CBD for Animals
February 21, 2025
CBD-a great choice for animals
Every day at my Apothecary, pet owners ask how they can help their
pet’s arthritis, anxiety, fear of people, fear of vet visits, fear of loud noises, traveling stress, seizure disorders, GI disorders, chronic pain, inflammation, and even cancer.
“Should I give my Pet CBD oil?”
My answer is a definite “Yes!!! But…” because not all products are created equally, and there are some things consumers should be aware of before purchasing a CBD product.
The good news is pets can benefit from CBD in much the same way humans do. Our furry family members, as well as most animals, have an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that is responsible for maintaining homeostasis or balance within the body – including regulation of the communication between cells, the body’s immune response, and autonomic functions like appetite, sleep, and metabolism.
Basically, the ECS helps the body maintain itself.
Cannabinoid supplements interact with this system, meaning that your pet will potentially derive benefits from CBD in similar ways to their human “pet parents” do. CBD’s benefits come from its ability to affect the body’s naturally occurring regulatory processes by interacting with the Endocannabinoid System. This chemical communication system includes CB1 receptors, mostly found in the brain, and CB2 receptors found all over the body, including in the gut and immune cells.
Animals, however, can be very sensitive to cannabinoids.
One of the leading experts and writer of Medical Marijuana and Your Pet, Dr. Robert Silver, DVM, MS, CVA, writes “Studies on dogs, conducted in the 1970’s, helped us to understand the working of the endocannabinoid system,” and “it was determined that dogs, as compared to all of the other species studied, have the greatest number of endocannabinoid receptors in their cerebellum and brainstem, which govern coordination and other basic necessary functions like breathing and heart rate. Due to this high density of endocannabinoid receptors in its brain, dogs are extremely sensitive to THC.”
This extreme sensitivity to THC in dogs limits the ability to use traditional medicinal marijuana in our pets, which would quickly turn them into furry THC-zombies. This also means consumers must be very careful that the CBD products they buy DO NOT contain THC. Please be careful how you store your THC containing gummies!
Legally, products can be marketed as “THC-Free” so long as they contain less than 0.3% THC, which still may be far too high for our THC-sensitive furry friends. LabNaturalsCBD products have ZERO (0.0%) THC for this very reason.
Dogs can easily overdose on THC and have a severe negative reaction called Static Ataxia, which includes: glazed eyes, excessive drooling, loss of bowel and bladder control, rapid breathing, falling over, and an inability to get up again. CBD has become the cannabinoid of choice for many clients because it is non-toxic and well tolerated in animals, but the negative dangers of THC are less widely known.
Now you may ask, “How do I choose a CBD Hemp Oil product for my pet?”
First and foremost, you must buy the product from a reputable source. A reputable source is one that does third-party lab testing on their finished products and can produce a Certificate of Analysis to prove that the products actually contain what is on the product labels.
Since 2015, the FDA has sent warning letters to CBD manufacturers who claim there is more CBD in the bottle than there actually is. Up to 75% of CBD products were found in one study to be mislabeled and misbranded.
Our LabNaturalsCBD Broad Spectrum CBD Hemp Oils have proven ZERO THC per third-party testing, which makes them an excellent choice, especially for dogs, who are naturally much more sensitive to THC’s psychotropic effects.
Since LabNaturalsCBD products are third-party tested for potency, purity, and consistency, you can rest assured that our CBD hemp oils are consistent with their labeled strengths. We have Certificates of Analysis available upon request for each of our products. Our oils are free from contaminants – like mold, mildew, and microbes, and are grown without chemicals or pesticides, and are free of heavy metals – protecting your pet’s health and safety over the long-term use of these products.
Second, make sure to purchase CBD oil from a business with professional expertise in health, wellness, and supplementation. It is also important to have someone check your animal’s medications for potential interactions. Finding a pharmacist well-versed in both CBD and pet medications is best to be sure that all information is accurate.
Our LabNaturalsCBD products are not like your vape shop’s or gas station’s CBD!
LabNaturalsCBD products contain broad-spectrum hemp oil creating an entourage effect where the cannabinoids work together for greater potential benefits. They are also derived from the whole medicinal industrial hemp plant grown, processed, and produced in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production of hemp-derived CBD, and in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill provisions for industrial hemp cultivation.
Third, we use a “Low and Slow” process of building up the serving size in our clients, which applies to both humans and animals. This allows us to find the right serving size for the client’s needs. We also consider the pet’s size, species, medications, and weight to and this serving may be increased every 3 days until desired benefits are achieved.
You should feel confident that my 44 years of clinical and holistic pharmacy experience is reflected in every handpicked product in my pharmacy, Murray Avenue Apothecary/LabNaturals, Inc.
I am thrilled at the results CBD has shown for humans and our furry family members too!
To Your Health,
Susan M. Pharmacist/Owner