Can CBD help your pets manage stress during the holiday festivities?

The holidays are a stressful time for our furry friends – who are often scared by excited kids, loud noises from fireworks and all the busyness. Will CBD oil for pets make them calmer?

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant that consumers and patients use for a wide range of wellness applications. The market is continuing to expand with CBD products for pets, including tinctures, treats, and topicals.

CBD oil for pets could help dogs and cats calm down during all the commotion.

For a number of years now animals have been prescribed CBD for anxiety and for its calming effects – meaning fidos and felines can rest easy during the chaos – no howling at the doorbell or growling at visitors in costume.

Endocannabinoid systems

Dogs and cats, like humans and other vertebrates, have endocannabinoid systems and CBD oil interacts with the receptors in this endocannabinoid system to help support the overall well-being of pets. Every animal with a spine has an endocannabinoid system: a network of receptors and natural signalling molecules throughout its body that help to relax, heal and stay balanced. But many animals struggle to maintain healthy levels of endocannabinoids when injured, stressed, sick or in old age.

The British Veterinary Medicines Directorate considers that veterinary products containing Cannabidiol are veterinary medicines, stating: “We consider that veterinary products containing Cannabidiol (CBD) are veterinary medicines.”

An online survey of over 2000 US veterinarians, published in the January 2019 issue of the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, found that 61.5% of veterinarian respondents were comfortable discussing the use of CBD supplements with their colleagues. Veterinarians reported that they had talked to clients about using CBD for pet issues such as: pain, anxiety, seizures, gut issues and storm and fireworks phobias.