Pets can suffer from anxiety much like us, but do you know the signs? And can you use CBD oil for helping pets with anxiety? Let’s discuss.
CBD Oil for Pets – Can Dogs & Cats use CBD?
And what is the legality of CBD for pets?
It’s a surprisingly common question that is cropping up more and more. At the minute there is still much research to be done to find concrete evidence, but anecdotal evidence and early studies have shown some promise. Even though we’re comfortable with using CBD for ourselves, it’s not quite as straightforward when it comes to our furry friends.
In this article we’ll touch on the basics you need to know about if you are considering giving CBD to your dog or cat.
Signs of anxiety in your pet
It’s not necessarily one of the first things you think you’d need to worry about, when it comes to our furry friends, but they too get anxious just like us. By recognising the first signs of anxiety in our pets, then it opens the door to be able to help them before it becomes too large a problem.
Dog anxiety
Can be caused by fear, separation or even old age. These symptoms tend to include: aggression, urinating in the house, drooling, panting, destructive behaviour, excessive barking, pacing, restlessness and repetitive/compulsive behaviours.
Cat anxiety
There are a variety of reasons that can cause our feline friends to feel anxious, and there are a lot of ways they can show it too. Mild symptoms including avoiding eye contact, shifting their body or head away, holding their tail close to their body, tail flicking or partially dilated eyes.
Moderate symptoms can include increased respiratory rate, looking at the stimulus, crouching or leaning away, holding their tail tight against their body. Severe signs include freezing in place, full dilated pupils, holding their ears back, staring, hair standing up and aggression.
The potential benefits of CBD for Dogs and Cats
Much like with humans, there are reports of potential benefits with CBD for pets, due in part to the very similar endocannabinoid systems we share. CBD oil is typically made from organically grown hemp plants and has generally been found to have a good safety tolerance according to initial research. Current studies are limited, however, so more needs to be done before any true claims can be made.
For now, we can only make assumptions based on anecdotal evidence, as some report giving their pets CBD to potentially relieve anxiety issues with their pets. While there are no CBD products currently able to be prescribed to pets, your local vet, in some circumstances, may suggest the use of legal CBD oil products.
Being safe is paramount when considering giving your pets CBD as it is part of your duty of care to your pet. You should not give your pets CBD products without first seeking advice from your vet.
If you are looking to give your pet CBD oil then your vet may likely make some suggestions on what you should be looking for. Generally, legal products in the UK must contain less than 0.2% of THC which is also important considering that THC is a psychoactive element for both us and our pets. Therefore, CBD Isolate is the most beneficial option as it’s completely THC-free (or in very minute amounts).
It’s also important to make sure that the CBD oil you use does not contain any other ingredients that may not be safe for your pet including the carrier oil that holds the CBD, and any flavourings that may have been added. Once you’ve picked a product you should verify it with your vet to ensure that it should be safe for you to give to your pet.
CBD for Dogs and Cats
Is it legal to give CBD to your pets? The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) have made it clear that while CBD products are not authorised in the UK for veterinary use, they are available for use by humans subject to marketing restrictions imposed by the MHRA.
Although the VMD believe that CBD may have some benefits to pets, they do believe it needs to be strictly regulated just as any medicine for animals.
CBD in general in the UK requires FSA approval and is not approved for medicinal use. In the UK, CBD is used primarily as a supplement, in vape products or as an ingredient in cosmetics.
Can you buy CBD oil for pets?
The short answer is no, as of the time of this writing, there are no legally purchasable CBD oil products for pets in the UK. No CBD product has been granted a UK veterinary marketing authorisation, therefore if you see any products that claim as such, these should be avoided. Legality can differ between countries but those sold within the UK must follow the UK marketing guidelines for CBD products.
But what about CBD oil products that are safe for humans?
“As there are currently no CBD products authorised in the UK for veterinary use, a veterinary surgeon may prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product under the provisions of the prescribing cascade. Administration of an unauthorised product containing CBD without a veterinary prescription is an offence under Regulation 8 of the VMR. Companies supplying CBD products for human use in line with the requirements of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency must not indicate or recommend their products for use on animals.” – VMD.
Hopefully in the years to come as more research highlights the many benefits of CBD, we shall see changes in the regulations that allow CBD to evolve.
