Berkeley Veterinary Center is your go-to when it comes to managing pain in dogs. Anything that might help make your male (female) best friend a little more comfortable isn’t a bad thing, right? When it comes to CBD for dogs, it can be difficult to tell if it’s an effective treatment or a waste of money. Read on to find out if CBD is safe for canine pain management or if you should continue to consider it.
Understanding CBD and Pets
Using CBD is a hot topic and we are still learning a lot. There is evidence in human medicine that it can help manage everything from seizures to pain to anxiety. But does CBD work for dogs?
The topic of CBD in animals is still a bit murky. CBD and cannabis are legal in New Jersey, but the actual legality of these products prescribed by veterinarians is questionable.
Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has classified all cannabis products, including CBD oil, as Schedule I drugs, which are categorically illegal for veterinarians to prescribe. Pets are expressly not included in cannabis laws that allow human prescriptions.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t easily find CBD products marketed for pets. This is because CBD products are legal to sell just because they are not prescribed.
So, is CBD for dogs safe?
Many pet owners use over-the-counter CBD for their pets. However, there are actually no studies yet documenting how much CBD can benefit dogs with arthritis and other ailments. Similarly, CBD is not federally regulated, so there are few mandatory quality controls on CBD products.
Also, there is little data on how safe CBD is long-term, whether there are drug interactions or contraindications for certain conditions. But in general, CBD seems to be mostly safe.
Berkeley staff can’t directly prescribe CBD for pets, but they can help you determine the safest way to use CBD.
When choosing CBD products for your pet:
- Look for certified certificates of analysis that show the company monitors the CBD content of their products.
- Choose a CBD product that lists cannabinoids and their actual concentrations
- Avoid using products that use solvents to extract cannabinoids
- Please note that goods promising specific claims are not within the law
- Start with a low dose and increase slowly
- Share with us if your pet is taking CBD
- Keep a diary to better understand the side effects and benefits of CBD in your pet
We don’t know how effective CBD is for managing inflammation and pain in dogs. We know it shows a lot of promise as a potentially useful compound, and we are looking for the information and resources needed to one day make the most of it to help pet patients. I hope you can get some legal guidance.
Tags: CBD for dogs, dogs with arthritis, inflammation in dogs, pain management in dogs