In the past few years, hemp-based supplements have proven to be extremely affordable and effective alternatives to pharmaceuticals and other medical treatments. This has been true for both humans and their furry companions.

Why is CBD becoming so popular? For one thing, CBD has few to zero side effects for most people and pets on most doses. It’s also completely non-toxic and very easily digested and absorbed by mammals.

One reason for this is that all mammals have what is called an endocannabinoid system. An endocannabinoid system is the part of the brain that interacts with plant compounds called cannabinoids. The most well-known cannabinoid is THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana), but there are many other cannabinoids being discovered and studied such as CBD.

Unlike THC, CBD is completely non-psychoactive, meaning you and your pet won’t feel high after taking it. You may feel relaxed with a slight upswing in mood, but you won’t be giggly or forgetful.

CBD is considered a nutraceutical. A nutraceutical is defined as “a food containing health-giving additives and having medicinal benefit.” This means that CBD products are completely legal and are able to be bought over the counter. For all of these reasons, CBD has become increasingly popular over recent years.

But before moving on to the details of CBD dosage for your pets, let’s talk about the wide genre of plant compounds called phytochemicals. A phytochemical is defined as “any of various biologically active compounds found in plants.”

Phytochemicals are responsible for many of the health-boosting effects of fruits and vegetables. It just so happens that hemp is packed full of these phytochemicals, CBD being just one of them.

So though CBD dosage for dogs is important (especially if you’re giving it to your pet to treat a specific ailment), it’s also important to remember that when you give your pet Canna-Pet hemp products, you’re feeding them a whole host of vital nutrients that will power them throughout the day.

This article will discuss:

• What CBD can and can’t do
• The legal implications of giving CBD to your pets
• Why your vet may not be on board with giving your pet CBD
• Why using a high-quality hemp product is vitally important
• Dosage guidelines for your pet
• CBD and overdose risk (or lack thereof)

Read on to learn everything you need to know about giving your pet CBD.

What to Know About CBD

Before you start giving your pet hemp products, you may be wondering what CBD is used for and if there are any other considerations to think about before giving them to your pet.

So what exactly can CBD do?

What CBD Can & Can’t Do

CBD isn’t a cure-all, but it comes pretty close. As discussed, CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for a lot of basic functions, such as sleep, pain regulation, inflammation, stress, anxiety, and more.

We all have had experiences with our endocannabinoid system, but we may just not know it. Think of the last time you had a ‘runner’s high’, or that good feeling you got a long period of exercise.

Well, this is your endocannabinoid system at work. In fact, it’s caused by a chemical called anandamide, which many researchers have remarked is very similar to THC in its chemical structure.

Because the endocannabinoid system works throughout such a wide-encompassing part of the brain and body, cannabinoids are being studdied for applications such as:

• Cancer
• Digestion issues & nausea
• Anxiety & restlessness
• Joint & mobility pain
• Pain & inflammation
• Aging
• Heart disease & circulatory issues
• Skin & allergies
• Infectious diseases

But you may be wondering: If CBD comes from hemp, is it legal?

Is CBD Legal?

The short answer is: Yes! CBD is legal in all 50 states. The slightly longer and more complex answer is: To be considered legal, CBD products have to contain less than 0.3% THC.

Some states do allow medical and recreational marijuana, but laws aren’t clear on whether or not marijuana is allowed to be administered to pets. In addition, marijuana and THC products are not legal at the federal level.

Because of these reasons and the fact that too much THC can cause problems for your pet, it is recommended to stick with federally legal hemp products that are under 0.3% THC, like Canna-Pet. That way you can be sure you’re staying on the right side of the law, and your pet won’t have any ill side effects from too much THC.

Will my Vet Approve?

The law (or lack thereof) puts vets in a precarious position when it comes to hemp products and pets.

In states where medical marijuana is legal, doctors are allowed to prescribe cannabis to their human patients. Vets, on the other hand, aren’t afforded the same protection. This means that if your vet talks to you about using CBD products for your pet, they’re technically breaking the law.

This doesn’t mean that no vet will talk to you about hemp. Some may think it’s the right choice for your pet and will risk talking about it to get your pet the best treatment. Just don’t be surprised if you bring it up with your vet and they return with a blank stare or by saying “don’t do that”.

At the end of the day, it’s your decision whether or not you want to give your pet hemp and CBD products. Your vet may not be thrilled, but with tons of information out there on the benefits of CBD for pets, you may want to ignore your vet, just this once.

Does Product Quality Matter?

Just because hemp and CBD products are generally considered safe and free of side effects, the truth is that not all hemp products are created equal. This is especially true for companies that are less than reputable. For example, many companies buy in bulk from various manufacturers and simply use their own labels and marketing.

This creates a huge problem in quality control, meaning you may not be given the best product for your pet. Other companies just use low-quality sourcing, extraction methods, and products.

We know you want the best for your pet, that’s why Canna-Pet is an organic, non-GMO, whole-plant supplement, free of animal products and preservatives. As an added bonus, Canna-Pet is formulated at phytochemistry labs in the US. It has much higher bioavailability than other products with 10-15x the absorption.

Calculating Dosage for Your Pets

When it comes to pets, the most important factor when considering CBD dosage is the size of your pet and what ailments you’re trying to treat.

We’ll give a general overview of the types of pets and how much CBD you should give them, before getting into the various factors below.

Dogs & Cats

Dogs and cats are the most common pets owned, so it makes sense they’re the most common animal to consume CBD or hemp products. Again, before giving your cat or dog CBD or hemp oil, you should consider what exactly you’re giving CBD to your dog for.

Here are some general serving guidelines:

• Capsules: Canna-Pet comes in capsules for small (under 20 pounds) and large (over 20 pounds) animals. For small and large dogs, we recommend mixing 1 capsule into their food twice daily. For cat CBD dosage, we recommend mixing 1 capsule into their meal each day.
• Liquids or Oils: Liquid products have a more rapid effect. They are also metabolized rapidly. Therefore, they should be fed 3 to 4 times each day. A 10 ml container of Canna-Pet liquid contains 300 drops. Pets under 20 pounds should start with 2 to 3 drops (0.1ml), 3 to 4 times daily. Pets over 20 pounds should start with 3-4 drops (0.1ml) at a time, 3-4 times per day.
• Biscuits: Canna-Biscuits can be given anytime as an organic CBD dog treat for your good boy or girl! We recommend that dogs under 20 pounds get 1 biscuit ever 12 hours, dogs 21 to 95 pounds get 2 to 3 biscuits every 12 hours, and dogs over 95 pounds get 4 biscuits every 12 hours.

Of course, your pet’s CBD dose won’t be a one-size-fits-all type of equation. This is because your pet’s needs will differ from day to day. For example, if your dog suffers from joint problems and you want to take him on a hike, you may want to give him a few extra ml of CBD.

On the other hand, a dog with anxiety may need a much larger dose when traveling or on a road trip. Knowing the needs of your pet and how they respond at different dosages is crucial to the ongoing treatment process.

For more information regarding the recommended CBD dosage, you can check Canna- Pet cbd oil for dogs dose calculator.

But you may not just have dogs and cats. We’ll discuss other animals below.

Horses

When it comes to horses, CBD can be used for a lot of different things. If your horse is not a performance horse, we recommend starting them at 15 drops (0.5ml) three times per day for general health, anxiety, and anti-aging.

For chronic pain, much more CBD oil for horses can be used depending on the severity.

Small Animals

For small animals such as rats, ferrets, gerbils, chinchillas, and rabbits, you can rest easy knowing that CBD has been proven effective on these animals as well. In fact, CBD has been used to cure cancer, diabetes, tumors, anxiety, and inflammation in lab animal (such as rats).

For example, one study done on rats found a sharp decrease in anxiety when given CBD. These doses of CBD were quite high, with the lowest being around 3 mg per pound of body weight, but for the average pet, a much lower dose can be used.

We recommend starting your small pets off at 2-3 drops (0.1ml) at a time, 3-4 times per day, and working up to a higher amount once they’ve grown accustomed to it. As always, watch your pet to gauge the effects and change the dose accordingly.

A Healthy Pet is a Happy Pet

With a bit of hemp extract, your pet is likely to live a longer happier life. You may be wondering, “but can my pet overdose on CBD”.

There’s some good news: they can’t! In fact, the only negative side effect from ingesting too much CBD is that your pet may fall asleep.