The Safety of CBD for Pets.
Like humans, cats and dogs have an endocannabinoid system, allowing them to benefit from CBD oil. Although CBD is not a miracle drug, it has been shown to offer a wide array of benefits such as anti-anxiety, pain management, anti-inflammation, reducing the frequency and severity of seizures, and a host of other ailments that pets may suffer from.
When it comes to our furry companion's, extra vigilance is required with regards to the products we administer to them. Dogs for example do not tolerate cannabinoid compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC (this is the compound found in cannabis that gives humans the well documented ''high").
THC and a number of other compounds can be lethal to our pets, making it important to know what you are in fact giving them.
If you are looking to purchase CBD related products for your animals, Cannable suggests the following:
1) Never use CBD products containing artificial flavourings.
With CBD gaining such popularity for human consumption, manufacturers are adding artificial and sugar-free flavourings to their products to make them more palatable. Unfortunately, many pet owners are not aware of the dangers these sugar-free additives may pose.
One of the most dangerous of these additives is xylitol. The ingestion of xylitol by dogs is considered extremely dangerous and may lead to Hepatic Necrosis (the destruction of liver tissue) and Hypoglycaemia (overproduction of insulin by the pancreas, which can result in severe weakness, tremors, and seizures.) (Brooks, 2008).
2) Never give your pet CBD products containing THC.
Most CBD products on the market contain trace amounts of THC. While the small amount of THC would not be harmful to people, dogs are particularly sensitive to THC. THC toxicity in dogs usually take effect within minutes to a few hours and symptoms may last hours to several days, with the majority of symptoms showing as central nervous system depression as stated by Veterinarian, Dr Ibrahim Shokry, BVSC, MVSC, PHD, professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (Curley, 2019).
Although most cases of THC toxicity are treatable, and the possibility that your pets may never react to the small amount of THC present in most CBD oils, it is simply not worth taking the risk. It is strongly recommended to choose products that are 100% THC-free.
3) Make sure the products you are purchasing are Third-Party tested by an independent laboratory.
CBD is still unregulated within South Africa, so the need for impartial and independent testing is necessary. Third-party testing ensures that what is written on the label is accurate and safe. Certificates of analysis from an independent laboratory should be available on request at any reputable reseller or manufacturer.
As more pet owners look for alternative means of treatment their fur-kids, the importance of knowing what you are giving your animals cannot be overstated. The administration of CBD has been deemed safe in healthy populations of dogs and cats in a study conducted in 2019 (Deabold, et al., 2019). By being informed, you can ensure your animal's health is never compromised due to misinformation.
At Cannable, your pet's health and wellbeing is our main priority. Not only have we created an easy and accurate dosing method, but we have created a product range you can trust. Cannables’ Canine and Feline range is 100% THC-free and additive-free. Each batch of our CBD oil is independently tested by a third-party laboratory, giving you complete peace of mind, and ensuring that what you see on the label is what you get in the bottle. Visit www.cannable.co.za to shop all your animals CBD needs.
References
Brooks, W., 2008. Veterinary Partner. [Online]
Available at: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102900&id=4952819&ind=419&objTypeID=1007
[Accessed 9 August 2020].
Curley, K., 2019. Pet MD. [Online]
Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-ate-weed
[Accessed 9 August 2020].
Deabold, A. K., Schwark, W. S., Wolf, L. & Wakshlag , J., 2019. Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Safety Assessment with Use of CBD-Rich Hemp Nutraceutical in Healthy Dogs and Cats. Animals, 9(10), p. 832.