Debunking the Most Common Myths About CBD Oil for Cats and Dogs
You want to keep your pets safe, right? But you also want to make sure that you’re providing them with the best and most natural medical products that you can find. You’ve found CBD oil and think it’s a good option for your furry friends, but there’s a lot of conflicting information out there, and it’s scary!
There are a lot of myths about CBD oil for cats and dogs and they can be confusing and hard to navigate if you’re new to the product! Don’t worry though, we’ve got your back.
Let’s try to separate the myths from reality. Keep reading to learn about 6 common myths about CBD oil for your pets.
1. CBD Oil Can Get Your Pet "High"
This is a huge misconception, but it’s also remarkably popular, especially amongst those who are part of the “reefer madness” crowd.
CBD can come from two primary plant sources, hemp or marijuana. Both of them can create CBD that impacts the endocannabinoid system in the brain. Because CBD can come from marijuana, people tend to be under the impression that it’s the same as THC and will have the same psychoactive effects and this simply isn’t true.
While THC wouldn’t be good for pets (and would likely cause them some stress, especially if consumed regularly), CBD does not have the same psychoactive impact. CBD oil for pets may contain very trace amounts of THC, but not nearly enough to be noticeable.
THC from marijuana plants is what gives the “high” feeling in recreational use. CBD effects are all considerably more gentle.
2. CBD is Actually Illegal
This is another big misconception, likely because of the confusion between THC and CBD and the back-and-forth on drug laws in the United States.
The 2018 Farm Bill, when passed, legalized the production and sales of hemp products. This means that as long as your CBD oil comes from hemp and has the trace amounts of THC that hemp contains, it’s 100 percent legal regardless of the state that you live in.
This is why it’s so incredibly easy to purchase. CBD products are readily available online!
3. CBD Oil is a Cure-All
Unfortunately, this is also not true.
CBD oil has a lot of uses and can be hugely therapeutic for your pet. There are people out there who want to claim that CBD cures every ailment that your cat or dog (or neighbor) can have.
The truth about CBD is that it’s not a magic product, it’s a plant-derived medicine. While there aren’t as many tests available for CBD use on pets, on humans, it has documented effects on several conditions.
CBD oil for cats and dogs can help with a lot of problems. If your pet suffers from anxiety, pain, or perhaps even seizures, CBD might be the answer that you’re looking for. It’s not a miracle drug, though. It’s science! That’s even better because we can test it.
4. Your Pet Can Overdose on CBD
This is mostly untrue.
CBD oil is incredibly safe. It’s highly biocompatible and it reacts with parts of the brain that don’t appear to suffer from typical overdose symptoms.
This is not true of all medications. Anything that hits on the opioid receptors of the brain, for example, instead of the cannabinoid receptors, is quite easy to overdose on.
While studies for CBD are pretty new, it’s generally agreed upon that if it is possible to overdose on CBD, that overdose wouldn’t be fatal. It would also take a lot of CBD, meaning a lot more than you could reasonably administer to your pet (or even yourself) in one sitting.
When you start with CBD oil, you’re going to want to start low and slow anyway. Start with a low dose to avoid any adverse effects and document any problems for your vet if you’re worried.
5. CBD Will Make Your Pet Too Tired
Many people are worried about CBD ruining their pet’s quality of life by interrupting their necessary play and walk time.
While CBD can allegedly soothe anxiety and help with sleep, this myth is actually most likely tied to the same idea as myth number one. People are worried that their pets will be too stoned to hang out with them!
Now, we’ve already gone over why this isn’t true, but let’s talk about a potential side effect that could happen: drowsiness.
CBD oil may make your pet a little bit sleepy from the calming effects. This is likely because you gave them a dose that’s higher than they need. If you lower the dose, you should find that your pet is calmer, but still happy to play and walk around with you.
6. CBD Oil for Humans is the Same as CBD Oil for Pets
Again, this is kind of true.
There are people who notice a need for CBD oil in their pets and they begin to play pretend scientist to figure out the amounts that would be appropriate for them.
In reality, the concentration of CBD in CBD oil for pets vs CBD oil for humans is going to be incredibly different unless you have a pet that’s roughly human-sized, and even then, it can vary.
Pets aren’t people. While we’re both animals and have systems that function similarly the size and metabolism differences matter. Getting a pet-specific CBD oil will take the guesswork out of the process and ensure that you’re administering a safe amount.
CBD Oil for Cats and Dogs: Myths Busted
There’s so much misinformation floating around the internet and it’s totally understandable. This science is relatively new and people want to protect their pets. It’s important to know the facts and to put the research in when you’re going to give them a new product.
If you want to look into your own CBD oil for cats and dogs or you just want more information, visit our site.