CBD oil

What is CBD?

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol and is a cannabinoid from the Cannabaceae family. There are about 100 cannabinoids. THC, the substance that makes you get high or stoned from weed, and CBD are the best known. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties. This means that it doesn’t make your animal high or stoned and doesn’t have an addictive effect on your pet. Real CBD oil only contains CBD and no THC.

What does CBD oil do to the body?

The body itself has a so-called endocannabinoid system. This means that the body has receptors for cannabinoids. The body’s own cannabinoid system regulates all kinds of processes related to appetite, pain sensation, nausea, mood, memory and inflammation. Receptors for cannabinoids are found throughout the body, but are mainly found in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and in the immune system. It has an impact on processes such as pain, inflammation and tissue damage.

When can CBD oil be used?

More and more scientific research is being conducted into the effect of CBD. In addition, there is now a large user experience pool. The following indications have been studied:

• Fear and stress
• Inflammations, such as arthritis and skin inflammations (allergies) and chronic inflammation in the intestine
• Pain (both by reducing inflammation and acting on the pain receptors)
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Tumours (CBD would slow down the growth of cancer cells)

The studies are still limited, so it is advisable to look at each individual animal to see if the use of CBD oil can be useful. Especially in case of diabetes, epilepsy and tumours it is advisable to ALWAYS consult your veterinarian, because often a combination treatment will take place and you should check if this is safe.

How is CBD made available?

CBD is a fat-soluble substance and is often used as a carrier with hemp oil. This oil is rich in essential (polyunsaturated) fatty acids and has additional health effects. Hemp oil also has a good omega 6 ratio: omega 3 fatty acids, which is 3:1 (also read our article about Salmon oil for your dog and cat). The CBD concentration can differ depending on the product. For pets there are products with 2.75% and 4% CBD. It is advisable to start with a low concentration and first check what the effect is on your animal. You should also take a good look at the fact that it is a ‘pure’ product.

When should you not use CBD oil?

CBD has to be digested in the body. This happens mostly in the liver. For pets with liver disease, you should be extra careful when using CBD. You should be careful with pets that have kidney problems or other serious conditions. Preferably, use the product only in close consultation with your vet.

In addition, CBD in the liver is converted via an enzyme that also provides breakdown of most medicines. If you use CBD oil in combination with other medicines, the digestion of these medicines can be delayed. This has an influence on the effect of the medicine. In addition, there can be some reactions with sedatives. It is not recommended to use CBD oil with pregnant animals because it would affect the development of the embryo.

Finally…

Much study is still needed on the use of CBD and the effect of CBD in pets. Please use this product carefully and discuss with your vet.