Over the years since CBD made its debut, a lot of rumors followed it around, and the fact it’s related to marijuana doesn’t help its cause. Because of this, it was hard for the community to grow, especially those that aim to give CBD products to their pets. Their fears were reasonable because according to this blog, THC toxicity can be very harmful to animals. The symptoms can range from dilated pupils (moderate) to coma (severe).
But just because CBD is related to marijuana doesn’t mean the misconception should continue. The fears aren’t unfounded, but there are many benefits this line of product can give if the error can be fixed. This article by pacificsandiego aims to do just that, by breaking 4 important myths and fix any delusions made from groundless claims.
Myth #1: CBD Is A Cure-all For Pets
This is the first misconception that has led cannabidiol to misunderstandings. Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a compound found in the hemp plant. As this compound is introduced to the body, it works with the ECS (Endocannabinoid system) to send and block messages in the brain to the body. In this way, it can help with pains and inflammation, but it’s not as powerful as a miracle drug.Fact #1: CBD Can Help With Reducing Inflammation And Pains But Not Cure Terminal Illnesses
It can help with arthritis, wounds, other joint pains, and even muscle pains and IBS, but cannabidiol is not capable of curing cancer in pets. It’s a potent analgesic, but it is not, in any way, a “cure-all”.Myth #2: CBD Is The Same As Marijuana
There’s a lot to unpack from this myth. Let’s start with the origin of both concepts first. Marijuana is a species under the genus Cannabis Sativa. It is abundant in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which causes one to get stoned when ingesting or smoking this organically.Meanwhile, cannabidiol is a compound found in the hemp, marijuana’s sister species under the same genus. CBD and THC are sister compounds, and they have one difference: the former is not psychoactive. This makes cannabidiol attractive to many users, as marijuana is illegal and can land you in jail.
But in terms of the fauna, THC can become very toxic when ingested. It takes a long time to detoxify THC once taken in by your pet’s body, and the more time it stays, the more it destroys vital organs and traps them in a psychoactive state. This is why companies that make CBD-derived products for pets, like Holistapet, make sure there isn’t any THC mixed in their formula. It can be both disastrous to the poor animal that takes in a defective product, and the company’s reputation, so they take pains to make sure, like testing their formula in a 3rd-party lab.
Fact #2: CBD Is NOT The Same As Marijuana
Cannabidiol is a compound, while marijuana is a plant species. To add, cannabidiol is found in the hemp plant and not in marijuana. Though a very small amount of THC can also be found in the hemp, companies tend to extract and dispose of it, both for legal and safety purposes.Myth #3 CBD Is A Placebo
Fact #3: CBD Is A Potent Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Anxiolytic, and Appetite Stimulant
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of cannabidiol in both humans and pets alike. For anxiety, many studies have found cannabidiol to have calming effects that are twice as potent on animals than humans. It also shows a great improvement in appetite, which is great for pets that are finicky eaters or just fashioned as sickly.But what is greatly taken note of is this study about cannabidiol being effective on osteoarthritic dogs. According to the study of a group of vets found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full, cannabidiol has been found to relieve pains caused by inflammation in dogs after ingestion. It was studied that cannabinoids from the product were responsible to suppress the inflammation as well as trigger an analgesic effect on the area. The result being the dogs living on with their daily lives normally.
Cannabidiol Products: A Shining Hope
May it be a placebo or a cure-all, cannabidiol doesn't fit in any of them. It is simply a product that does what medical marijuana can, excluding the psychoactive effects. Although some exaggerate its abilities, it is still best, to tell the truth about its boundaries and what it can do. That way, expectations can be managed, and it may be studied for more in-depth research.
