While there’s some panic surrounding recent reports of pets poisoned by consuming too much marijuana, proper dosage and the right CBD oil can provide benefits to furry friends with very few risks. In fact, the benefits can sometimes be life-changing for pets.
CBD can greatly improve a cat’s quality of life. Some cats suffer from extreme anxiety, depression, seizures, and chronic inflammation. While some prescription drugs can help, CBD oil provides a less invasive alternative.
To help ensure that your feline friend has a purr-fect CBD experience, we broke down a few pros and cons to consider before giving your cat CBD.
RELATED: My dog ate weed. What should I do? We asked veterinarians how cannabis affects canines
Before giving CBD oil to your cats, consider consulting a trusted veterinarian. Veterinarians cannot prescribe CBD for pets, but they might be able to help you weigh the pros and cons of using CBD based on your pet’s health history and medications.
It’s very important to understand that CBD dosage for cats and humans is very different. Because our bodies are different, CBD takes a different amount of time to show effects in cats than in humans, and the effects can vary. The general rule of thumb here is to give your cat one to four mg of CBD per every 10 pounds of body weight.
The best way to go about determining dosage for your cat is by speaking to a veterinarian. However, if you’re having trouble finding a veterinarian who is open to discussing CBD, anecdotal reports are better than nothing. Here are some dosing recommendations we found from anecdotal reports online:
- Asthma and arthritis: 0.5mng/kg twice daily
- Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome: 0.2mg/kg twice daily
- Upper respiratory infection: 5mg/kg twice daily
- Anxiety and restlessness: 0.1mg/kg twice daily with increments of 0.1mg/kg per day up to 0.5mg/kg twice daily
RELATED: They say marijuana is stronger these days. But exactly how much stronger is today’s cannabis?
After consulting with your veterinarian or doing some research of your own, you can start introducing your cats to CBD.
It’s important that you avoid CBD oil extracted from marijuana plants, as these can be toxic for pets. Use CBD oil from hemp plants instead.
Also, start with a very low dose and watch how it affects your cat in the 24 hours following. If you don’t see any change in your animal’s mood or apparent comfort, slowly up the dose each day until you start seeing the desired effects.
Risks of CBD oil for cats
CBD can cause drowsiness, but this is a common side effect, so don’t worry if you notice this. Do, however, keep an eye on any changes in your cat’s sleeping schedule. If they’re sleeping too much, or seem overly sluggish, you should lower the dose.
There are only three somewhat serious side effects that you should worry about. These are nausea, drastic changes in appetite, and vomiting. While you shouldn’t panic if your pet starts exhibiting these symptoms (it’s extremely rare for a dog or cat to die from consuming too much CBD), you should contact your veterinarian or animal poison control and follow their instructions immediately.
Benefits of CBD oil for cats
CBD treats for cats can greatly improve their quality of life. Inflammation and anxiety are the most common problems that cats can suffer from which can be alleviated with CBD. The right dosage of CBD oil could reverse these issues and leave your pet feeling relaxed and pain-free.
Given the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, many cat owners find that CBD has helped their feline friends suffering from allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and chronic pain, among other illnesses.
Perhaps best of all, many pet owners see their cat’s overall mood improve after giving them CBD oil.
RELATED: Flying with pets? CBD can help
CBD can be life-changing for cats when administered properly. Cat owners who use CBD treats often see an overall improvement in their cat’s health.
However, it’s important to follow dosage recommendations very carefully, and use CBD oil from hemp plants, not marijuana plants. The last thing you want is to see your cat suffer from nausea, vomiting, or major changes in appetite because of CBD.