The Health Benefits of CBD For Pets: What Does The Research Say?

As CBD flower shops and CBD oil vendors become more and more ubiquitous in cities across the country, the general public gradually grows more informed about the full spectrum of cannabis benefits. Even most casual users now know that marijuana plants contain the cannabinoid CBD, which is non-psychoactive and has shown great promise in treating chronic pain.

Studies consistently suggest that products like CBD pain relief lotion and CBD oil provide anti-inflammatory relief that soothes the symptoms of neuropathic pain, although more research is still needed. Chronic conditions like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sciatica can have extremely deleterious effects. And not just for humans.

In recent years, people have even begun using cannabis to help their dogs and cats, who suffer from anxiety and chronic pain just as consistently as humans do. Utilizing CBD for pets is much different than blowing smoke in their faces or giving them an edible treat that gets them “high.” In fact, since pets have no way to contextualize or understand what they’re feeling or why, plying them with psychoactive agents is probably not the best recourse for battling chronic conditions, especially anxiety.

However, the use of CBD oil and CBD pain relief lotion, is a different discussion altogether. A growing body of research suggests that CBD for pets may be a safe and potentially powerful method of soothing the symptoms of chronic pain, arthritis, seizures, anxiety, nausea, and others.

CBD for pets: what the research says about safety and efficacy

Due to embargos on medical marijuana research that were in place for the last century or so, scientists have only recently begun to seriously study the use of products like CBD oil on pain and anxiety relief. Hemp-derived CBD was formally legalized in 2018 via the passage of the U.S. Farm Bill. This means that a new age of research can begin, as well as a new age of reformed criminal justice.

Studies on CBD for pets are even more sparse, but a promising body of research is gradually developing that shows CBD oil and other products may be effective in treating osteoarthritis pain and possibly even seizures in household animals – namely, dogs and cats.

This question–whether CBD for pets is a good idea–is a common one, according to veterinarians. A study by VIN News Service recently found that 63% of vets have been consistently asked about whether CBD oil and other hemp and cannabis derived CBD products can help pets. As a result, a panoply of products providing CBD for pets has hit the market in recent years. Emerald Dragon CBD, Hemprx CBD oil, Pure Ratios CBD all offer some form of concentrated cannabinoid formula for dogs and cats. Higher Hemp CBD proudly carries these brands, as well as many more, which adhere to the strictest lab-testing protocols.

Another recent study showed that 80% of dogs may have demonstrated increased mobility and decreased pain as a result of using CBD oil.

Starting in 2016, Stephanie McGrath, a veterinarian and assistant professor of neurology, conducted a series of studies about how CBD is metabolized by dogs. At the time, almost no research had been done on the subject. She conducted two clinical trials – one regarding epilepsy in dogs and the other regarding osteoarthritis – and found that the results were positive.

Dovetailing her work, an additional study by a different research team at Cornell concluded that 2 mg per kilogram of CBD administered twice a day can help promote “comfort and activity” in osteoarthritic dogs.

McGrath wants more studies on CBD for pets to be conducted in the future but, for the time being, she says, “I feel really comfortable at this point, given all of our clinical trials and our initial research, that it’s a safe product.”

What can CBD oil do for pets?

While further studies will be required for any definitive conclusions, all the current research points to CBD being a safe “alternative medicine” for pets. Due in part to legalization efforts and in further part to new research into the beneficial effects of cannabinoids, spending on CBD for pets has soared in the last few years, from $500 million in 2018 to a projected $1.1+ billion in 2020.

One of the reasons scientists, researchers, and veterinarians believe CBD for pets could be a good idea is that CBD travels through the body – both human bodies and animal bodies – using the same metabolic pathways as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – in other words, non-prescription painkillers like ibuprofen. Such metabolism may help shape the severity of inflammation in the body, as well as other problems like blood clotting.

If in the coming years studies can prove that CBD provides a strong anti-inflammation response (as it certainly appears to), CBD oil for pets could become even more ubiquitous as a safer, cheaper, and more effective treatment than surgery and strong painkillers. It could also vastly improve the quality of life for pets in their final years.

Another reason CBD for pets is increasingly being considered involves anxiety and stress, which anyone who has owned a pet (particularly a dog) knows is a very real struggle, especially if the animal has been abused, had a traumatic upbringing, or is emotionally triggered by the loud noises of events like firework celebrations.

Remember, dogs have much better hearing than humans. When it comes to higher frequencies, they can hear nearly twice the hertz we can and use 18 ear muscles as opposed to the mere six used by humans. In other words, we can’t even really imagine what a firework or other loud sound is like for a dog but it’s obviously extremely uncomfortable for them on a physical level and distressing on a psychological level.

For years, pet owners have shared reports of their animals hiding and whimpering on days like the Fourth of July. The stress hormone cortisol triggers your pet’s fight or flight response, which causes many animals to flee in confusion. Heartbreakingly, many pets go missing each year on days like the 4th.

Advocates claim CBD oil is a safe, natural way to relieve their anxiety and the physiological effects of stress and trauma.

Dr. Ibrahim Shokry is a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Based on his 30 years of veterinary experience, he says that while more controlled studies are needed, the science right now points to CBD for pets being a healthy, effective solution to a variety of symptoms experienced by household animals.

“It can be used in the treatment of certain types of seizures, to control pain, inflammation, nausea, vomiting, to stimulate appetite and to manage anxiety,” he states.

Buying CBD for pets: cannabis delivery San Diego residents prefer during the pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has complicated a vast array of business models and commercial transactions but, fortunately, the rise of new dispensaries (and enterprising new services by the old ones) has made acquiring cannabis exceedingly easy. It has literally never been easier to purchase CBD oil and other hemp-derived CBD products.

According to analysts, CBD e-commerce sales have spiked during the pandemic lockdown, adding new fire to what is now a $20 billion industry. Easier credit card transactions and delivery mechanisms are a huge part of this boom and Higher Hemp CBD is proud to have led the vanguard of simplified, consumer-friendly hemp sales.

Anxiety and depression levels at an all-time high in the country. Additionally, some people are unwilling to risk contracting Covid-19 and/or defy mandates in order to go to a doctor. The result is that many patients are not getting the regular physical therapy or other treatments they need to help with chronic pain. For this reason and many more, CBD oil and other products are more popular than ever.

Based in San Diego, California, and delivering all over the country, Higher Hemp CBD has made it a mission to eliminate the confusion and stress of buying CBD oil, hemp flower, and full-spectrum products. Offering free same-day local delivery with no minimum order, it is the model of cannabis delivery San Diego residents prefer, especially during a lockdown.

For residents of other cities, Higher Hemp CBD offers free 2-day shipping nationwide for orders over $60.

And for those of you who like to know exactly what is in your medicinal purchases, you’ll be happy to know that Higher Hemp CBD includes lab tests for every product, whether it’s CBD oil, cartridges, blunts, joints, flower, concentrates, topicals (CBD pain relief lotion), and CBD for pets. In every order you will receive a detailed certificate of analysis breaking down the exact percentage of every cannabinoid compound inside.