How to Talk to Your Veterinary Care Center About CBD
You must have heard about the positive effects CBD has people and animals, right? CBD products are fast becoming more accepted across the United States, and not just for human consumption either. Researchers are studying the many benefits of CBD has for your pets!
More pet owners want to add CBD to their pet’s diet to help manage their pain, improve their appetite, or boost their mood. With so many CBD products and strengths available, you must talk to your veterinary care center about CBD before giving it to your pet.
Despite these welcoming attitudes towards CBD, there are many restrictive laws against using veterinary CBD oil. So, how do you talk to your veterinary care center about adding CBD to your pet’s diet?
Fortunately, you still can navigate the CBD conversation with your veterinarian. Here’s how you can have the CBD talk with pet’s veterinarian!
Why Your Veterinary Care Center Can’t Talk About CBD
It may seem odd but some veterinarians can’t legally talk about prescribing CBD oil for your cat or dog. But why is this? If pet stores and others can market the benefits of CBD, why can’t your veterinarian?
The reason is CBD hasn’t undergone approval by state and national animal healthcare practices. The American Veterinary Medical Association prohibits veterinarians from prescribing, administering, and discussing CBD use for pets. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved CBD due to a lack of research on the effects of CBD on animals.
Beyond the FDA, there are several national and state laws. They’re restricting veterinarians’ ability to share knowledge about CBD and cannabis. Each state has separate laws regarding this.
Ironically, states like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have legalized marijuana for human recreation but not for use on animals. Veterinarians can’t discuss or recommend it to their clients.
Breaking these laws can have severe consequences. Some veterinarians can have their license suspended, or worse, revoked. For their safety, it’s often best to avoid the conversation altogether.
Many veterinarians find this claim and situation to be absurd. By prohibiting a conversation about CBD between pet owners and their veterinarians can put many pets in danger.
The wrong type or dosage of CBD may harm your pet. Conversely, your pet may be missing out on the important benefits CBD has to offer.
The good news is that laws regarding CBD and cannabis are always changing. In 2018, California became the first state to allow veterinarians to discuss cannabis options with pet owners. They still can’t prescribe or recommend pet owners to give cannabis to their pets.
Other states still enforce laws preventing this discussion. Cannabis laws, however, change. They’ll likely be changing in the veterinary profession as well.
Can You Mention CBD to Your Veterinarian?
In short, yes, you should mention your thoughts on using CBD for your pet. No laws are barring you from asking questions about CBD and cannabis. You should also feel comfortable bringing this topic up as it regards the health and safety of your furry friend.
While most veterinarians can’t give you detailed information about CBD or cannabis and your pet, they can give you a little insight into its safety.
You Should Ask Your Veterinarian About CBD
While CBD and cannabis may have few negative effects on humans, the potential side-effects are more noticeable in animals. If you’re thinking of adding full-spectrum CBD to your pet’s diet, mention it to your veterinarian.
Pet owners should be aware that CBD can interact with other medications or supplements your pet is taking. Your veterinarian can tell you whether the CBD will negatively interact with your pet’s current medications.
A few side-effects pets can experience include:
- Increased fatigue
- Dropping blood pressure
- Less saliva production
- Liver enzyme production decreases preventing proper metabolization of prescription drugs
It’s also good practice to consult your veterinarian before starting your pet on a new supplement or diet.
However, there are many great benefits to adding CBD to your pet’s diet! Despite the few side-effects that do exist, many legal prescription drugs for animals can have side-effects that are more dangerous and severe.
What You Can Do to Help
Do you agree that the current laws regarding CBD for animals are a little ridiculous? Even dangerous as they prevent the sharing of important information?
If so, you’re not the only one. Better yet, you can help make a change.
Start by calling and writing to your Representatives and Senators in both the State Legislature and the US Senate. There are many resources to help you find your local Representatives and Senators. In your letters ask for:
- Laws that allow for more safe and proper research regarding CBD and efficacy on animals
- Change current laws limiting veterinarians’ ability to discuss CBD and cannabis as alternative forms of medicine. Mention California’s reformed laws that allow veterinarians to discuss CBD
You can also follow Oregon’s Representative Earl Blumenauer on Twitter who’s avidly working to make these changes happen. Read and share his tweets to get the word out. Pet owners and veterinarians can benefit from the legalization of cannabis products for animals.
Doing both or either of these will make the topic of CBD for pets safer and more beneficial. More research will continue and veterinarians will be able to share more information with their clients.
Always Look for Credible & High-Quality CBD
Always talk to your veterinary care center about CBD before adding it to your pet’s diet. If you’re confident CBD is safe for your pet, look for credible and high-quality CBD products. At Mile High Pawducts, all of our CBD and cannabis products are pet-friendly and sourced from the highest-quality ingredients.
We also offer products with trace amounts of THC to cause an Entourage Effect. This effect allows all cannabinoids (CBD and THC) to work together to promote better pain relief.
Do you want to learn more about how CBD can help your pet? Let’s get in touch to find the perfect CBD supplement for your furry friend today!
