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This post is written by our holistic veterinarian at "I and love and you", Dr. Angie Krause, DVM, CVA, CCRT
Many pet parents want to use CBD for their pets but feel unsure of how to use it or if CBD is safe for their dog or cat. Veterinarians may feel uncomfortable discussing CBD due to confusing legislation or lack of experience using it in practice. In this article, I am going to walk you through how I use CBD and how to pick a product, and a dose for your pet.
Is CBD Safe?
Studies done at Cornell University and Colorado State University investigating CBD use in dogs show promising results both for safety and efficacy. I have been using CBD in my practice for the past 5 years for both dogs and cats with amazing results. While CBD is safe for dogs and cats, not all products on the market may be safe. Later in this article, I will walk you through how to choose a safe product and what I use in practice.
When should I give my pet CBD?
The list of conditions I use CBD to treat is constantly expanding! Right now, here are the most common conditions CBD may help:
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Arthritis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Allergies
- Recurring respiratory infections
- Low appetite
What product should I use?
You may have noticed CBD products for pets flooding the market. Unfortunately, many of these products may not be safe or may be ineffective. Consider the following criteria when selecting a product:
- Concentration. CBD products are expensive. Many companies sell very dilute oils to drive down the price. Unfortunately, this means that your pet may not be receiving therapeutic levels of CBD. I recommend using an oil that has at least 15 milligrams (mg) of CBD per milliliter (mL). If you have a big dog, consider a product that has at least 30 milligrams (mg) of CBD per milliliter (mL). As more states begin to produce hemp, these prices will decrease!
- Organically Grown. In order to avoid toxic pesticide residue in your pet’s CBD, ensure that the hemp was organically grown in the US. You can ask the manufacturer for a certificate of analysis (COA) that will prove each batch was tested for pesticide residue.
- THC. This is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Dogs have many more THC receptors compared to humans. This means even a little bit of THC causes your dog to become sick. The CBD product you choose should have less than 0.3% THC. This can be proven on the COA.
- Other Ingredients. If you are using a CBD product that is not labeled for pets, ensure that there are no other ingredients (oils, sweeteners, herbs etc) that may be toxic to pets.
I have been using HempRx for the past 5 years with amazing results. It’s organically grown with clean extraction methods. It has no other ingredients and has the perfect concentration for cats and dogs.
How much CBD should I give?
I recommend starting with 1 milligram (mg) of CBD per 5 pounds of body weight twice daily. If you prefer the metric system, this is 0.5 milligram per kilogram twice daily. If your pet’s weight is in between 5-pound increments, round up.
You can increase your pet’s dose as needed every few days. I do not exceed 7 mg of CBD per 5 pounds of body weight or 3 mg/kg twice daily for my patients. If you are using a HempRx product, here is my easy-to-follow dosing chart.
Have questions about using CBD for your pet? I would love to hear from you! Simply leave a comment below.
With love,
Dr. Angie
