In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has exploded in popularity as more people recognize its powerful benefits. From tincture and edibles to flower and topicals, there’s a CBD product out there for everyone. What about CBD for pets?

Our dogs and cats can feel discomfort, stress, and even tension, just like us. That’s why we decided to share CBD for pets from our sister line Holistapet! These products were made specifically with animals in mind. To give your pet the best overall care they can get, let’s learn about CBD for pets!

What Is CBD for Pets?

CBD oil for dogs and cats is similar to the cannabidiol products made for humans. There are different ingredients in some of these products to ensure they’re suitable for animals, but both contain CBD. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid (a bioactive compound that comes from cannabis) that provides soothing and restoring effects.

Since our pets can feel nervous, sore, or anxious like us, using CBD is a good, non-intoxicating way for both humans and animals to ease that tension. That’s because nearly every mammal has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that can be boosted by CBD.

The ECS helps regulate essential body functions such as digestion, sleep, inflammation, mood, and much more. CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors to promote the effectiveness of our ECS. This is how CBD delivers its benefits to our pets.

CBD comes from hemp plants. Hemp is a form of cannabis that has 0.3% or less THC. In large amounts, THC can induce intoxicating or “high” feelings. This relates to the common experience of marijuana. However, unlike marijuana, hemp does not contain enough THC to get you high.  The trace amounts of THC in hemp contributes to the entourage effect. 

The Entourage Effect

The entourage effect occurs when several compounds in cannabis, such as CBD and THC, work together to produce the highest level of benefit. 

When we (or our furry friends) use CBD, we’re often also ingesting other compounds derived from hemp. Unless you have an isolate (which is over 99% pure CBD molecules), you’re also getting the benefits of hemp’s terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids.

The more of these compounds you ingest simultaneously, the more powerful your CBD will work. This entourage effect is strongest when trace amounts of THC (0.3% or less) are combined with the CBD. CBD products that contain this small amount of THC are known as full spectrum, while broad spectrum CBD products should have no THC.

How Can CBD Help Pets?

We’ve seen that CBD can boost our pet’s endocannabinoid system, but how does this help them? As we’ve mentioned, the ECS regulates essential body functions. A well-performing ECS is crucial for a healthy animal, and you may notice some of these benefits:

Reduces nervousness

Some dogs and cats are easily frightened, which can occasionally make it difficult to get them to do certain things. For example, an overly anxious dog still needs exercise, but it might be so fearful that it struggles to get out the door. Cat and dog CBD can ease your pet’s racing thoughts so they can enjoy all types of environments.

Assists Socialization

Socialization training is a crucial part of pet care. It involves gradually exposing your dog or cat to other animals, people, and potentially stressful situations. This acclimates them to the stimuli. Since this process requires that your pet be exposed to things that could make them frightened or anxious, pet CBD can help calm them and make them more open to new scenarios.

Helps With Discomfort

Keeping your pet’s health in the best shape possible is important, but even the healthiest dogs and cats can have the occasional sick day. Using CBD when they’re feeling off can help provide relief from various forms of discomfort.

Soothes Swelling

Whether your dog is prone to inflammation, your cat ate too much, or an unforeseen health issue arises, swelling can put a damper on any pet’s health. Research has long studied the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD products, and the results are exciting pet owners everywhere!

Boosts Appetite

A proper diet is a cornerstone for any animal’s health. It affects every aspect of the pet’s life, from their activity level to their mental clarity. CBD for pets can boost the appetite of a dog that’s not eating, reduce a cat’s nausea so that it can hold down its food, and so on. This can get your pet back into a healthy eating schedule.

Promotes Mobility

As our pets age, their mobility may start to slow down. You may notice they can’t stand up or jump as easily as they did when they were younger. Or maybe they won’t be able to walk as far as they did before. Providing a regimen of CBD may promote or preserve their mobility and possibly ease joint-related tensions.

Is CBD Safe for Pets?

Our CBD for pets is perfectly safe because our treats and products were created with your pets in mind. Unfortunately, not all CBD companies follow such strict standards, so make sure that you research the manufacturer.

Further on in this read, we’ll cover what you should look for and what you should avoid when buying CBD oil for dogs and cats. However, rest assured that top-quality products are ok for dogs and cats when it comes to CBD.

This is because CBD and all of the other compounds derived from hemp are natural. Not only that, but there are also receptors in your pet’s body that are well-suited to interact with cannabinoids and promote the ECS. As long as the product is responsibly made, CBD for your dog or cat is good and beneficial!

How Much CBD Should You Give Your Pet?

The right amount of CBD is different for each pet. We generally recommend between 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg of CBD per every 1 lb of bodyweight. A regular dose is 0.25 mg per pound, while 0.5 mg per pound is strong.

Bodyweight is the primary factor when dosing CBD. Other variables include activity level, susceptibility (similar to humans, some pets are lightweights), and any underlying health issues. Fortunately, HolistaPet has this handy dosing chart.

Products like CBD cat or dog treats are easy to dose because they are typically between 5-20 mg per piece. If a single dog snack contains 10 mg of CBD and your pet only needs 5 mg, you could give it half of the snack each time. Owners of dogs and cats with underlying health issues should first consult a veterinarian before giving their pet CBD.

What Types of CBD Product Is Right for Your Pet?

There are CBD products for every type of pet lifestyle and preference. If you have a catnip-obsessed feline, a canine in training, or even a horse that could use some CBD, HolistaPet has got you covered. We offer both full and broad spectrum products, so experiment with a few until you find your pet’s favorite!

CBD Oil

CBD oil for dogs and cats is one of the best options for those who want to administer a specific amount of CBD to their pet. Using the included dropper, apply the CBD oil directly into the animal’s mouth or drop some into its food. CBD oil quickly absorbs into your pet’s body, resulting in fast-acting effects.

Not only is our CBD oil organic and made with all-natural ingredients, but it’s vegan as well! 

CBD Chews

CBD chews deliver cannabidiol’s calming effects while simultaneously giving your pooch a tasty treat. Packed with delicious peanut butter flavor and a soft texture, each jar contains 30 soft chews with 5 mg of CBD in each chew. If you’re looking for broad spectrum CBD oil, these chews are an excellent choice.

CBD chews are a great example of a product that amplifies cannabidiol’s properties with natural ingredients. These chews utilize the effects of sweet potatoes, tryptophan, chamomile, and more. Use some top-shelf CBD chews as a snack between meals or when training your dog.

CBD Treats

CBD oil-infused cat and dog treats may just be the best thing that ever happened to the field of animal training. Using treats as a reward has long been ideal for conditioning and building trust with a dog or cat. With HolistaPet’s treats, you can train your pet while also giving it CBD oil.

Our CBD treats for dogs come in three varieties: Heart & Immune Care, Joint & Mobility Care, and Stress & Anxiety Relief. 

Meanwhile, our CBD treats for cats are formulated with a delicious salmon flavor that felines can’t resist!

 With the tranquil effects of CBD oil, you can use a treat to help a restless kitten get to sleep or a skittish pup relax during the Fourth of July.

CBD Dog Shampoo

Scrub-a-dub-dub, CBD’s in the tub! The next time you bathe your furry friend, use HolitaPet’s CBD dog shampoo. Our special formula is geared towards dogs with dry, sensitive skin. CBD can help hydrate skin, and also combat skin irritation or itchiness. 

This shampoo is a full spectrum product delivering the maximum benefits of the entourage effect. It has a delicious mandarin-berry scent that both you and your dog will love. CBD shampoo for canines works wonders for all dog breeds.

CBD For Horses

Dogs and cats may be some of the most popular pets around, but they’re far from the only animals with an endocannabinoid system. Horses also have an ECS, and they can benefit from CBD just as much as people, canines, and felines. Use our CBD pellets or CBD oil designed for horses to soothe that steed!

What to Look for in CBD Pet Products

No matter what a business or manufacturer says about their products, the ingredients always speak for themselves. The biggest thing to keep your eye out for when shopping for CBD pet products is all-natural ingredients.

Since CBD comes from hemp, it’s already bursting with benefits as soon as it comes out of the ground. Any additional ingredients should only serve to boost CBD’s effectiveness, flavor, or form. To give your dog or cat the best CBD, these are some ingredients to look for (and others to avoid).

Ingredients to Look for:

All the benefits of CBD can be experienced without any artificial additives. Our pets appreciate the best ingredients in their products, just like we do. Some beneficial natural ingredients include:

• Coconut oil
• Essential oils like nepetalactone (derived from the catnip plant)
• Flaxseed
• Hemp seed powder
• Rolled oats
• Brown rice flour
• Organic foods (blueberries, sweet potatoes, peanut butter)
• Chamomile
• L-Theanine

Even flavoring should be natural. Terpenes, compounds in hemp that affect the plant’s smell and taste, come with their own relaxing or mind-centering effects. They can be used in CBD products to provide cats and dogs with a natural taste rather than artificial flavorings.

Buy CBD oil or other pet products that are manufactured using hemp grown in the United States. USA-grown hemp is regulated by government agencies. These regulations ensure the plants are grown safely and do not contain THC levels greater than 0.3%.

Ingredients to Avoid:

Avoid artificial flavors, non-organic additives, and imported hemp from other countries. Hemp grown outside of the US may not be subjected to the same strict regulations. This might mean the THC level is higher than 0.3%, which could induce intoxicating or “high” feelings in dogs or cats.

One of the easiest ways to tell whether a product is safe for your dog or cat is by asking yourself if you would buy the same item for your own use. High-quality CBD products made for pets should be good enough to be consumed by humans. In fact, holistaPet uses many quality human-grade ingredients in their pet products.

Of course, this doesn’t mean pet owners should go eating every pet product they come across, but make sure you’re well-informed about your purchase. Inferior products may contain heavy metals, solvent residue, mold, or fungus.

What Makes HolistaPet CBD Products the Best Choice?

Thinking about using CBD for your pets? Our CBD oil for dogs and cats comes from American grown hemp, contains 100% all-natural ingredients, and the highest quality cannabidiol available. We offer both broad and full-spectrum options so you can choose the best product for your dog, cat, or horse.

Our full-spectrum products contain the perfect concentration of CBD without exceeding THC levels of 0.3%. We hold ourselves to this standard by having all of our products third-party lab tested. This third-party checks the product and creates a detailed, unbiased report of what’s inside.

The test results should confirm that the product’s label matches its ingredients. The lab provides a certificate of analysis (COA), and one of the first questions you should ask any manufacturer is whether they have COAs available. The top companies have their COAs ready for viewing anytime. Here is a link to all Holistapet’s COAs.

We also offer free shipping and a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. High-quality CBD can help dogs, cats, horses, and many other animals get relief and feel relaxed. HolistaPet works hard to ensure all pet owners are confident in their CBD products!

Final Thoughts – CBD for Pets

Giving your dog, cat, or horse the benefits of CBD is a superb way to show them that you care. The best CBD for pets is third-party tested, made with natural ingredients, and comes from American farms.

Buy from a manufacturer who can provide a COA, has plenty of positive feedback, and sources their hemp from Colorado or Oregon, the top states for cannabis cultivation (free shipping never hurt either).  Now that you’ve done your research on CBD for pets, start experimenting and find the perfect product for your furry friend!