Twenty-three million American households – one in five homes nationwide – got a new cat or dog during the pandemic. Along with the expected uptick in pet food, treats, and behavioral training was a rise in cannabinoids for pets.

Pet owners are turning to cannabinoids to address various ailments affecting their animals. For many, it’s because they desire more “natural” remedies. While you wouldn’t take some blunt wraps and spark up with your pet, there are other avenues to take to get the right cannabinoids into your pet’s system. Plant-based phytocannabinoids like CBD for pets can be purchased in various delivery methods, such as tinctures, salves, and treats.

In both pre-clinical and clinical studies, cannabinoids aid arthritis-related pain management, seizure control, and anxiety in pets. When determining which conditions would benefit from cannabinoid treatments, veterinarians use PAINS, an acronym for Pain, Anxiety, Inflammation, Nausea (or appetite loss), and Seizures.

One vet reports owners of a dog that suffered from daily seizures despite anti-seizure medication. Not wanting to see their pet suffer, they were contemplating euthanasia. As a final attempt to help their dog, they tried cannabinoids. The treatment spared the owners a difficult decision. The seizures stopped, and the pet’s quality of life improved dramatically.

Humans’ return to a more “normal” lifestyle has meant a shift for pets from 100% one-on-one time to being alone during work schedules or strange new dog walkers. For many pets, this has caused anxiety-based behavioral issues. Pet owners once again are turning to cannabinoids as a solution.

While no treatment is 100% effective 100% of the time, cannabis and cannabinoids are effective without the many potential drawbacks of other pharmaceuticals.

The market for pet cannabinoids has exploded, and with that comes a glut of choices. While it can be challenging to navigate through all the different options. Some basic guidelines still apply:

1. Ensure an independent, third-party lab tested the product 
2. Look for a transparent, detailed certificate of analysis (COA) regarding cannabinoid content and screening for pesticides and contaminants.
3. Read reviews and ask questions.
4. Ask about the brand’s sourcing, how they formulate and process the product, and how much veterinary expertise they have on board.

Good, transparent pet cannabinoid businesses are there because they care about pets. Finding the right cannabinoid solution can enhance the quality of life for both people and their animal companions. Cannabis wellness can profoundly impact health, happiness, and harmony, whether for humans or their pets.