One of the fastest-growing CBD industry market segments is CBD for pets. Grand View Research tracks the CBD pet market and forecasts a 58.9 percent annual growth rate in the CBD for pets market from 2021 to 2028. At the same time, a SingleCare survey found that a third of Americans have consumed CBD. Put the two pieces of information together, and it is no surprise that people want to know whether human CBD products can be given to pets.
What’s the Difference Between CBD for Pets vs. Humans?
Can humans take pet CBD oil, and can pets take human CBD oil? There is no difference between CBD as a substance used by humans and for pets. CBD occurs naturally in cannabis plants. CBD is extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant to produce CBD full spectrum, broad spectrum or CBD isolate. The CBD extracts are used in both human and pet CBD products.
There are differences in product characteristics to accommodate the significant difference in size between humans and pets. Following is a review of the differences and information on the interchanging of human CBD vs pet CBD products.
1. CBD Potency
Similar to CBD products for humans, CBD products for dogs, cats and other animals have a range of potencies. The CBD per serving may be 2 mg, 5 mg, 8.33 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg or 20 mg, for example. Some CBD products for pets recommend 30 mg per serving, but the serving size may be two treats with 15 mg of CBD per treat and the frequency of dosage is usually lower.
The different potencies enable pet owners to select an amount of CBD per serving that best fits pet size and needs. Larger pets may need a high-potency product compared to smaller animals.
Current veterinary researchers are focused on determining information like the following.
How CBD works in different animals.The type of pet medical conditions and ailments that might respond to CBD products.The ideal CBD potency for activating the endocannabinoid (RCS) system in animals which is similar to the ECS in humans.When first giving pets CBD, it’s always advised to start with a low potency CBD product in order to assess any impacts on the animal.
2. CBD Forms
There are different CBD forms available for pets, just like there are for humans. They include but are not limited to the following.
CBD oilCBD tinctureCBD dog chewsCBD pet sprayCBD dog treatsCBD oil capsulesCBD cookiesCBD beef wraps3. Flavor
CBD products are flavored to appeal to pets, especially dogs and cats. Some of the common flavors include the following.
NaturalChickenSalmonBeefBaconGreen applePeanut butterCheddarMany products include a mixture of flavors, like green apple and peanut butter.
4. THC Content
When purchasing CBD products, carefully read the label and the Certificate of Analysis (COA). A reliable brand is transparent about the product’s content. The COA will inform you as to the amount of THC, CBD and other cannabinoids the product contains. A COA also indicates the number of toxic substances found, like pesticides and heavy metals.
Full spectrum CBD contains some THC, but it must be less than .3 percent per federal law. Broad spectrum CBD is THC-free. Even if some THC makes it through the manufacturing process, it is just a trace and will have no psychoactive effect on your pet. CBD isolate is pure CBD and has zero THC.
5. Dosage
Most mammals have a similar endocannabinoid system. The ECS is where the cannabinoid receptors are located. Research to date has found that more CB1 receptors are located in the hindbrain structures of dogs compared to humans. However, both humans and dogs have CB1 and CB2 receptors in their layers of the skin. CB1 is a psychoactive neuromodulator, while CB2 plays an important role in the immune system.
The size and weight of an animal are major determinants of the ideal dosage of CBD for pets. A small dog or cat might need 2 mg of CBD per one ml dosage of CBD. A larger animal might need 15 mg of CBD per one treat or chew or 20 mg per one ml serving size of CBD oil or CBD tincture. One of the advantages of using CBD oil or CBD tincture for pets is that you can control the dosage drop-by-drop.
The CBD product will indicate the serving size, CBD per serving and the CBD per one ml or one chew/treat. The best way to introduce CBD to your pet is to start with a very low dose of CBD per serving to determine the effects. You can increase the amount of CBD in small increments over time to find the dosage that best fits your needs.
Can Humans Take Pet CBD Oil or Not?
Humans can take CBD oil made for pets. However, there are several points to keep in mind.
The recommended dosage amounts for pets will be much lower than what humans typically take.Some CBD products for pets may contain other ingredients that may be pet-friendly but not necessarily human-grade; humans should use human-grade CBD oil for their pets, if planning on using the same CBD.CBD oil for pets and CBD tinctures for pets may have a natural flavoring added that appeals to dogs or cats but not necessarily human.Can I Give My Dog CBD For Humans?
The extraction process for CBD is the same when making products for humans and pets. This means you can give your dog CBD that was made for humans. There are some caveats though.
The CBD amount in CBD products is higher for humans, so the dosage must be reduced for pets.There is not enough research yet to determine the toxic CBD dosage amount for pets.Some terpenes in CBD full spectrum oil and CBD broad spectrum oil are harmful to animals, like tea tree oil and peppermint.Talk to your veterinarian first if your pet has any medical issues.Many CBD products have additional ingredients, so always make sure you research the product contents on the label and review the COA.Summary
There is no difference between CBD for dogs and humans or between CBD for other animals and humans. There may be differences in the type of ingredients added to human vs pet CBD products. CBD products for pets are not required to have human-grade ingredients. It is important to always research product content before sharing CBD oil and other products between humans and pets. A lot more research is needed on the effects of CBD on animals, but millions of people have already found CBD brings their pets many benefits.
Sign in to leave a comment.