The idea of giving cannabis products to a pet is not something that most people would consider a good idea. What about all the infomercials and advice about never letting your dog near cannabis?

Well, thanks to the gradual development and acceptance of CBD, the concept of CBD for pets has become a commonplace thing.

But why would someone choose to give their pets CBD? Why is CBD for dogs, or any pet for that matter, a good idea?

How Does CBD for Pets Work?

Before analyzing the reasons for giving a pet CBD, how does it work? Isn’t cannabis only for human use?

In actual fact, cannabis has the same potential effect on pets, and indeed all mammals, as it does on humans.

This is because cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system, a health system shared by all mammals thanks to evolution.

This is why cannabinoids can affect pets, and indeed why there are so many good reasons to give a furry friend some CBD.

Keep in mind that, while cannabis can still affect pets, it can be dangerous if they consume the wrong product. THC is infamously dangerous to dogs, for example, so people should only give their pets CBD and not other cannabinoids. 

Pro #1: It Can Help Their Anxiety

One of the main reasons that there are so many pet owners that are giving their furry friends CBD is to help combat anxiety.

CBD has been demonstrated to be an extremely effective tool for combatting anxiety when taken in high doses. Though it might seem strange that a pet can experience anxiety, it is actually a widespread problem for animals, especially those that get left at home a lot.

By taking some CBD regularly, a pet’s anxiety can be controlled and hopefully reduced over time.

Pro #2: It Can Help Pets Sleep Better

It isn’t just humans that struggle with getting a good night’s sleep – a lot of animals can struggle with good sleep routines as well.

While CBD has not been shown to directly affect a person’s ability to sleep (in that it doesn’t act as a soporific directly), it can reduce things like stress and pain, which prevent sleep. Similarly, it may help your pet sleep much better a night.

Pro #3: It Can Aid in Palliative Care

No one really ever wants to have to consider their pet’s health failing, especially with long illnesses that result in the necessity of end-of-life care. While palliative care for humans is pretty advanced, the same cannot be said for treating pets with long-term illnesses.

CBD can be used to ease a pet’s suffering, making their final days more pleasant and less painful, thanks to its ability to reduce both inflammation and pain.

Con #1: It Is Expensive

While we would all love to give our pets everything they could ever possibly want, sometimes that just isn’t possible because of cost.

The biggest issue with giving pets CBD is that it can quickly get expensive.

While the price of CBD is going down thanks to gradual acceptance and more market expansion, the fact remains that giving cannabinoids to pets can be very expensive. Sadly, CBD for pets is just priced higher than regular CBD for humans.

Some people might think it worth it, though, regardless of the cost.

Con #2: It Can Be Hard to Give Pets CBD

Anyone that has ever tried to give their pet medicine, either in the form of pills or droplets, will be familiar with the hassle of trying to get the animal to take it.

Thanks to the pretty unpleasant taste of CBD oil, it can be pretty hard to get your pet to take it willingly. This is why many people resort to using flavored CBD oils, or capsules instead, to try and overcome this problem.

Con #3: Getting the Dosage Right Is a Challenge

The final primary frustration with giving pets some CBD is that it can be a real challenge trying to give them the correct dosage.

Most CBD dosages are calculated for humans because the majority of the market focuses on humans’ needs rather than pets.

This makes it tricky to know precisely how much CBD to give a pet at any one time, something which definitely requires a bit of practice and research to get right.