- Pets have cannabinoid receptors like humans do, meaning they can also reap the healing benefits of cannabis. Pets with arthritis, cancer pain, anxiety, digestive issues, and more can all experience relief from the worst of their symptoms.
- Pet-safe cannabis products are not the same as human products, though. They’re almost exclusively made from hemp or hemp-derived CBD and contain pet-safe ingredients and flavorings. Recommended CBD dosage is much smaller for pets than for humans, too.
- Animals are generally more sensitive to cannabis, especially THC, so it’s important that you speak with your vet and be cautious when introducing new ingredients to your pet’s routine.
Medical marijuana soothes chronic pain, relieves anxiety, and reduces nausea for patients across the country—human ones, that is. But what about your furry friends? Can they benefit from cannabis treatment, too?
If you have an anxiety-prone Angora or a stiff-jointed Schnauzer, you know the struggle of finding a natural medication that offers them real relief. Cannabis may provide exactly what you’re looking for.
Learn more about pet-safe cannabis products and how they can improve your companion’s quality of life. And if you discover that cannabis may have something to offer you, too, reach out to TeleLeaf for a fast and convenient medical marijuana recommendation process.
Understanding Medical Marijuana for Pets
Humans and pets can both benefit from medical marijuana, but pets don’t respond to cannabis the same way humans do. Familiarize yourself with the terms, regulations, and effects of pet-grade cannabis before treating your pet to a CBD soft chew or a lick of calming hemp oil.
Terminology and Legality
All marijuana products are illegal at the federal level, right? Not exactly. As part of the 2018 Farm Bill, the government now distinguishes between two different forms of cannabis: marijuana and hemp.
Here’s how they classify each:
- Marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC; marijuana typically has a high enough THC content to produce a psychoactive “high.” Federally, marijuana is illegal to use and manufacture, but many states have laws permitting it for medical and/or recreational use, including for pets.
- Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC; hemp can be used in food, textiles, and other goods. It’s also a legal source of CBD, the relaxing and non-psychoactive component in cannabis. Hemp contains only very small amounts of THC, so it can’t make the user high. This is what manufacturers use for pet-grade cannabis products.
Since the federal government essentially legalized hemp, tons of over-the-counter hemp and CBD products have hit the shelves for humans and pets alike. However, these products aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as other medications are.
The legality of pet cannabis will also depend on your state’s laws. Technically, legalization only applies to humans; though if it’s legal for you, odds are you can find legal products for your pet, too.
Some states do have specific CBD laws for pets, including:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Before buying any hemp or CBD products for your pet, find out what your state does and doesn’t allow. Most vets can’t prescribe your pet hemp or CBD, but many can help you explore your options.
Effects
Ever wondered how cannabis produces its healing effects? It starts with your body’s natural regulator: the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The cannabinoids in cannabis bind to your ECS cannabinoid receptors—CB1 and CB2—to produce psychoactive and therapeutic effects.
Some include:
- Pain relief
- An uplift in mood
- Nausea relief and appetite promotion
- Better sleep
- Neuroprotection
- Reduced seizure and muscle spasm activity
Like humans, pets have ECS and cannabinoid receptors, which means cannabis can produce similar effects on their bodies and minds. However, their physiology differs in key ways.
The cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) binds to CB1 receptors, which then trigger a psychoactive “high.” Researchers have found that dogs specifically have more CB1 receptors than humans, and they don’t metabolize cannabinoids in the same way, either.
If your dog consumed THC, they would experience a stronger high than you, which can cause some unwanted side effects that detract from the healing qualities of cannabis. That’s why the best pet-safe cannabis products contain hemp-derived CBD and negligible amounts of THC.
How Pets Benefit from Hemp and CBD
CBD on its own—or combined with other non-psychoactive cannabinoids—can offer a wide range of benefits for your pet’s health.
Owners have used these products to help pets manage chronic conditions such as:
- Cancer pain
- Arthritis
- Anxiety and other behavioral issues
- Seizure disorders
Some products take advantage of the entourage effect—the theory that cannabis offers the greatest therapeutic benefits when you consume most or all of its compounds (including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids). You can find broad-spectrum pet CBD which contains most cannabinoids except for THC, so your pet only receives the non-psychoactive benefits of cannabis.
Pets can’t speak for themselves (even though we wish they could), but pet owners know their companions better than anyone. Here’s what some have to say about how their pets benefit from cannabis:
- Owners with anxious or reactive pets who tend to lash out, destroy furniture, or bark excessively have found that CBD helps them relax, enjoy walks more, and sleep better.
- Pets with stiff and painful joints can walk and go upstairs (for example) with more ease.
- CBD can also settle pets’ digestive issues for easier meal times and fewer messy accidents.
One of the joys of pet ownership is that every animal has a unique personality. Their reaction to cannabis products may differ from that of other pets, too. If you want to try CBD out with them, be sure to speak to your veterinarian, choose pet-safe products, and start slow.
A Guide to Pet-Safe Cannabis Products and Dosages
If you currently use medical marijuana, you may feel tempted to share your own products with your pets. But feeding your pet human-grade marijuana is not the same as offering them human food scraps from the table.
Here’s how human-grade and pet-grade cannabis products differ:
- Dosage – Your go-to medical marijuana products likely contain much higher percentages of cannabinoids than pet-safe products. If you give an animal one of your edibles, they may consume more cannabis than they can handle. For one, pets are smaller than humans, and more sensitive to cannabis, too. Read a product’s label to find out how much to give your pet. For general recommendations based on your pet’s weight, use the dosage guidelines below.
- Ingredients – Edibles made for humans may contain ingredients that are toxic for animals. The most common one? Chocolate. Cannabis edibles suitable for pets must be made only with pet-safe ingredients. That doesn’t mean they can’t be tasty, too. You can find pet-safe cannabis products flavored with peanut butter, chicken, and more—all your pet’s favorites.
Even if you consider yourself a cannabis connoisseur, you won’t know how your pet may react to consuming hemp or CBD. When considering any type of supplement for your pet, always discuss your plans with a veterinarian first.
Pet-Safe CBD Dosage Guidelines
Furry friends come in all sizes—your pet’s weight will help you determine the safest amount of CBD you can give them. Generally, pets can handle 1–5 mg of CBD for every 10 pounds they weigh.
Here’s what a median dosage looks like for pets of different weights:
- 10 pounds – 3 mg CBD
- 20 pounds – 6 mg CBD
- 30 pounds – 9 mg CBD
…and on it goes. If you’re helping your pet manage pain, you can give them a dose every 8 hours or so. Effects should kick in after 30 to 60 minutes.
Cannabis overconsumption, also called cannabis toxicosis, won’t seriously harm your pet unless they ingest other toxic ingredients like chocolate.
However, it can cause negative reactions such as:
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Behavioral changes
- Sensory sensitivity
- Heart rate changes
- Incontinence issues
To avoid giving your pet too much cannabis, carefully measure their doses, maintain a strict dosage schedule, and always feed them products designed specifically for furry friends.
Secure Your Online Medical Marijuana Recommendation with TeleLeaf
Cannabis can work wonders for pets in pain—and it can do the same for you.
To start reaping the benefits of holistic healing, you’ll need to receive a medical marijuana recommendation from a state-licensed clinician. TeleLeaf makes this process easier than ever with same-day online appointments and compassionate, personalized service.
During your appointment, you and your TeleLeaf provider will discuss your symptoms and healing goals. If you qualify for medical marijuana, you’ll gain immediate access to your medical card, which admits you to medical cannabis dispensaries and online storefronts. Afterward, we’ll be here to support you for your entire healing journey.
Schedule your virtual appointment today or contact us with any questions online or by phone.
Sources:
National Library of Medicine. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
Brookings. “The Farm Bill, hemp legalization and the status of CBD: An explainer.”
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer/
Paw CBD. “CBD Regulations for Pets: What You Need to Know.”
https://www.pawcbd.com/
Healthline. “A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.”
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
Healthline. “The Effects of Cannabis on Your Body.”
https://www.healthline.com/health/effects-of-cannabis-on-body
Cannabis Science and Technology. “Overview of Cannabis for Pets.”
https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/overview-of-cannabis-for-pets
Open Access Government. “What is the ‘entourage effect’ of cannabis and how can it relieve pain?”
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/
All The Best Pet Care. “CBD Doses for Dogs or Cats.”
https://www.allthebestpetcare.com/pet-nutrition/cbd-dose-dog-cat/
Ashlyn Saucier 
Live Chat
