CBD has been a popular option for pets for a long time now. For some, seeing how CBD helped their pets has changed their opinion on cannabis and its benefits altogether. Still, since your pet can’t tell you whether or not they enjoy or benefit from the things you give them, it can feel scary to introduce any new elements.

That’s why we wanted to take some time to go over CBD for pets – how it works, the pros and cons, and how you can find the best options for your best friend!

CBD for Pets Vs. Humans: Is there a Difference?

In general, it’s accepted that the main system that cannabis acts on is very similar for dogs and humans. In fact, that system – the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) – is so prevalent that every animal with a spine (and some without) have a similar system to ours.

The Endocannabinoid System

The ECS is a regulatory system that exists at the cellular level of all living organisms except for insects. The reason that human CBD for pets is generally okay is that a safe, low-THC product for humans will be similar and safe for animals as well. 

The main difference between this and CBD for pets products is that the intention is usually different. CBD tincture for pets often includes flavorings and other additives which can water down the actual effects of the product. For this reason, a lot of people opt for a CBD product intended for humans.

Dark CBD Benefits

Since our furry friends have the same system as we do, it only makes sense that they would also benefit from the full spectrum of cannabis in the same way as we do. A dark CBD product like one of our tinctures carries all the benefits of raw, uncut CBD along with the natural terpenes, cannabinoids, and other chemicals that make the plant so powerful. 

If you want to learn more about the topic, please visit our article on dark CBD for more information! 

CBD for Pets Pros and Cons

There are myriad reasons why people try out CBD on their pets. Some of the pros and cons of this are:

Pros:

Some of the main uses for CBD with pets include:

• Joint Inflammation – Pet owners have long used CBD for pets’ joints. As a strong anti-inflammatory, many find CBD enables their elderly dogs to move and play more. For this same reason, many use CBD for dogs with arthritis as well.
• Anxiety – CBD treats for dogs’ anxiety are one of the more popular ways to market dog CBD treats. Since CBD has strong anti-anxiety properties, it’s exceptionally useful for dogs that are frightened easily by things like thunder or fireworks. Additionally, anxiety can lead to some hefty behavioral concerns with your pet and many find CBD to help curb those.
• Travel and high-stress situations – Partially because of the anti-anxiety effects and also because CBD can calm animals down when they’re particularly high-strung, many use CBD for traveling.

Cons:

The only real con of using CBD for pets is that they may not enjoy the flavor of some of the products. Many turn to heavily processed tinctures and treats to try and cover up the flavor but this also drastically reduces the quality of it. We typically recommend going with a dark CBD solution like the ones we sell and disguising the flavor in other ways.

Ways to give your pet dark CBD oil:

Here are a few tips for tricking your pets into accepting the higher-quality product, even if they don’t like the taste:

• Pets are often willing to eat their food even if it has a weird flavor. Mixing the tincture in with dry or wet food might be enough for them to take it in.
• Try squirting some of the tinctures on their paw, allowing them to lick it off in their own time.
• If all else fails, you can grab them by the back of the neck and squirt it directly into their mouths.

Finding the Best CBD for Pets

You wouldn’t settle for a lower quality CBD for yourself, why do so for your pets? Knowing where to get CBD for pets isn’t as easy as it might sound, unfortunately. Since CBD is unregulated, products advertised as tinctures, topicals, and CBD gummies for pets often contain little or no CBD in them at all.

At CBD for the People, all of our products undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they are of the highest safety and quality. When you buy a product from us, you can rest easy with the knowledge that it’s of the highest quality and potency we can offer. 

Still have questions about giving dark CBD to your pets? Reach out to us via our live chat feature on our website and we’ll be happy to go over all of the options with you!

By J Gordon Curtis