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While there is some panic surrounding recent reports of pets being poisoned from too much marijuana, the right dose and the right CBD oil can provide benefits to furry friends with very little risk. 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 medications can help, CBD oil offers a less invasive alternative.
To help ensure your feline friend has the perfect CBD experience, we’ve broken down some pros and cons to consider before giving your cat CBD.
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Before giving CBD oil to your cats, consider consulting a trusted veterinarian. Vets cannot prescribe CBD for pets, but they can help you weigh the pros and cons of using CBD based on your pet’s health history and medications.
It is very important to understand that the dosage of CBD 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 it does in humans, and effects can vary. The rule of thumb here is to give your cat one to four mg of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight.
The best way to determine the dosage for your cat is by talking to a veterinarian. However, if you’re having trouble finding a vet who’s open to discussing CBD, anecdotal reports are better than nothing. Here are some dosage recommendations we found based on anecdotal reports online:
- Asthma and arthritis: 0.5 mg/kg twice daily
- Inflammatory bowel syndrome: 0.2 mg/kg twice a day
- Upper respiratory infection: 5 mg/kg twice daily
- Anxiety and restlessness: 0.1 mg/kg twice daily in increments of 0.1 mg/kg daily up to 0.5 mg/kg twice daily
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After consulting with your vet or doing some personal research, you can start introducing your cats to CBD.
It is important that you avoid CBD oil extracted from marijuana plants, as they can be toxic to pets. Use hemp plant CBD oil.
Also, start with a very low dose and see how it affects your cat over the next 24 hours. If you see no change in your animal’s mood or apparent comfort, slowly increase the dose each day until you begin to see 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 it. However, keep an eye out for any changes in your cat’s sleep schedule. If they sleep too much, or seem too sluggish, you should reduce the dose.
There are only three mildly serious side effects you should be concerned about. These are nausea, drastic changes in appetite and vomiting. While you shouldn’t panic if your pet starts showing these symptoms (it’s extremely rare for a dog or cat to die from too much CBD), you should contact your vet or poison control animal and follow its 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 and that can be alleviated with CBD. The right dose of CBD oil could reverse these problems 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 who suffer from allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and chronic pain, among other ailments.
Perhaps best of all, many pet owners see their cat’s overall mood improve after giving them CBD oil.
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CBD can be life-changing for cats when administered correctly. Cat owners who use CBD treats often see an overall improvement in their cat’s health.
However, it is 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 experience nausea, vomiting, or major changes in appetite due to CBD.
