As a pet parent, you always give the best treatment to your dog, cat, or any other animal. Keeping your pet happy and at peace, all the time is important for their health physically and mentally.
In the past few years, Cannabidiol or CBD has been taking the health and wellness market by storm. It has been proving itself to be beneficial to both humans as well as pets like dogs. 
People all over the world have been adding CBD to their wellness routine due to the variety of potential health benefits it has to offer.
According to this report, over 70% of CBD buyers have pets and use this wellness trend on a daily basis. And around 55% give their dogs CBD oil. Even though research is still exploring the potential benefits on animals, there are many CBD products in the market that are said to be quite effective on pets, dogs especially.
So before we go ahead and understand the benefits of CBD on pets, let us learn a bit more about CBD.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol is a chemical compound that is extracted from the marijuana or Cannabis Sativa plant. With over 120 different compounds present in the plant, CBD is known to provide the most health benefits without feeling high. The reason why people get high with marijuana is because of the THC or tetrahydrocannabinol compound, the psychoactive component of the plant. 
Once CBD is extracted, it can be infused into a variety of products such as oils, creams, capsules, vapes, tinctures, edibles, and even drinks. Before you add CBD to your diet, you must understand the various benefits and risks of using this natural solution. Leaf Nation is an excellent site that consistently educates the public on the use of this versatile flower, check out their guide to understand more.
How Does CBD Affect Your Pet?
Just like humans, pets like dogs or cats have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that maintains the homeostasis of the body. It regulates and manages responses, coordination, bowel movements, immune system, sleep, and so much more. The naturally occurring endocannabinoids are found in all mammals ‘ bodies that transmit information to their nervous system.
When CBD enters their body, it attaches itself to these endocannabinoid receptors and influences their body. The influences caused by CBD offer several potential health benefits mentally and physically. Read on to understand how these responses can benefit your pets.
How Does it Benefit Your Pets?
CBD pet treats or oils are the most common products used that can help improve your pet’s health. Here are some of the prominent health benefits:
Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and stress not only affect humans but animals too. It can cause different types of phobias that can influence their behavior. Some of the most common forms of anxiety are traveling, noise, separation, and so on. CBD is known to have anti-anxiety properties that keep your pet calm and relaxed without getting high.
Pain Relief
The anti-inflammatory properties present in CBD are known to moderate or treat chronic pain. When CBD enters the body, it boosts their immune system which reduces inflammation, pain, and manages other symptoms caused by their health condition. Arthritisdaily, MS, spinal pain, joint pain, are just some of the conditions where CBD can be quite effective. 
Improves Homeostasis
When your pet falls sick, your ECS is affected which causes an imbalance in the homeostasis of the body. While there are other medical solutions to this to improve their health, CBD can help improve coordination and bodily functions. Just make sure your veterinarian is aware of the CBD supplement so that it does not cause any future health complications.
Reduces Nausea
One of the first bodily functions that are affected when your pet is unwell is its appetite. As soon as that occurs it makes them nauseous. Adding CBD to their daily routine will ensure that they eat properly and also reduce nausea.
Seizures
CBD is known to have anticonvulsant properties which manage, reduce or treat seizures, tremors, spasms, and so on. Studies have shown that CBD is effective in treating epilepsy and also reduces the number of side effects caused by traditional medication. So if your pet has seizures, CBD can be a great option to ease their symptoms and even treat the underlying condition.
Some of the other potential benefits your pet can receive would include treating cardiovascular health, symptoms of cancer, fight insomnia, and so on.
What are the Risks of CBD for Pets?
Since there are no concrete results provided by researchers, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved CBD for pets. However, several users have been using CBD for their pets and have seen positive results. Some of the common side effects your pet may receive would include dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, high blood pressure, drowsiness, etc.
To minimize these side effects make sure that you follow a proper CBD dosage. The higher dosage can be toxic and even cause severe complications to your pet. It is best to start small and monitor the side effects. If you are still unsure, contact your vet for further diagnosis.
Final Thoughts
Adding CBD to your diet has several health benefits, but keep in mind that it is not the only solution out there.
Make sure that you have done enough research before purchasing CBD. CBD products come in a variety of flavors, sizes, concentrations, and qualities. So choose the one that works best for your pet!
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