We all have heard about CBD products for human consumption, but recently, there’s also been a surge in the demand for pets. Pets shower us with joy and unconditional love—they’re more than just pets; they’re family.
But just like us humans, pets are prone to separation anxiety, chronic pain, sleep trouble, appetite issues, and seizures, and CBD can help with their health. However, many new users may wonder How exactly CBD oil tinctures for pets differ from human CBD products. Can I add CBD oil to my pet’s food?
Technically speaking, there isn’t much difference between the core composition of pet and human CBD products, but some essential factors could make a difference. In this article, we will determine the difference between both and help you decide whether to spend extra bucks on CBD for your furry friends.
What Exactly Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD in short, is a naturally occurring compound known as cannabinoids. There are over 100 cannabinoids present in Cannabis sativa plants. CBD is known for its analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties.
It’s one of the most widely used and researched cannabinoids. For many people and their pets, it has become a natural wellness remedy. Scientific studies and anecdotal reports show that CBD is effective in improving sleep, pain, and anxiety-related issues without causing any severe side effects.
Plus, CBD doesn’t have any intoxicating properties, unlike THC (another cannabinoid mainly used for recreational purposes). All pet and human CBD products, like tinctures, treats, and gummies, have less than 0.3% THC, which makes them perfectly safe for consumption.
How Does CBD Work in Pets and Humans?
Both humans and mammals have an endocannabinoid system in their bodies. This endocannabinoid system is a complex cluster of different cell signaling networks. It functions with a set of endocannabinoids that the body produces (mainly AEA and 2-AG), cannabinoid receptors (mainly CB1 and CB2), metabolic enzymes, and many other components like fatty acids.
This vast and complex network is present throughout the body and creates a state of balance by regulating various physiological processes, including mood, sleep, memory, pain, appetite, metabolism, stress, inflammation, nerve function, anxiety, and more.
That’s why CBD products are effective in the form of salves and lotions as well, as they directly affect the ECS present in your skin and provide relief in affected areas.
CBD mainly works by indirectly influencing the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which results in our entourage effects. Though we don’t exactly know its way of working in pets, it’s assumed that it’s similar to how it works in humans.
As stated above, all animals, be they mammals or reptiles, and humans have an indigenous endocannabinoid system. That’s why, whether your cat or dog has separation anxiety, inflammation, or pain, CBD can improve their well-being without any issues.
Many studies show CBD’s therapeutic and healing effects among humans, but the same cannot be said for pets. But there’s been a surge of anecdotal reports showing how CBD has helped people’s pets with their mobility, sleep, separation anxiety, and pain-related issues.
This increased result has led to funds being allocated for CBD’s study of animal consumption; this 2023 study is proof of that. It shows that hose CBD can help in reducing stress in dogs’ travel and separation conditions.
Difference Between Pet CBD and Human CBD
Now that we know what CBD is and how it improves overall well-being for both humans and animals, let’s look at some factors that differentiate pet and human CBD products. The CBD is the same in animal and pet products; it’s derived from the same hemp plants using a similar extraction process. But the major difference lies in the composition; pet CBD products have a different set of ingredients, flavorings, and strength levels.
The flavoring and additive ingredients in human CBD tinctures might be harmful and may cause adverse reactions in pets. There’s no hard-core rule stopping you from giving your CBD oil to your pet, but why would you want to take that risk?
That’s why it’s advised to use only pet-specific CBD products to improve your furry friend’s health. Let’s take a look at why we shouldn’t give human CBD to pets in detail :
Ingredients and Toxicity
Most human CBD products have ingredients that might cause toxic reactions in pets. Plus, pets have a different metabolic rate and might be unable to digest ingredients in human CBD properly.
Hence, it’s necessary to buy only pet CBD products for your pets that have ingredients tailored to their specific needs.
Flavoring
Humans and pets have different taste palettes; most human CBD products have a fruity flavoring, for example, peppermint tinctures and mango-flavored gummies. Pets will most probably refuse to consume such products, and you all know how specific our feline friends are.
Pet CBD products usually come with meaty-textured flavorings that are apt for animal taste buds and preferences.
Concentration
Pet and human CBD products have different concentration levels. Pet CBD products usually have lower CBD concentration levels as compared to human ones. You should always follow the dosage guidelines mentioned on pet CBD products, which are made by keeping their weight and symptoms in mind.
The End Note
To sum it up, CBD can provide holistic health benefits for both humans and animals. While CBD is the same in both animal and pet products, the ingredients, flavors, and concentration levels are different.
It’s always advised to give only pet CBD products to your furry friends, as they were specifically designed with their use case in mind. Giving human CBD products to pets may result in toxic reactions in pets; hence, it must be avoided at all costs.
Just like humans, pets also have an endocannabinoid system, and pet CBD products can improve their gut health, and mobility, and even reduce anxiety during travel, storms, and other stressful events.
It is advisable always to buy CBD oil from reputable brands like Colorado Botanicals. Make sure to follow the dosage guidelines mentioned in the box, and give your pet a chance to live a healthy and happy life.
