THE ONLY THING GETTING HIGH AROUND HERE? YOUR PET’S ANXIETIES.
Find out how CBD products can help calm them down.
It may look like your pet has it easy (they do get to lie around on the couch all day), but dogs and cats can actually experience a lot of stress. Whether they’re dealing with separation anxiety, issues from being a rescue or even just situational fears like loud noises and going to the vet, a calming supplement can really help.
One that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately is CBD — and for good reason, as it’s been backed up by lots of anecdotal evidence. But when pet owners hear that it’s made from cannabis, it’s hard not to picture dogs hanging out in drum circles, playing hacky sack or cats who are super into laser shows and listening to “The Dark Side of the Moon.
Don’t worry. CBD does come from the same plant as marijuana but there’s nothing trippy about it. They’re actually from two different species. Marijuana is the species of cannabis with lots of THC (the psychoactive component that gives you a high) and very little CBD. CBD comes from the other species of cannabis, hemp—it’s high in soothing CBD and has only trace amounts of THC (that means .03%, or less).
And here’s the thing—CBD isn’t all hemp has to offer. It also contains cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Together with CBD, they can help with mental issues like anxiety, overexcitement and maintaining a normal emotional balance as well as physical problems like immune function, inflammation, gastrointestinal issues and pain. They can even help manage some of the symptoms of diseases like cancer and epilepsy like:
That’s why it’s important to always look for CBD that contains full spectrum hemp, not just CBD isolate like some lower quality products.
Summer travel season is just kicking off, so before you ease your cat into their carrier or try to calm your dog during a road trip thunderstorm, it’s time to start shopping around. Aside from looking for full spectrum hemp CBD, be sure to check out how each product is made. As always, organic is better (no pesticides or scary chemicals). Then, there’s the method by which cannabinoids are extracted from the hemp plant. Butane/Ethanol extraction? That’s bad because it could leave behind toxic substances in your pet’s CBD oil. What’s best? CO2 extraction, which leaves nothing bad behind. Another shopping note— don’t mistake hemp seed oil for CBD. Same plant, but it has different cannabinoids for different benefits.
Lastly, there’s the important question of how you actually get your pet to take the CBD. Luckily, there are a lot of delivery options, including oils, biscuits, soft chews, capsules, salves, gels and even products that mix it with food, such as peanut butter. Once taken, you should see results within 15-30 minutes, and those should last about 4-8 hours. CBD should be safe for your pet to take with other medications, but as with any supplement, it’s always good to check with your vet.