After its apparent success in humans, nowadays, many pet owners are looking into CBD products to help with their furry friends. There aren’t many clinical studies done in the veterinary scientific community on the medical use of CBD on pets like cats and dogs. However, there is enough evidence for its safety and efficacy for people and industries to consider its benefits for cats. Humans and felines share a similar physiology, as well as, the receptors activated by cannabinoids. How does CBD help my cat exactly? Is it safe for my cat to take CBD regularly? Lets dive in and find out!
What Is CBD?
There are more than 100 active compounds in cannabis plants, but the one most commonly used for medical purposes is cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD differs from the key active compound in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in that it has no psychoactive effect, which means it won’t get you (or your pet) “high.” CBD oils have a high CBD content and can be used for therapeutic purposes.
CBD oil’s Mechanism of Action
It’s important to first understand the endocannabinoid mechanism in order to understand how CBD affects the body. The mechanism is made up of receptors and compounds (endocannabinoids) that bind to and activate these receptors. On a daily basis, most mammalian bodies create endogenous cannabinoids. The CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are present in felines as well as in humans, are the most well-researched receptors. When activated these receptors modulate a lot of important metabolic processes, hence they are known as possible targets for a range of diseases.
CB1 receptors are predominantly located in the central nervous system, where movement, balance, mood, appetite, and neuropathic pain are regulated. Peripherally mammals have the other variant (CB2 receptors) and thus it can control inflammation and pain. Latest findings also show that other body-wide receptors play a part in the therapeutic effects of CBD.
Recent findings in CBD research reveal that CBD does not specifically block the receptors, but instead attaches to a secondary receptor site that affects its ability to bind to endogenous cannabinoids in what is known as allosteric non-competitive antagonism, preventing their breakdown. This may understand why, without the detrimental side effects associated with other compounds like THC, CBD shows a therapeutic potential.
How Does CBD Help My Cat?
Currently, since CBD activates receptors all over the body, it is used to cure multiple diseases that affect cats. While the compound is not researched and tested enough in laboratory conditions to receive FDA approval, the one point that both reports agree on is that CBD has a very strong safety record, better than many FDA approved drugs in humans and in animals. That and the fact that it does not have a psychotropic affect is why in all US states it is legal. The downside to this is that the efficacy of drugs and the quality of CBD are not tightly regulated. Therefore, before feeding them to your fluffy friend, you must carefully investigate the best CBD cat treats.
Pain and Inflammation
Cats can suffer from arthritis and joint pain, much like humans. He or she might feel chronic discomfort, loss of energy, and reduced mobility when your cat is affected by arthritis. Because of its potential anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can give relief. CBD will also decrease the amount of pain felt by stimulating and desensitizing the vanilloid receptor in the brain. The vanilloid receptor in your cat’s brain is responsible for controlling pain and swelling. Studies show that CBD can target the vanilloid receptor and stop it from turning on, thus treating pain and inflammation. The pain points eventually vanish when this neuron is inactive, so the pain and swelling impulses are don’t transmit across the body.
Stress and Anxiety
CBD can help your cat with anxiety. Cats may also feel stress, tension and anxiety, much like humans. Bad human-cat interactions, health issues, environmental change, and disputes between cats include some of the stress factors for cats. They can exhibit poor grooming habits, poor eating habits, and behavioral problems when the cat undergoes too much tension. By moderating the development of stress hormones, cortisol, and influencing the brain receptors responsible for mood control, CBD can help.
This could serve to boost your cat’s mood by reducing the level of tension. CBD oil can also be beneficial in managing fear in cats, in addition to its ability to decrease stress and anxiety. CBD oil, for instance, can help relieve the anxiety of your cat moving or meeting new people. You might consider incorporating CBD items as a more natural option if mood-altering medications are part of your cat’s routine.
Epilepsy and Seizures
Electrical disturbances in the brain are generally triggered by epilepsy, resulting in vigorous trembling of the body. They can be terrifying and even make your pet have major health problems. And although there is little literature on CBD oil and cats, some findings indicate that seizures can be positively impacted by CBD oil. By minimizing the number of electrical disturbances in the brain and thus suppressing the frequency of potential seizures, CBD could counteract seizures. Medications for epilepsy may have adverse side effects on your cat. Kidney insufficiency, heart disease, and an effect on mood and energy levels are some of these side effects.
Is CBD Oil Safe for My Cat?
Now that we’ve answered the question “how does CBD help my cat?” we have to address its safety for cat use. Some doctors say that CBD oil is healthy for cats, but after offering CBD oil to your pet, you may find some adverse effects in rare cases. Gastrointestinal distress and sedation, which vanish after discontinuing CBD oil consumption, can have both of these symptoms. But because not enough data on the impact of CBD on cats is available, it’s still safer to talk to your doctor to see if CBD oil for cats can help.
To mitigate the possible side effects, it is therefore important to have the right dose. Since the FDA doesn’t control CBD products, make sure to do your homework and buy from a reputable source. Prior to buying some CBD goods online, we encourage pet owners to do their due diligence. You should make sure that your all your CBD products have a certificate of purity by a third-party lab. Consulting a veterinarian is still useful if you are not positive about the dose or substance. Note that CBD oil that is poorly formulated can contain large concentrations of THC, which may be poisonous to your pet.
Are CBD Products Legal?
There is also the question of legality, irrespective of how good CBD goods perform for cats. Hemp products with a THC content of less than 0.3% are perfectly legal. CBD oil suits this definition most, if not all. Discussing this course of action with your veterinarian is the bigger challenge.
For instance, the California State Legislature is discussing a bill on the use of medical cannabis for animals and veterinarian involvement. Right now, there is a very active debate about whether or not veterinarians should be able to discuss and suggest cannabis to their patients and, if so, just what it looks like. It is essential to be able to discuss all types of treatments with your veterinarian.
How to Dose CBD for Cats?
Knowing the right dosage to use when giving CBD oil to your cat is important. They need much less cannabidiol because they are smaller than humans. First, it’s important that you first weigh your cat. This will assist you to decide the proper dose depending on their height. Your veterinarian will also offer more advice on dosing.
You need to start with limited quantities of CBD to prevent adverse side effects. Watch when you do this to see how your cat is reacting to the CBD. If the cat shows no adverse symptoms, you should then raise the number of small quantities of CBD oil you give them. Please pay attention to their feeding routine and napping pattern while watching your pet. If you observe any adverse effects, you should immediately discontinue the treatment.
Talk to Your Veterinary Doctor First
Many people believe in the health benefits of CBD for pets. However, it’s very important to use it under the supervision of a professional. There are simply not enough clinical studies for the FDA to approve any medications containing CBD for veterinary diseases. Ask your doctor if CBD can be helpful for your cat.
