Products?
The short answer? No. CBD isn’t a psychoactive drug and doesn’t produce highs in common household pets. That isn’t to say that dogs can’t get high, however. If you decide to give them marijuana products, you should make sure that they don’t have any traces of THC.
Your pet ingesting cannabis with psychoactive ingredients present is a serious situation. Animals, particularly dogs and cats, have a higher amount of cannabinoid receptors in their bodies. As a result, they are more sensitive to the effects of THC and, because of their smaller body weights, are more likely to take a lethal amount.
The common signs that your pet has ingested THC and is having a bad reaction include a stumbling gait, dilated pupils, poor balance, and lowered heart rate. While the risk of death is generally low, various factors can affect potential mortality; the best thing you can do for your pet if they’re displaying any of these symptoms is to take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Their susceptibility to marijuana also means that second-hand smoke is hazardous for them. If you’re smoking in a small, enclosed space, make sure your pet is safely out of the room. Or, you can open a window to ventilate the smoke away from your pet or any other vulnerable people within your home.
Fortunately, there are CBD products explicitly sold for pet use that have carefully measured amounts of CBD with no traces of THC. However, as a pet owner, you should still exercise caution when purchasing these products. The science on pet CBD use is still new, and politics are turbulent on the matter, meaning that there aren’t many regulations to control for deceptively labeled CBD products.
For a product guaranteed to deliver the effect you’re looking for, you can try Supa Naturals CBD oil made specifically for use with pets. You can trust that we’ve eliminated any dangerous Cannabinoids so that your animal can enjoy the beneficial effects of CBD without fear.
Effects of CBD on Pets
CBD products’ effect on your animal is difficult to report because of a continuing stigma and an overall lack of study. Several smaller experiments have been done to determine how the cannabinoid affects animals, and they’ve shown positive results. Additionally, pet owners have reported considerable anecdotal evidence supporting that CBD allows pets to live healthier lifestyles.
According to pet owners who’ve used CBD, it offers similar benefits to their pets that it provides to humans. Owners have observed that dogs and cats who’ve taken CBD supplements:
- Experience less pain from old injuries and arthritis
- Increases in appetite
- Calms anxious pets (which is especially useful before long plane rides)
- Reduces the severity of epilepsy and seizures
- Lowers aggression
Again these claims are primarily second-hand from the accounts of owners who’ve given their pet CBD products. Scientific studies currently support their beneficial outcomes but choose your animal’s supplements carefully to avoid adverse side effects.
Most CBD products have some level of THC in them but usually not enough to trigger psychoactive reactions in your pet. But, as mentioned above, the substance isn’t well regulated. Depending on the brand you purchase, the product could have a much higher THC level than is advised to give to your pets. However, as long as you are buying from an official store like Supa Natural, there are much fewer risks involved.
Comparing the Effects of CBD Between People and Pets
Due to the anecdotal evidence for using CBD on our pets, it can be hard to determine what CBD products will do to your pet accurately. Thankfully, CBD affects animals (or at least mammals) functionally the same way it affects humans. So, if you have experience using CBD products yourself, you have a good measure to determine how it might affect your pets.
The reason that cannabinoids have a uniform effect on humans and pets is our shared ECS or endocannabinoid system. Studies have shown it as one of the most important systems in our bodies, working to connect the body and mind. For humans and pets, the ECS is responsible for many vital functions, such as:
- Balance
- Appetite control
- Memory retention
- Muscle movement
- Proper mood regulation
While CBD isn’t psychoactive, it still has a pronounced, positive impact on these functions when taken. It does not alter the mind but promotes increased wellness in the body.
In the ECS, there are two cannabinoid receptors called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors, often found in the central nervous system, are responsible for regulating behavior after using cannabis. While CB2 receptors, located in the peripheral nervous system, immune system, and intestines, control the body’s naturally produced cannabinoids.
Both receptors function the same in humans and pets and react the same to CBD being introduced into the body. Any positive outcomes that you’ve experienced using CBD oil, your pet will most likely encounter as well.
However, it’s better to give your pets CBD products that have been made specifically for them. Differences in THC content and dosage can increase the risk of overdose in your furry friend if they take CBD oil or edibles that animals weren’t meant to consume.
Otherwise, the only other difference between human and pet CBD products is the large variety of flavors that the animal products come in.
Can CBD Be Prescribed for Pets?
While vets can give their professional opinion on CBD products, they cannot provide official prescriptions for those supplements. This inability is because most law-making bodies are slow to catch up with public opinion on CBD. The DEA still classifies the substance as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that the law considers it to have no medicinal properties.
The legality of distribution can vary state by state. Still, even in places where recreational and medical marijuana use is allowed, it’s illegal to use on pets—a vet risks losing their license for even recommending CBD products to treat your pet’s symptoms. As a result, if you want to treat your pet with CBD, you’re on your own regarding information and purchase.
Further complicating the issue, in 2018, the FDA removed hemp from its controlled substances list. Companies have taken to labeling their products as hemp-based to avoid any legal problems; however, because they are not FDA approved, there’s no oversight guaranteeing quality. Because animals are so sensitive to THC, make sure to research CBD products to ensure they are safe for your pet to use.
Where and How To Buy CBD for Pets
Due to CBD’s classification as a Schedule 1 drug, denoting it as a substance with no medical value, there’s a notable lack of regulation regarding the purchase and sale of CBD products. This lack of control is particularly pronounced for pet CBD products because they are usually illegal, even in states that allow recreational and medicinal use for humans.
As mentioned above, vets can’t recommend CBD because of its dubious legal status, or else they risk losing their licenses. However, you can research certain factors to help you decide where to purchase your pet’s CBD medication. Remember, not all CBD products are created using the same methods or to the same standards, so use the variables listed below to determine whether a company’s product is right for your pet.
Cultivation
A high-quality CBD supplement requires high-quality hemp. Some companies will cut corners when cultivating good hemp, potentially leading to higher THC concentrations than is safe for your pet.
While every company has different means of sourcing their products, you can usually find their supplier online. You should avoid a brand if:
- Suppler information is not readily available online or provided by calling customer support
- The supplier doesn’t specialize in plants high in CBD
- They don’t use sustainable growing practices
Extraction
Suppliers use various extraction methods to collect the CBD, but they can end up with an inferior product depending on which process they use. A good rule of thumb is to avoid products with CBD extracted with either high heat or harsh solvents. These methods can potentially contaminate the collected CBD and result in a lower quality product.
Try looking for suppliers that use the compressed CO2 extraction process instead. It involves harvesting hemp plants and putting them in a container that’s then filled with pressurized CO2. The carbon dioxide acts as a solvent that separates the CBD from the hemp plant matter, resulting in a higher quality product for your pet.
Conclusion
To recap, CBD is a controversial substance in official drug control organizations because of the relative lack of hard evidence backing up claims of its medicinal benefits. There’s been slow movement politically to address these potential benefits for humans or animals over the past few years. The FDA has classified CBD as a Schedule 1 drug leading to a lack of regulation to ensure quality and non-deceptive marketing.
These factors make it risky to purchase CBD products made for pets because their cannabinoid receptors are much more sensitive than humans. If there’s a higher amount of THC in a hemp product, then ingesting it could make your animal very sick.
However, if carefully researched and bought from a trusted retailer, CBD products can drastically improve your pet’s physical and mental well-being. While much of the evidence supporting CBD products’ benefits is anecdotal, the amount of those experiences and the positive results in the studies that have taken place show that CBD does have noted positive effects on your pet’s life.
To give your beloved pet needed relief from their ailments, visit the Supa Natural CBD store and purchase them CBD oil today!
