TUCSON, Ariz. - Pain, arthritis, seizures and other health problems have people turning to CBD for their pets. More and more products are hitting the market and in a recent survey of veterinarians, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they were asked about cannabis by their patients at least once a month.
"A lot of people want it to calm their pets and so dogs who have noise aversion or dogs who have a little anxiety, it seems to help with. And a lot of people are using it for pain management," says Veterinarian, Dr. Joseph Zuckerman.
In the 47 states where CBD is legal for human use, physicians can recommend CBD to their patients, and consumers can often purchase CBD at retail locations. But veterinarians operate under a different set of laws. If you are considering giving your furry family member CBD, Consumer Reports has some tips.
"Talk to your vet and you'll have to bring up that conversation to make sure the CBD doesn't interact with any medications your pet is already on," says Consumer Reports Special Projects Editor, Rachel Rabkin Peachman. "You're also going to want to start with a low dose and increase gradually to make sure your pet is doing well as your pet is on the CBD."
Cannabis for pets is largely unregulated and it can be difficult to know which CBD products have been formulated responsibly.
"Look for the seal from the National Animal Supplement Council that can help identify quality products," says Peachman.
Also, check the product has a COA on the label or website which shows that it has been tested for its content.
Click here for more tips from Consumer Reports on buying CBD for your pet.
