{"id":3087,"date":"2025-06-24T08:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=3087"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:25:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T12:25:47","slug":"pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/cbd\/pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Things To Know Before Giving Your Dogs & Cats CBD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many pet owners seek holistic, alternative treatments beyond traditional medicine for their four-legged family members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CBD is becoming a popular holistic option for pet parents due to its wide range of therapeutic benefits and availability in both online and brick-and-mortar pet stores.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, you\u2019ll learn how CBD affects pets, explore its potential benefits, review current research findings, understand possible side effects, and find out how to choose and dose CBD products safely for your pet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Basics of CBD and Its Effects on Pets<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Marijuana<\/p>\n

Cannabidiol (CBD)<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>non-psychoactive <\/span>type of cannabinoid naturally found in cannabis and hemp plants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dogs and cats, like humans, rely on their <\/span>endocannabinoid system (ECS)<\/span><\/a>. The ECS plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including mood, appetite, immune function, and other physiological processes. The ECS also helps maintain a natural balance in your pet’s body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers believe that CBD interacts with the ECS by increasing endocannabinoids throughout the body. Endocannabinoids then influence type 1 and 2 cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), as well as many other targets outside the ECS. The ECS communicates with these receptors using endocannabinoids produced by the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ECS is present in <\/span>nearly all animals<\/span><\/a>. When a pet consumes CBD, it stimulates both the ECS and <\/span>endocannabinoidome<\/span><\/a> (eCBome), made of cannabinoid-sensitive targets outside the ECS. This leads to an interaction between the body’s endocannabinoids and the cannabinoids from cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

While CBD does subtly affect an animal’s mood, unlike the cannabinoid <\/span>tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)<\/span><\/a>, it does not cause intoxication or a \u201chigh.\u201d This is because CBD is not binding to CB1 and CB2 directly, as THC does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CBD also usually comes in droplets, oils, or pet treats. Meanwhile, THC is available in many different forms for humans, but <\/span>THC isn\u2019t safe for animals<\/span><\/a> because of its direct CB1 activity, which can be toxic for them in several ways (e.g., brain, heart, breathing, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of Giving CBD to Dogs and Cats<\/b><\/h2>\n

Because CBD indirectly affects a pet’s ECS and eCBome<\/span>, it has the <\/span>potential to improve<\/span><\/a> the quality of life for pets in numerous ways. That\u2019s because it\u2019s known to regulate pain, inflammation, immune function, bone growth, anxiety, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

To date, there <\/span>aren\u2019t any FDA-approved<\/span><\/a> cannabis vet medicines, nor licensed CBD medicines for animals. But CBD pet products are registered as medicines in the EU and UK already. In the US, CBD products can only be marketed as supplements and can\u2019t make health claims.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, <\/span>early vet science<\/span><\/a> suggests CBD may offer animals a variety of benefits, including:<\/span><\/p>\n