What types of products are effective for your pet?
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veterinarians are hesitant to give advice or counsel pet parents on product selection or dosing. Having an option to discuss dosing protocols for your pets with the company selling the product can make a big difference in whether CBD products help your pet.
Next, make sure to look for Certificates of Analysis (CoA). These are lab tests done by (hopefully) independent laboratories looking for concentration of cannabinoids, bacterial contamination, pesticides, presence of heavy metals, and mycotoxins. Make sure that the company you’re researching offers these CoA’s easily, or even better is if the analyses are batch specific and provided on their website or in person if it’s retail. Check the dates on the CoA and verify that the name of the company is listed on the certificate. All too often, there will be ethanol left in the extract as that’s the most common method of extraction for hemp producers. Even small amounts of ethanol in a product can be toxic to small dogs’ and cats’ kidneys. Additionally, artificial sweeteners often have xylitol which is also harmful to dogs and cause life-threatening hypoglycemia and liver damage. Look for organically farmed hemp with little to no additives outside of carrier oils (common oils are coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, and olive oil). Be aware that the oil itself (inert ingredient) can cause gastrointestinal effects such as excess gas production or diarrhea in dogs or cats with sensitive GI tracts.
Now that you know how to select a safe product, the next step is very important. What types of products are effective for pets? Although this may seem like a simple question, it couldn’t be more confusing.
knowledge
Dr. Chelsea Luedke