CBD oil has been all the rage recently, and many pet owners are wondering if this may be a good supplement for their pets. This week, we’d like to weigh in on the CBD (cannabidiol) conversation from a veterinary standpoint!
(This is a lengthier post, so allow yourself 5 minutes to read it.)
The second thing to consider: veterinarians currently cannot legally prescribe or recommend CBD for therapeutic purposes. This means that your vet can tell you that CBD may boost your pet’s overall health, but cannot make a statement like “CBD may help ease Buddy’s anxiety” or “I would recommend CBD for Snowball because it could help with her arthritis pain.” Veterinarians have to walk a thin line with the language they use in the CBD conversation, primarily because of the lack of research that currently exists. Without sufficient scientific research on the benefits (or side effects) of CBD, veterinary professionals are unable to make any guarantees on the safety or efficacy of CBD products.
So what’s the good news? Veterinarians may not yet be allowed to prescribe (or even recommend) CBD products as a therapy for their patients, but they can relay the information obtained from past studies. For example, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) has been monitoring CBD use in pets. It has found that only nine in 16 million animals that were given a CBD product had an adverse reaction. In other words, 0.00006% of pets exposed to CBD experienced a negative side effect. Most of those negative effects were merely stomach upset (aka gastrointestinal disturbances).
As a consumer, keep in mind that not all CBD use in pets has been reported to the NASC, and they can only use the information provided to them when drawing conclusions about the data. Sixteen million reports is a pretty high number though!
Additionally, Cornell University did a study on CBD use for dogs with arthritis and found that CBD reduced pain in study participants. Much of the CBD conversation has been about the substances pain-reducing effects, and the Cornell study appears to support theories that CBD reduces joint pain. Of course, more research is needed to formally draw this conclusion.
CBD appears to be a safe supplement for pets, given the information we have thus far. However, pet owners may want to stick with supplements and medications that have already been proven to be safe and effective, rather than jumping on the CBD bandwagon. If a pet owner wants to try CBD with their pet, veterinarians are not able to give science-backed, specific recommendations. They can, however, provide their clients with current information about CBD and the products on the market, in hopes of informing client decision-making. As more studies are performed and research is published, we will continue to share the available information with you!
(This is a lengthier post, so allow yourself 5 minutes to read it.)
CBD and Pets
First thing’s first: if you’re considering a CBD product for your pet, please consult with your veterinarian! There are dozens of brands of CBD products, and not all are created equal. Because CBD is classified as a supplement, these products are not regulated by any governing authority. CBD also has not been approved by the FDA. This means that consumers need to do their own homework. While some companies are producing high-quality, presumably safe CBD products, others are taking advantage of the CBD hype and putting inferior products on store shelves. Just because a CBD product is sold at your local pet store or was recommended by a friend does not guarantee that it’s safe for use on your own pet. Your veterinarian may be able to help you choose a type and/or brand of CBD product that is more reputable.The second thing to consider: veterinarians currently cannot legally prescribe or recommend CBD for therapeutic purposes. This means that your vet can tell you that CBD may boost your pet’s overall health, but cannot make a statement like “CBD may help ease Buddy’s anxiety” or “I would recommend CBD for Snowball because it could help with her arthritis pain.” Veterinarians have to walk a thin line with the language they use in the CBD conversation, primarily because of the lack of research that currently exists. Without sufficient scientific research on the benefits (or side effects) of CBD, veterinary professionals are unable to make any guarantees on the safety or efficacy of CBD products.
CBD Use is Currently Being Researched
That being said, there is research out there that shows CBD may benefit pets as well as humans. Unfortunately, current regulations are limiting veterinarian contribution to the CBD conversation. To make a more informed decision about CBD supplementation for your pet, you may want to read some of the research studies that have already been conducted, especially those that focused on CBD use for animals. Your vet could certainly provide you with reports on those studies and their results. Keep in mind that such studies are few and far between. The results and recommendations of these studies may not necessarily be generalized to all pets.So what’s the good news? Veterinarians may not yet be allowed to prescribe (or even recommend) CBD products as a therapy for their patients, but they can relay the information obtained from past studies. For example, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) has been monitoring CBD use in pets. It has found that only nine in 16 million animals that were given a CBD product had an adverse reaction. In other words, 0.00006% of pets exposed to CBD experienced a negative side effect. Most of those negative effects were merely stomach upset (aka gastrointestinal disturbances).
As a consumer, keep in mind that not all CBD use in pets has been reported to the NASC, and they can only use the information provided to them when drawing conclusions about the data. Sixteen million reports is a pretty high number though!
Additionally, Cornell University did a study on CBD use for dogs with arthritis and found that CBD reduced pain in study participants. Much of the CBD conversation has been about the substances pain-reducing effects, and the Cornell study appears to support theories that CBD reduces joint pain. Of course, more research is needed to formally draw this conclusion.
Our Takeaways
First and foremost, CBD is an emerging topic of discussion, and research of its use in both humans and animals is limited. We need MANY more studies to be conducted before veterinarians can make informed decisions and recommendations for their patients regarding the therapeutic use of CBD.CBD appears to be a safe supplement for pets, given the information we have thus far. However, pet owners may want to stick with supplements and medications that have already been proven to be safe and effective, rather than jumping on the CBD bandwagon. If a pet owner wants to try CBD with their pet, veterinarians are not able to give science-backed, specific recommendations. They can, however, provide their clients with current information about CBD and the products on the market, in hopes of informing client decision-making. As more studies are performed and research is published, we will continue to share the available information with you!
