Can You Use CBD for Cat Pain?

As a pet parent, you want the best for your feline family members. Keeping cats happy and healthy ensures that they thrive in their environment.

Our feline friends share a common trait: they are good at concealing chronic pain and ailments. This characteristic is a survival instinct that dates back to their days as top predators. Due to this trait, it may take longer to notice your cat’s discomfort. However, when you discover that your cat experiences pain, what remedies can you use to address this?

Using CBD oil can help may help cats experiencing pain. CBD oil is a natural option that offers holistic support to pets struggling with emotional distress, physical discomfort, and other ailments. Read on to learn more about whether or not you can use CBD oil for cat pain, its benefits, whether it is safe, and the dosages that you should use.

What Is CBD Oil?

Extracted from the hemp plant, CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound known for its holistic support for both humans and animals. CBD is an active ingredient from the cannabis plant that cannot make your cat high. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system to provide calming effects.

Studies show that the endocannabinoid system regulates and controls critical body functions, such as memory and learning, sleep, emotions, pain perception, and inflammatory and immune responses. Therefore, it plays an important role in the body’s overall well-being and offers support during pain and anxiety.

What You Need to Know About Hemp Oil

Hemp oil is made from the hemp plant. It contains CBD, a natural component known for its calming properties. It is used among cat owners for its numerous benefits, including support for calm and relaxation, support during occasional discomfort, and support for overall well-being.

While the hemp plant and cannabis plant belong to the same plant family (Cannabis sativa L), they are different and contain varying chemical compositions. The most notable difference between the two plants is the level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) present in each.

A hemp oil extract contains CBD and insignificant amounts of a psychoactive compound known as THC. THC is a cannabinoid found in cannabis, which contains psychoactive effects that can make a cat high. The law requires that all CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC.

cannabis products with less than 0.3% THC are classified as hemp. CBD oils extracted from the hemp plant are, therefore, legal and can be used as plant remedies for pets.

In pet products, CBD oil is found in full-spectrum hemp extracts. A full-spectrum hemp extract is a “whole plant” extract that contains all the components of the hemp plant. These components include cannabinoids, fatty acids, terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, essential oils, and other nutrients. Therefore, full-spectrum CBD oil contains all the components naturally found in the hemp plant.

How to Use Full-Spectrum CBD Oil for Cats?

Most cat CBD oil brands come with different products and flavors for you to select from. You can administer full-spectrum CBD oil to your cat using a CBD a tincture, chew, treat, gummy, or balm. Treats are the most common methods to administer CBD for cats.

Other pet owners use an oil dropper to drop hemp oil into their cat’s food bowl and mix it with the diet. You can also rub hemp oil into your cat’s gums. However, kitties might be too keen for that approach. One easy method you can use is rubbing it into their skin, ears, or paw pads.

It may take less than an hour for the effects to take place in your cat’s system. Let’s now look at some of the benefits you might notice and whether you should use broad-spectrum CBD oil for cat pain.

Benefits of Full-Spectrum CBD Oil for Cats

The following benefits are a result of CBD’s interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates body functions like sleep, anxiety, and pain perception.

While there is limited scientific research focused on CBD oil for cats, anecdotal evidence shows that using CBD oil for cats may offer advantages like:

• Support for occasional joint stiffness

• Promoting calm and relaxation

• Supporting a healthy inflammatory response

• Providing support for cats with seasonal allergies

• Promoting Joint Mobility and Health

• Maintaining skin health

• Promoting overall wellness

Support During Occasional Joint Discomfort

Injuries, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and age-related problems can cause pain and discomfort in cats. Full-spectrum CBD oil is believed to have properties that may help provide support for cats experiencing pain and discomfort. This study outlines the role of cannabinoids in pain modulation in pets.

Many cat parents who used cat CBD when looking for pain relief for their cats have witnessed holistic benefits. A recent study in pain management was conducted to assess the clinical safety and efficacy of daily oral cannabidiol (CBD) doses in cats. The results showed that cat owners noticed a high level of calm and comfort following the use of cat CBD. The study also shows that CBD oil can be safe and effective for cats.

Promoting Calm and Relaxation

Cats with stress and anxiety may also benefit from using full-spectrum CBD oil. Cats can experience stress and anxiety due to factors such as separation from their owners, loud noises, and changes in their environment.

You may notice your cat’s anxiety by looking out for increased heart rates, trembling, salivation, excessive grooming, and panting. Other obvious signs include behaviors like hiding, increased movement, excessive vocalization, and destruction. CBD’s calming properties may help calm and relax kitties experiencing anxiety.

CBD’s calming effects may also help promote better sleep patterns. As a result, your cat gets the much-needed rest for optimal health.

Supporting A Healthy Inflammatory Response

CBD oil may help support a normal inflammatory response. Cats experiencing pain may benefit from this property. Inflammation in cats may result from bacterial or fungal infection, allergies, hip dysplasia, or joint trauma. Cat CBD can support a healthy inflammatory response, thereby promoting mobility and your cat’s overall quality of life.

Support for Pets with Seasonal Allergies

CBD oil may also help support cats with seasonal allergies. Allergies in cats may result from a change in the environment or contact with substances like shampoos, fleas, and certain beddings. Such allergies can cause skin irritation, itching, and pain. Cat CBD promotes your cat’s immune system and may support your cat when they experience these seasonal allergies.

Promoting Joint Mobility and Health

Anecdotal evidence shows that hemp oil promotes a healthy inflammatory response for cats with arthritis and other joint-related problems. As a result, it promotes joint health and supports joint flexibility and mobility.

Maintaining Skin Health

You can also use CBD topical oil for cats to promote your cat’s skin health. For cats with skin itching, irritation, redness, topical CBD products might be a solution to provide your pet some comfort and relief.

Promoting Overall Wellness

Through its interaction with your cat’s endocannabinoid system, CBD binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which regulate dopamine. Dopamine is a compound in the body that is responsible for feelings such as mood.

Through its control of biological functions like anxiety, sleeping, and mood, the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in the body’s overall health. CBD’s interaction with this system helps maintain balance across various body systems, which in turn promotes overall wellness.

Should You Use CBD for Cat Pain?

If you’re considering using CBD oil for cats to help with your cat’s pain, consult with your veterinarian. The vet will assess your pet’s condition and discuss potential risks and benefits depending on your pet’s health status. The vet will also guide you on the doses to use and help you identify the best CBD product for your cat.

The vet may also suggest complementary therapies or alternative pain management approaches to pain relief.

Is CBD Safe for Cats?

Pet CBD oil can be generally considered safe for our feline companions when administered properly and in the right dosages as advised by your veterinarian.

While there is still no conclusive scientific research on the effectiveness of CBD, pet parents have shared their anecdotal evidence across the Internet. However, you need to know how much CBD your cat can take. Too much CBD can cause your cat to develop an upset stomach and even cause sedation. However, these effects can be fixed by terminating the dosage.

You need to work closely with your vet to ensure you administer the correct doses and identify any underlying conditions your pet may have. Using CBD oil on cats with underlying conditions can cause adverse effects. Therefore, you need to check your cat’s health status before administering CBD.

To ensure that you purchase the best CBD product that is safe for your cat, consider things like quality control, THC content, drug interactions, and individual sensitivity. These factors ensure that pet owners using CBD oil for cats have CBD-calm cats.

Here is an in-depth review of these considerations to help you reap all the benefits of CBD products:

Quality Control

Make sure that the CBD product you get is of high quality and specially formulated for pets. Identify products sourced from organic hemp. Also, ensure that the product has undergone third-party laboratory testing for safety concerns, purity, and potency. Third-party lab testing also ensures that the CBD product does not have heavy metals like silver, mercury, and copper.

You should not use CBD oil formulated for humans. CBD oil for humans may contain additional ingredients that may cause harm to cats. Additionally, CBD products for humans are formulated in dosages too large for cats to tolerate.

THC Content

Ensure that the CBD product you purchase contains little to no THC content. The federal law stipulates that CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC to ensure that they don’t not cause psychoactive effects. THC can also be toxic to cats and, thus, you must avoid it.

Drug Interactions

CBD oil for cats can interact with other medications that your cat may be using. As a result, you must inform your vet about all supplements and medications that your feline friend is currently taking. This information will help avoid any potential drug interactions.

Individual Sensitivity

Cats may have varying sensitivities to CBD. Therefore, you need to closely monitor their response as you introduce and administer CBD. Closely observe changes in appetite, behavior, and overall well-being. Inform your vet of any changes. The vet may recommend whether to reduce or drop the CBD dosage.

Does CBD Oil Have Any Side Effects?

In most cases, the presence of CBD side effects represents an incorrect dosage. If you notice any side effects, stop the dosage and immediately contact your vet. You can watch out for side effects like:

• Excessive drowsiness

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Upset stomach

• Staggering

• Agitation

• Lethargy

How Much CBD Can Cats Have?

The correct CBD dosage for your cat may vary depending on factors like weight, size, individual response, and the specific condition. CBD products for pets typically contain lower CBD concentrations compared to those intended for humans. The limit in CBD concentration helps reduce risks of adverse effects such as stomach upsets.

Cats may also have varying individual sensitivities. As a result, CBD may affect some cats more than others. You need to observe your cat’s behavior when administering CBD to determine whether to use more or less CBD. While the likelihood of an overdose is relatively low, cats can experience potential adverse effects if given excessive amounts of CBD than they can handle.

Never rush to add CBD oil to your feline friend’s diet. You can begin with a small introduction as you track the presence of side effects before gradually adding more CBD. Consult your vet to ensure you start with the right dose. Also, follow the dosing guidelines on the CBD product’s label.

If your cat accidentally ingests too much CBD oil, take the following steps:

1. Determine the amount of CBD your cat may have consumed. Also, observe whether the cat exhibits unusual behavior or any immediate symptoms. Look out for symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, extreme drowsiness, upset stomach, staggering, agitation, and lethargy.

2. Inform your veterinarian about the situation immediately. Provide details like the amount of CBD consumed and any symptoms you might have observed. Based on this information, your vet can provide advice on the next steps to take. If your vet is unavailable, you can reach out to the Pet Poison Helpline or the Animal Poison Control Center.

3. Don’t attempt to induce vomiting. Induced vomiting, especially for cats, should only be done under the direct supervision of a vet.

4. Follow the instructions provided by your vet regarding supportive care. The vet may suggest that you monitor vital signs, administer specific treatments, or provide extra fluids.

 References:

1. Learn more about CBD and THC as analgesic therapy in a cat with chronic osteoarthritic pain.

2. Learn more about the Endocannabinoid system and Cannabidiol's promise for the treatment of substance use disorder.

3. Read more on the placebo-controlled trial of daily oral Cannabidiol as an adjunctive treatment for cats with chronic Gingivostomatitis.

4. Learn more about the role of the Endocannabinoid system in the regulation of intestinal homeostasis.

5. Learn more about cannabidiol (CBD) and THC in nonprescription consumer products.

6. Learn more about the role of cannabinoids in pain modulation in companion animals.