There are many trends that rise and fall. But cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular trend that just keeps rising. Why is this so popular? That is a great question and we here at Panacea Life Sciences have the answers (well, most of them). In this particular article we will touch base on CBD animal products, specifically cats!
Cats? Really? Do they need CBD? Is it safe to give them? Again, these are great questions. While there is still much research to be done regarding CBD in general, there needs to be even more research done involving CBD and pets. But there have been a few researchers that wanted to know the same thing as you… CBD and cats, what is the deal? To begin, let us start with a very simple question: What is CBD?
CBD? What is it?
CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is naturally found and comes in different variations. As of 2018 because of the Farm Bill, the hemp plant is federally legal in all states. The hemp plant is a variation of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp contains high amounts of CBD and low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is likely the cannabinoid that you have heard of as it has been in trending topics for quite some time. Why is this?
THC is another one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. However, this component is psychoactive. Those who use it feel a ‘high’ or a sense of euphoria. This cannabinoid is not legal in all of the United States because of this inebriating effect nor is the variation of the Cannabis sativa plant that has high percentages of the cannabinoid, marijuana. Though the marijuana plant is not legal in all 50 states it is legal in a handful for recreational as well as medicinal purposes. So, what can this non-psychoactive plant compound do for your cat? What about you?
CBD and your cat
It is true that there has been more research conducted in dogs and CBD rather than CBD and cats. But that does not mean that there has been none. In this study, scientists looked at both dogs and cats and how well they absorb CBD as well as evaluating safety This study shows that cats have less oral absorption than dogs, but that CBD was deemed safe in both species.. We here at Panacea Life Sciences specifically formulated a Feline CBD Relief Cream so that your cat may reap the benefits of CBD by application through the skin. This cream is administered by rubbing the cream on the insides of your kitty’s ears. This THC free product is manufactured in our Golden, Colorado USA facility and made with organic ingredients. This may help with your cat’s overall wellbeing, feelings of anxiousness, reduce shedding or even help the decline of seizures. Again, it is important to note that there needs to be much more research regarding CBD and cats, so make sure to speak with your veterinarian before administering CBD to your cat.
What about my other pets? Can they benefit from CBD?
Do you have a dog and a cat? What about a dog and a horse? Or a horse and a cat? Either way, we have some good news for you. There are several products made for dogs as well as horses. But why do we give our dogs/horses CBD?
Joint health: In this study we asked pet owners of dogs with joint health issues to give them CBD to see if there would be any improvements to joint movement and flexibility. Joint health may deteriorate due to inflammation which limits motion and causes discomfort. We asked these pet owners to give their dogs CBD twice a day for four weeks consecutively. One milligram was administered for each 5 kilograms of body weight to ensure the animal was getting the proper amount for its size (an important aspect when giving animals CBD). The owners also took an online weekly assessment and before and after videos were taken of dogs doing certain movements. After the four weeks, we found that all of the measures we had taken had significantly improved. The dogs in the study had increased mobility and because of this we can understand that CBD may assist with inflammatory issues.
Sense of calm: Another study looked at equine (horses). These horses were given 50 milligrams of CBD two times a day for two weeks. These horses before the study were understood to have types of chronic discomfort or feelings of anxiousness. At the end of the two weeks they looked at the results and found that CBD was helpful for the horses who had chronic discomfort and not all, but some of the horses displayed less anxiety.
If you ask us, this is great news! Using a more holistic approach to your pet’s needs can be quite powerful and a bit healthier than others. Like we said before, be sure to ask your veterinarian before giving your animal CBD products. We suggest starting off with a small amount of CBD and then slowly increasing the amount until you see the results you want.
Available CBD products
Now that we know why people have used CBD for their pets, what products are available? We have already told you about our Feline Relief Cream. Here are products for your furry dog friend or your horses:
Dogs:
Canine Softgel: These canine soft gels are full of our pure hemp oil. All of our pet CBD products are THC free. The soft gels are formed into a fish shaped soft gel so that the end of the gel is easily removed to administer the CBD into the jowls of the dog’s mouth (the recommended application). Our soft gels are formulated with fish oil and MCT from coconut oil to enhance the absorption rates. (Monthly Subscription available).
Canine Tincture: Our canine tinctures are also formulated to be THC free products. These come in small breed, medium breed, and large breed droppers for the perfect fit for your best friend that happens to have four legs. This product contains omega 3 from fish oil as well as coconut oil. These can be easily administered directly into the jowls, added to water, or poured over food. (Monthly Subscription available).
Equine/Horse:
Equine CBD Tablets: These tablets are chalk full of 50mg of CBD. These are easy to administer and come in a peppermint flavor. Some horses may respond to the CBD sooner than others but waiting 5 days before seeing a reaction is not unlikely. (Monthly Subscription Available).
Pet owners + their CBD
There are many different options available for pet owners as there has been more research done around CBD and humans. However, we give the same advice when it comes to humans. Start with a small amount of CBD and slowly increase until you see/feel the results you want and speak to a healthcare provider before beginning your CBD journey. So, what products are available for you?
Tablets: A tablet is placed in the mouth and dissolves there. It enters the bloodstream from the mouth as the tincture does. You can add or subtract amounts of CBD with a dropper, but tablets are made with the same mg every time making it easier to know how much you are getting.
Tinctures: This type of CBD gets into the bloodstream quickly. When the dropper full of CBD is placed in the mouth it is absorbed into the bloodstream from there. A tincture is an oil like substance that is added to carrier oil. Some tinctures come flavored to mask the earthy hemp taste that some do not enjoy. Although tinctures give the CBD effects quite quickly, they have been described to last not as long as other products. These are similar to tablets in their bioavailability.
Topicals: CBD topicals are a bit different than the others as they usually do not reach the bloodstream. Topical application will absorb into the skin providing multiple reported skin health benefits. These are best used frequently and in the same area. They come in lotions, salves, creams, and even hand sanitizer for antibacterial purposes.
Softgels: A soft gel is a capsule that is full of CBD. Once the capsule is swallowed it goes through the digestive tract and then absorbed into the blood stream. Softgels may take longer to for CBD to be absorbed into the body but will provide a time-release effect providing CBD to the body for a longer period of time than other methods.
Vapes: Panacea Life Sciences does not advocate the use of vapes, it is an option for CBD use. This way of using CBD has a high rate of absorption as it directly enters the bloodstream via inhalation. That being said it is important to note that the effects may be shorter lived and inhaling CBD may have negative health associations.
Meow: your feline friend and CBD
The world of CBD is just beginning to be understood and CBD and felines may not be at the forefront of research, but that does not mean it is not important. We here at Panacea Life Sciences are committed to giving you the most up-to-date information as possible as well as the highest quality products for you and your furry friends.
