Is CBD Oil Toxic To Cats?

What is CBD Oil?

Cannabis sativa is a general plant name, it is made of dozens of cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (TCH) and cannabidiol (CDB).
There are many different types of this plant, some make the marijuana and others make hemp for industrial and therapeutic use.
The biggest and most important difference is the amount of THC it contains, in general, cannabis plants contain both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), those are both medicinal compounds.
The efficiency of cannabis oil for medicinal purposes in humans is already known and recognized in many countries, although this oil has a lot of THC, that has psychoactive properties and is responsible for the \”high\”, it is highly toxic to animals, there are many reports of animals that have ingested cannabis and have ended up in a serious condition.
On the other hand, CBD offers all the benefits without the psychoactive and toxic potential, because the THC levels in the CDB oil are almost zero.
There is a whole system in both human and animal bodies known as the endocannabinoid system.
This system is located in the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) and is made up of receptors.
These receptors bind THC and CBD among other components of the cannabis plant.
This system influences many processes related to pain, mood, immune function and much more, so when they are activated, they control several diseases symptoms.
Summing up, when the CBD is introduced into the body, it has the same effect that the receptors and help to maintain a healthy metabolism.

The CBD oil promises therapeutic effects such:

• Anti-inflammatory activity
• Promoting strong joints & mobility
• Reducing anxiety & stress
• Blocking cell growth (Cancer)
• Preventing the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors
• Anti-viral activity
• Reducing chronic pain
• Reducing seizure frequency & muscle spasms
• Benefitting aging & wellness
• Relieving nausea & digestive issues
• Calming aggression

CBD Oil for Cats

A cat owner in Long Beach, California named Lisa has a 12-year-old cat with arthritis, the cat was constantly isolated and feeling sad.
The owner was seeing her friend getting worse and decided to try the CDB oil, she said that every time the cat took the medication, it went out to play, wanted to be pet and no longer showed discomfort.
Examples such as Lisa\’s are becoming common, and this caused the industry to invest in CDB oil, creating toys, treats, etc.Products made with less than 0.3% THC are legal in all 50 states and have excellent results.
Although the CDB oil is already being used, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still concerned, they claim that the drug efficiency needs to continue being analyzed, therefore veterinarians are not yet allowed to prescribe such products.

CBD Oil on the Market

• The CDB oil potential is massive, the market is exploding with cannabis products for cats and other pets.
  A California company specialized in non-psychoactive Cannabis products for animals and humans named TreatWell said that they expect 20% of growth per month.
  The company explains that the number of pet owners that turns to CDB oil to treat diseases is increasing because it is a natural alternative, and has no side effects, as we see in regular medicine.
  The result that the company observes in cases of cancer is impressive, they see tumors shrink or disappear, extending the animal life.
  Cat owners usually report improvement in diseases such as arthritis, pancreatitis, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma.
  As products flood the market, it is important that consumers make an educated purchase for themselves and their pet.
  Here are some aspects you should consider:
• Farming practices: Has the plant been grown with the use of pesticides?
• Extraction method: Be careful with methods that use chemicals for extraction, because these residues will be present in the final product.
• Concentration: Some products contain too little CBD to be effective, others contain too much and can be toxic.
• Guaranteed analysis: Does the company test its product for the constituents beyond THC and CBD?
• Other ingredients: Make sure you know what other ingredients are present.
• Terpene/Flavanoid: CBD and THC are not the only medicinal components of cannabis, look for products that have the terpene and flavanoid profile analyzed as well.

How to use it

First things first, it\’s important to say that CBD oil does not work overnight like regular medications, it can sometimes take several weeks and months for the effects start showing.
You need to be patient and consistent, watch your cat and analyze the symptoms improve.
Cats are notoriously smaller than humans, so dosages should also be lower, if you buy a product made for cats, carefully read the recommendations of the correct dose, you can also use one of the humans, but the dose has to be much smaller.
The dosage may vary depending on your pet\’s disease, it is best to start with low doses.
As a rule, it is important to wait about 1 or 2 weeks to increase the dosage.
Repeat this process until you begin to see the effects, here are some dosage examples:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): CBD may have a place alongside other therapies to help reduce inflammation and therefore symptoms.
  Cats with IBD may vomit, have diarrhea or may lose weight.
  Dosing: Start with 0.2 mg/kg twice daily and increase gradually for kitties with IBD. If you are using HempRx, I start with 1-2 drops twice daily and then increase.
• Pancreatitis: Many cats with IBD also have pancreatitis. Like IBD it can be frustrating to treat. I use a low-fat diet, HempRx, herbal remedies, and digestive enzymes to help control inflammation of the pancreas.
  Dosing: Start with 0.1 mg/kg twice daily and increase to 0.5 mg/kg twice daily. If you are using HempRx, start with 1 drop twice daily and increase gradually. If your kitty tolerates this product, get the HempRx Forte as it will require smaller volumes of oil for the same dose. It is twice as concentrated. It is very important to minimize fat consumption in these kitties.
• Arthritis: Cats that suffer from arthritis need all the help they can get. Unfortunately, many painful cats suffer because we don‰Ûªt have great pharmaceutical options that are safe. Because cats tend to be reclusive and don‰Ûªt travel as readily, they are less likely to get treatment for their aches and pains. åÊCBD is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory for these kitties.
  Dosing: Start with 0.5 mg/kg of CBD twice daily and increase gradually. If you are using HempRx, start with 2-4 drops twice daily and increase. It can take 2-4 weeks to see results with body pain. Be patient!
• Cancer: This is a popular use for CBD in both animals and people. There are many reports of longer survival times with better quality of life for both people and animals with cancer.
  Dosing: Sart with 0.5 mg/kg of CBD twice daily and increase gradually. If you are using HempRx, start with 2-4 drops twice daily and increase.
• Asthma. Like all of the disease listed above, asthma is a common inflammatory disease of cats. Some cats have very minor symptoms that need little to no medical interventions. Other cats require life long treatment by inhaler. CBD may be a great option to help these kitties have less inflammation and therefore fewer asthma attacks. It is important that you never stop medications your kitty is taking before speaking with your veterinarian. If your cat needs an inhaler to breathe, don‰Ûªt substitute CBD oil for their daily inhaled medications.
  Dosing: Start with 0.5 mg/kg of CBD twice daily and increase gradually. If you are using HempRx, start with 2-4 drops twice daily and increase.
• Chronic Upper Respiratory Infections. This has been an unexpected but delightful side effect of patients that have been given HempRx for arthritis or asthma. Kitties that have had life long symptoms of chronic viral infections have experienced significant relief.
  Dosing: Start with 0.5 mg/kg of CBD twice daily and increase gradually. If you are using HempRx, start with 2-4 drops twice daily and increase.
• Seizures. While these are uncommon in kitties, the oil shows amazing responses in kitties that suffer from seizures. If your kitty is already taking medications for seizures, do not stop those abruptly and always work with your veterinarian.
  Dosing: Start with 0.5 mg/kg twice daily and increase as needed. Some kitties may need up to 3 mg/kg twice daily. If you are using HempRx, start with 2-4 drops twice daily and increase. If your kitty tolerates this product, I recommend getting the HempRx Forte as it will require smaller volumes of oil for the same dos

Are there any side effects?

This is something you should always consider for any medication or supplement you are giving your kitty.
The most common side effect is increased appetite and decreased anxiety, CBD can promote relaxation and some animals are more sensitive than others.
If you notice your cat has become too sedate, stop giving the product and work with your veterinarian.
If the dosage is too high the cat can be sedated, but nothing that will threaten the life of the animal.
Some cats that are allergic to grass can also be allergic to cannabis, so pay attention to that.
It is very important that you know the provenance of your CDB oil, cats are much more sensitive to THC than humans, so cannabis products should not be administered to them, only hemp derivated products.

The final considerations are to work with your veterinarian when deciding on a treatment plan for your cat, never do it alone or without knowledge of what you are doing.

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