| CBD (Cannabidiol) for Pets
What Is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in cannabis, the plant we often associate with marijuana.
In fact, it is one of over 113 “cannabinoids” found in the cannabis plant, many of which are also being investigated for their potential health benefits.
Unlike THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, CBD is completely non psychoactive and safe to be used on pets.
CBD also has no known toxicity level, and is incapable of causing an overdose.
In fact, the CBD found in cannabis pet supplements is usually sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis that naturally contains extremely low concentrations of THC.
How Does CBD Interact With the Body?
CBD interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.
The ECS is a biological system found in all mammals, and is involved in managing a wide variety of biological processes, including memory, sleep, immune response, and more.
It mainly consists of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).
These receptors are built to interact with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids naturally produced by the brain).
However, they can also interact with plant-derived cannabinoids like CBD,which in turn cause a variety of responses throughout the body.
When it comes to CBD, many of these responses are very beneficial.
The endocannabinoid system is essentially the system that processes cannabinoids introduced into the body.
Note that most of these findings come from studies on lab animals (like rats) or clinical trials on humans.
Nonetheless, the effects of CBD are similar in humans, dogs, cats, and other pets.
This is because, just like humans, dogs and cats also have an endocannabinoid system that functions much in the same way as the human ECS.
Plus, many of the conditions (like anxiety, arthritis, pain, and convulsions) manifest much in the same way in pets as they do in humans.
Primary Uses in Dogs and Cats
1. Natural Pain Relief. A great alternative to NSAIDS, effective without the serious side effects.
2. Seizure Control. Over 30% of animals do not respond to conventional medication, and this is a legitimate holistic option. Early research from CSU on epileptic dogs is showing promising results.
3. Natural Anti-inflammatory. Many of the dog and cat diseases have inflammation as the primary cause, such as Feline Urinary Tract Disease, Allergic skin disease, Autoimmune disease, chronic organ dysfunction, joint disease, eye disease, inflammatory bowel disease. CBD may be benficial for many of these conditions.
4. Cancer prevention, potentially treatment. There has been much research showing the anti-cancer properties of CBD, along with benefits in using it as a treatment.
5. Anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety, cats with urinary tract disease, excessive barking, excessive vocalization. CBD may be helpful for most of these conditions. | 
