LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 40 YEARS!............................THE NATURAL PLACE FOR YOUR PET!

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CBD for Pets

CBD for Pets

In all the years we have worked in the pet industry (that’s 40 years, now!), there’s one supplement that we think can make a big difference for many pets, but it just doesn’t get enough attention.

Let’s talk about it today!

 

Cannabidiol, or: CBD Oil

 

Critter Jungle’s brand of choice is Hemp4Tails!

https://hemp4tails.ca/

 

We know that sometimes this compound can get confused for something very different, so let’s clear the air. CBD is an oil that’s extracted from hemp plants and it is often used for a variety of health conditions in both humans and pets. The great thing about CBD hemp oil is that it contains zero THC. THC is the part of a cannabis plant that causes the psychoactive effects. Cannabis based CBD products can contain trace amounts of THC, but hemp based CBD is 100% safe for pets! This is often the concern for pet owners, but rest assured these products are completely pet friendly. It’s important to never use human products for pets, though. Even if it’s labelled as “CBD only” since trace amounts of THC can be very dangerous.

It’s really one of those products with more uses than we can mention, but we will try nonetheless.

● Pain management and arthritis.
○ One study found that in just 4 weeks, regular CBD usage showed a “significant decrease in pain and increase in [physical] activity.” Veterinary assessment corroborated this!
● inflammatory disorders
○ This can include things like IBD, asthma, joint inflammation, skin conditions, etc. Even short term inflammation like what your dog would get from a bought of diarrhea would be very responsive to CBD oil.
● immune system functioning
○ CBD is immunomodulating. This means that it calms an overactive immune system and boosts an underactive one. Autoimmune disorders or dietary or environmental allergies would respond well to CBD’s immunomodulating effects.
● Dermatitis
○ Itchy pets, rejoice! One study showed a 50% reduction in itching and chewing amongst 65% of the dogs included in their sample sizes. Even then, “of those dogs, half recovered from all signs of itchiness while being treated.”
● seizure disorders
○ A human study showed 43% of participants had a 50% reduction in convulsive-seizure frequency after 14 weeks of treatment. This is one of those categories where CBD is thoroughly researched for both people and pets, making it a supplementary treatment option to strongly consider for dogs with seizure disorders.
● Anxiety
○ Another category very strongly researched and the most common usage of CBD oil among our customers. One study found a significant reduction in dogs during a stressful incident (separation anxiety or travel anxiety, depending on what was more distressing to them) when given CBD. This included a reduction in stress related behaviours such as whining, but also a measured decrease in cortisol levels. Very promising!

 

The research being done these days is only getting more and more robust, which has more and more people trying seeking it out as a solution! Some of our customers swear by this oil for their pets and can’t go without it. We’ve used it in our own pets and seen its effects first hand, as well. One dose had our anxious cat, George, go from a panting, screaming mess in the car, to a quiet passenger observing the scenery passing by. Long term use in our late senior dogs, Ruby and Pearl, gave them precious extra time and - most importantly - comfort in their mobility. It greatly reduced inflammation for our asthmatic cat, Ronan, during peak allergy months.

 

Here is a quick word on how it works:

In our bodies, and the bodies of our pets, there exists the endocannabinoid system (the ECS). Much like we have an immune system, digestive system or circulatory system, the ECS is its own branch of functionality in the body and has been shown to be linked to things like pain, emotions, appetite, memory, neurological functionality and immunomodulation. Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers our body uses to communicate from one brain cell to another) called endocannabinoids work with the ECS to help regulate all of the functions listed above. Other cannabinoids, not produced by the body, can be used to communicate alongside our endocannabinoids for optimal productivity and functionality. An example of one of these “other cannabinoids”? You guessed it: CBD oil.

How to use CBD oil for your pet:

If you’re looking to use it for acute situations, like anxiety during a car ride, thunderstorm, fireworks, etc., give the full dose of CBD (usually 1ml) about 30 minutes before the stressful situation to give it a chance to kick in.

For chronic issues, most people find success with 0.5ml morning and night. You can play with dosage if you find your pet is more symptomatic at one time of the day. For example, if your pet has a hard time settling at night because of their arthritis, perhaps 0.75ml at night and 0.25ml in the morning would be a better routine for you.

 

 

One important note:

Make sure to consult your vet about incorporating CBD oil if your pet is receiving any other medications. Many common medications for our pets are metabolized by certain liver enzymes, a quality shared by CBD oil. When CBD oil and those medications are administered together, this can have a negative effect on the medication efficacy and on your pet’s liver. Most users will cease CBD usage while their pet is on their medication and resume when treatment is done.

 

We believe CBD oil is one of those products sorely missing from pet owners’ kits that would really make a difference, and we hope you can see why! If you’re looking to incorporate CBD oil into your pet’s routine, come chat with us! We’re here to help.