CBD Oil For Pets (Dogs, Cats, And Equine)
CBD for happy and healthy fur babies? Yes, please!
The CBD health trend has generated so much buzz over the years that its impact has reverberated across animal lovers and the majority of the pet care industry.
While there has been no definitive scientific proof of CBD’s benefits on dogs, cats, or equines, anecdotal reports from pet owners suggest it may assist with different types of discomfort.
So, the questions that now come begging are: What benefits can animals get from CBD supplements? And, more importantly, how much CBD is enough CBD for pets?
In this article, we answer these questions and more so that animal lovers and pet owners can have the insights they need to start discussing CBD supplementation with their vets and make informed decisions moving forward.
If you’re a dog, cat, or equine owner who’s looking to give your animals their healthiest, happiest life, then this mini-guide is for you!
Let’s begin.
Can Pets take CBD Oil?
The short answer is yes. One point that we at Zatural would like to focus on is the quality of CBD for pets.
When it comes to safely giving your fur babies CBD oils and other supplements, it’s important that you follow proper dosing recommendations.
What benefits can be achieved by taking CBD oil for pets?
Now comes the juicy part: How can CBD oil for pets make a difference? Like humans and all other mammals, dogs, cats, and equines have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that is receptive to the effects of cannabis.
In general, the ECS’s function is to help bodily processes achieve and maintain equilibrium. This fact may be the reason why CBD is thought to have so many potential benefits for both humans and animals.
CBD pet products, according to anecdotal evidence, may assist with mental and physical discomfort. However, it’s important to note that every animal is different and may experience varying effects when administered CBD supplements.
But how do you know if CBD oil for pets is, in fact, making positive changes? Since animals can’t verbalize whether they’re feeling better or worse, you will need to pay close attention to how they’re behaving after administering CBD products.
Depending on the condition your dog, cat, or equine has, relief may be achieved as soon as 30 minutes or up to a few weeks of daily use. Again, every animal is different. This means you may need to go through a trial-and-error phase with your vet where you test out different brands, doses, or forms to figure out what works.
Can side effects be expected with CBD for pets?
Animals experience the same side effects as their human counterparts when taking CBD. However, there is no cause for worry.
Like many health journeys, side effects from supplements and even medications are normal. But responsible pet owners still need to closely monitor their animals.
To make sure that your pet is safe, there are a few things to watch out for when it comes to certain CBD ingredients and types.
Can a pet have Full-Spectrum CBD?
THC can be toxic — but not deadly — to pets, so it’s important that you keep them away from full-spectrum CBD.
Full-spectrum CBD, or “whole flower CBD”, has all the naturally occurring substances found in cannabis, including up to 0.3% THC — the legal limit according to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
While this amount doesn’t really affect humans, it can be enough to cause a “high” or some discomfort for your pet, since they are smaller in size and can be extra sensitive to THC in general.
How does THC affect pets?
Despite our best efforts, curious pets can accidentally get their paws (and hoofs) on edibles, oils, and even vapes.
When THC enters the body, like humans, animals can become wobbly, uncoordinated, hyperactive or sleepy, disoriented, or even very vocal. They may look wide-eyed, very drooly, or nauseous. They may also develop urinary incontinence.
Their heart rates could either become too slow or too fast, their blood pressure erratic, their breathing slowed, and their body temperature too high or low. Fortunately, all these side effects are usually temporary. However, they can still present some dangers and discomfort.
In rare cases where THC intoxication is severe, pets can get tremors, seizures, and even get into a coma. As responsible pet owners, it’s important that you never smoke THC-based products in a room where your pets frequent or leave any cannabis product unattended.
Is CBD for pets the same as for humans?
As discussed earlier, CBD products meant for humans are usually no different than those meant for pets.
But vigilance is still needed when it comes to product strength and ingredients.
Milligram Strength Difference
The amount of CBD humans take depends on a range of factors, including their body weight, the condition they’re trying to manage, their individual body chemistry, and the concentration of CBD in each drop, gummy, pill, or capsule.
The same considerations apply to CBD oil for pets and other cannabis products as well.
More veterinary research on CBD’s effects on pets is still underway, especially when determining how CBD works for different animal species, what medical conditions might respond well to CBD, and what the ideal CBD potency is for different animal ECSs.
This means that determining the right milligram strength is still subject to trial and error. However, to be on the safe side, most CBD pet products offer a range of potencies and dosages, according to animal type and size.
For example, at Zatural, we recommend the following CBD oil doses for small to medium dogs under 50 pounds, with guidance from pet owners’ respective veterinarians:
- 10 pounds – 3.1 mg to 6.25 mg per day
- 20 pounds – 6.2 mg to 12.5 mg per day
- 30 pounds – 9.3 mg to 18.75 mg per day
- 40 pounds – 12.4 mg to 25 mg per day
- 50 pounds – 15.5 mg to 31.25 mg per day
Ingredients
Apart from dosage considerations, CBD pet products must be free from problematic ingredients, like pesticides, fillers, and artificial sweeteners.
Also, while CBD products made for humans are usually safe to give to pets, it’s crucial that you double-check for seemingly harmless ingredients that may be considered toxic for animals, such as essential oils and chocolate.
How much CBD should I give my pets?
Animal size means everything when determining the appropriate dose for your pets. The standard doses for cats and dogs are more or less the same, but equines have different dosage requirements since they are significantly larger.
If you’re a first-time CBD oil user, we recommend starting with the standard strength first and then working your way up to double strength options, depending on your pet’s size and needs.
When in doubt, check the label for appropriate dosage requirements. To make things even simpler, here’s a quick rundown of pet sizes and their appropriate dosages.
Cats and Dogs
Cats and dogs typically respond well to lower daily doses compared to their human and equine counterparts.
To safely supplement them with CBD, here’s a table that you can refer to depending on your pet’s size and health needs:
|
Pet weight |
Low dose |
Medium dose |
Strong dose |
|
About 10 pounds |
1 mg |
3.1 mg |
6.25 mg |
|
About 20 pounds |
2 mg |
6.2 mg |
12.5 mg |
|
About 30 pounds |
3 mg |
9.3 mg |
18.75 mg |
|
About 40 pounds |
4 mg |
12.4 mg |
25 mg |
|
About 50 pounds |
5 mg |
15.5 mg |
31.25 mg |
|
About 60 pounds |
6 mg |
18.7 mg |
37.5 mg |
|
About 70 pounds |
7 mg |
21.9 mg |
43.75 mg |
|
About 80 pounds |
8 mg |
25.1 mg |
56.25 mg |
|
About 90 pounds |
9 mg |
28.3 mg |
62.5 mg |
|
About 100 pounds |
10 mg |
31.5 mg |
68.75 mg |
Equines
Like with dogs and cats, equine owners need to start slow, play close attention to their equine’s needs, and increase dosages when needed.
As a rule of thumb, most equines do well with a daily standard dose of 0.2 mg per 1kg (or 2lbs). After two days, increase this to a medium dose of 0.4 mg per 1kg (or 2lbs) while monitoring how the equine reacts.
Note that using multiple CBD products can lead to your equines getting more CBD than they need. So, stick to just one product, unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise.
Where to buy CBD products for pets
Now that you know how much to give your animals, you’re probably wondering where to buy top-quality products that are safe for them to consume on a daily basis.
As a good starting point, we have formulated our Dog, Cat, and Equine CBD Oils to be a good mid-range. You can click any of the following products to go directly to the detail page.
Pet CBD oils
Zatural products are formulated with Co2-extracted, broad-spectrum CBD oil and cold-pressed hemp seed oil, making these options the ultimate wellness product for your dogs, cats, and equines.
- CBD Oil for Small to Medium Dogs
- CBD Oil for Small to Medium Dogs — Double Strength
- CBD Oil for Medium to Large Dogs
- CBD Oil for Medium to Large Dogs — Double Strength
- CBD Oil for Cats — Broad Spectrum CBD
- CBD Oil for Equines — Broad Spectrum CBD
Pet CBD Treats
Zatural’s veterinarian-formulated CBD Dog Soft Chews are made with natural ingredients and high-quality, carefully measured broad-spectrum CBD for delicious, meat-flavored soft treats that can have any picky eater begging for more.
Pet CBD Topicals
Your pet's nose contains 50 times more receptors than humans, impacting their ability to smell and sense danger.
Zatural's CBD-infused Pet Balm contains naturally occurring CBD and hemp formulated to help keep your pet’s nose, paws, and skin moisturized and healthy daily, especially during extremely cold or dry weather conditions.
Conclusion
Even though more studies are needed to provide solid evidence on how CBD may assist with several animal health conditions, many happy pet parents — with guidance from their respective vets — have already experienced great results when it comes to helping their fur babies feel their best.
Since these CBD products haven’t been reviewed or approved by the FDA, having a productive discussion with your veterinarian is key to ensuring safety while getting the best outcomes for individual pet needs.
Product recommendation
At Zatural, we pride ourselves on creating high-quality, natural, cruelty-free, and vet-formulated products that comply with Good Manufacturing Practices.
As a result, we help animal lovers give their fur babies the best CBD for pets, be it in oil, edible, or topical form.
Want your pets to enjoy the same top-quality care? Then feel free to check out all our omega-rich, CBD-based products for dogs, cats, and equines here.
Zatural Pet CBD Oil Tinctures
For educational purposes only
*FDA DISCLAIMER -These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.