CBD Oil for Dogs.
CBD – or, Cannabidiol, has in recent months become a trend among fans of health and wellness habits. The product can be found in well-known high street health stores across the UK. Holidays4Dogs looks into this trend. However, there is a word of warning – it is illegal to administer CBD oil to your dog.
There are two main compounds found in the cannabis plant – THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol ) and CBD. THC is the chemical that causes side effects of a psychological nature and is renowned for making recreational users ‘high’. THC can be poisonous to animals.
Cannabidiol does not have a psychoactive effect, but still seems to work as an anti-anxiety remedy, as well as a pain reliever in conditions such as arthritis.
In short, there are two different parts of the Cannabis sativa plant – Marijuana and hemp. The content of THC in marijuana is usually between 10 and 15 percent, but hemp on the other hand only contains 0.3 percent, or less. Hemp has a much higher content of CBD which provides therapeutic effects without causing intoxication in either people, or animals.
Is CBD oil legal in the UK?
It is – but only for human consumption.
Furthermore, CBD products for sale and consumption must meet certain criteria. This is set out in the CBD oil UK law.
However, it is NOT legal to administer CBD to dogs (or other pets). Many pet owners are doing just that and purchasing CBD products meant for human consumption to help with their pets health and wellness. This is against the law.
That said, there is a grey area of the law in that vets can prescribe human CBD for dogs, under certain circumstances. You can read the Veterinary Medicines Directorate statement on this point here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vmd-statement-on-veterinary-medicinal-products-containing-cannabidiol
So how does CBD work?
In humans and other mammals cannabinoid receptor sites are located in the brain, nervous system and immune cells. This makes up the endocannabinoid system.
Studies have already shown that many cannabinoids can help with pain, seizures, muscle spasms, (as seen in diseases such as Parkinson’s), skin conditions, anxiety, depression and other conditions of the nervous system.
Conclusion.
There have been veterinary studies in the US that have strongly suggested that CBD has a positive clinical effect on animals. However, while there has been tremendous surge of interest in this supplement here in the UK, many experts are calling for the development of more clinical studies and trials. As a result, this can establish the true benefits of CBD for humans and pets alike.
For information on the benefits of olive oil for dogs you can read one of our other articles here.
N.B. This Holidays4Dogs article is for information and interest purposes only. We do not advocate administering products to pets that are not legally allowed in the UK, nor do we accept liability for anyone doing so. For any issues relating to the health and welfare of your dog, we thoroughly recommend you seek qualified veterinary advice.
