Curious about sharing your pet’s CBD oil? While Fido might find relief, it’s not so straightforward for humans. Pet CBD products often contain different concentrations and ingredients not meant for human consumption. This guide dives deep into the potential risks, clarifies the differences between human and pet CBD, and offers expert advice on choosing the right product for yourself. Don’t risk your health – get informed before you consider taking your furry friend’s CBD.
Disclaimer:The information provided in our articles is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a physician or qualified healthcare professional before starting any CBD products for your well-being.
If you’re an active CBD user and you also purchase CBD for your dogs, you might be wondering if there is much of a difference between human CBD oil and pet CBD oil. Can humans take pet CBD oil products, or are they strictly for pets?
Cannabidiol (CBD)is a compound derived from hemp plant and does not contain THC (though CBD is often used as a blanket acronym that covers cannabis plants and hemp plants). There’s one glaring difference between CBD for dogs and CBD for humans that’s worth consideration.
Dogs are five times more sensitive to it than humans are, meaning a human taking CBD oil for dogs will get a lot less out of it by following the dosing for dogs. There’s a lot to unpack here, especially with the major difference in tolerance levels between dogs and humans.
Can Humans Take Pet CBD Oil?
Yes, humans can safely take Pet CBD oil. Most mammals, including humans and dogs, share the same metabolic process when it comes to cannabinoids. Dogs are just more susceptible than humans, which is why we can take a lot more without suffering adverse side effects.
Difference Between Pet CBD Oil and Human CBD Oil
There’s no difference between pet and human CBD oils except the recommended dosage instructions on the label. Of course, pet CBD oil products come in some forms that might not be palatable to humans, such as CBD treats. Unless you like gulping down doggy chews, you might want to stay away from those.
Again, with the proper dosage, human CBD oil or CBD products are bound to be more potent than pet CBD oil or pet treats. Giving a pet CBD oil from human stock will be far too much CBD for them to tolerate. Pet CBD products typically have several flavors tailored to canines, while human CBD products come in a wide variety, depending on the type of CBD product you want to take.
Gummies, for example, are similar to most regular candies, with everything from sour granny smith apple flavors to blue thunder. You name the flavor; there’s bound to be human CBD products to match it.
Key Precautions for Humans Using Pet CBD Oil
The only precaution you need to take is not taking too much. Sure, that sounds a little crazy, given the potency of pet CBD products is severely watered down. However, hear me out on this one. In order to get a decent effect out of it, you have to take so much more. If you don’t pay careful attention to the dosage, it’s far easier to take too much CBD than it is too little.
Right Dosage of Pet CBD Oil for Humans
I give my Dobermans 2 mg per 10 lbs of body weight. My female Dobie, Athena, weighs 50 lbs, so I cut her off at 10 mg, often giving her a slightly smaller amount because of how effective it is. Her brother, Ares, weighs nearly a hundred lbs (he’s a hungry dog!), so I typically give him 15 mg, maybe a little more.
However, I mix his in his food and give it to him in several doses throughout the day, mostly for his health, since he has no behavioral or anxiety problems. If I wanted to take some for myself, I would burn through so much pet CBD oil that I would run out quickly. That’s because the max dose for a human is 6 mg per 10 lbs, tapering off as you approach 100 lbs.
At 100 lbs, you’re looking at a maximum of 40 mg and a minimum of 20 mg. Taper off further at 200 lbs, with a max of 50 mg and a minimum of 30 mg. Of course, your body is the best barometer for determining your tolerance, and you should start off with much less.
How Long Pet CBD Oil Takes to Work In Humans
It takes pet CBD oil just as long to take effect in humans as human CBD oil, especially if you take it in the right dose for human consumption. Though humans take pet CBD at a higher dose, the efficacy of it doesn’t change. If you’ve just eaten a meal and you have a slow metabolism, expect it to take up to two hours.
Tinctures can act as quickly as 15 minutes in a person with a high metabolism, or it could take as long as half an hour. Much depends on your size, metabolism, type of CBD products you’re taking, and whether you’ve eaten recently.
Uses of Pet CBD Oil in Humans
The human endocannabinoid system is not nearly as hyperactive as a dog’s, the latter of which makes a dose of CBD oil five times more intense. The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of cell proteins and chemicals that work together, achieving homeostasis or balance within the body. Pet CBD or human CBD products act on the endocannabinoid system, inhibiting its function.
Benefits of Pet CBD Oil In Humans
Since it reduces a locomotive response and attention capability and creates a sense of laid-back euphoria, CBD is a naturally attractive option. This effect is according to the National Library of Medicine, which has compiled a number of studies on CBD effects in humans and animals in recent years.
And according to Harvard Health Publishing, a number of studies indicate that a side effect of inhibiting the endocannabinoid system is the reduction of stress/anxiety (which is why I love the stuff for Athena), chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, and insomnia.
Whether you use Pet CBD oil or human CBD oil, the results are the same as long as you increase or reduce the amount to match a typical dosage of CBD for humans. As with dogs, there are three types — CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum CBD. The best choice is always the full spectrum.
However, keep in mind that there are a lot of positive effects that are falsely attributed to CBD, such as it being a curative for cancer and COVID-19. Always keep in mind that there is every bit as much misinformation on the web as there is information. Sort the wheat from the chafe by avoiding anything not backed by a scientific study, revealing its efficacy.
CBD Oil for Pets
Most humans take pet CBD oil because they are out of human CBD oil products. It takes a lot more of it for us, but do pets receive the same kind of benefits from it that humans do at a lower dosage? I’ll get to the scientific studies in a second, but I can tell you that it has worked wonders for my Dobermans, especially Athena.
Athena came to us a bit early, almost immediately after weaning off her mother’s milk. We believe that this early change of hands contributed to anxiety and hyperactivity that would follow her well into her adult life. I started giving her CBD oil products (for pets) as a kind of last-ditch effort to calm her. Training certainly made her smarter, but it wasn’t as effective at controlling her anxiety.
It worked, much to our relief. Later, as I learned more about the pet CBD offerings on the market, my wife and I switched to Honest Paws Calm CBD Oil for dogs and never looked back. Pet CBD has been fantastic for us, and that’s just for a family dealing with stress and anxiety behaviors. However, for dogs or cats that take pet CBD oil, the benefits are more numerous than just anxiety improvements.
These benefits include anxiety relief, stress reduction, chronic pain management, arthritis management, anti-inflammation, help with sleeplessness and hyperactivity, and more. If a dog can take pet CBD oil and get all of that, why can’t humans?
Human Use of Pet CBD Oil for Dogs
Well, as we discussed above, humans certainly can. There is no difference between CBD oil for pets and CBD oil for humans except for dosage and potency. Above, I discussed some benefits of CBD in humans, and both dogs and people get the same results.
After all, humans take pet CBD for the same effects that CBD oil for humans provides. CBD oil is CBD oil, after all, and the dose is the only difference you need to concern yourself with. While there are no dog/human CBD oil studies out there, plenty of studies in both humans and dogs indicate the usefulness of CBD.
Human Use of Pet CBD Oil for Cats
I own a ragdoll cat, but I don’t give it any CBD oil. I tried to do so once upon a time, and Hermes (my ragdoll’s name, haha) turned up her nose at it and refused to eat her bowl of food. Not only that, but I’m sure there are many CBD products in the Honest Paws or CBDfx line that I could try, but she’s so laid back I don’t feel like she really needs it.
As far as humans taking CBD oil for cats, there’s no difference between cat CBD and dog CBD, with the exception of flavoring. Cat CBD is specifically designed for cats in terms of taste. What a dog likes is not necessarily what a cat likes, and vice versa.
Again, like dog CBD oil, you’ll have to up the dose of cat CBD oil significantly to gain any use from it.
Negative Effects of Pet CBD Oil
The negative effects of CBD oil products for pets are the same for humans. According to the Mayo Clinic, CBD is well-tolerated in humans unless you take too much of it or take a high dose when your body is not used to taking CBD. These effects, unfortunately, include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Reduced Appetite
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Dry Mouth
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
Other than taking too much on accident, you shouldn’t experience these symptoms. If you do, and they persist, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. Pet CBD is perfectly fine for human consumption; however, we’re subject to some of the same issues when it comes to quality as our pups.
You should ensure that you’re using organic, USDA-certified CBD oil or products, especially if it has third-party lab testing to validate the quality and authenticity of the product. Honest Paws is my personal choice because it’s backed by these certifications.
Additional Tips Regarding Pet CBD Products
Because of the nature of CBD dosage, I don’t recommend taking CBD products for pets. The reason is simple — you’ll go through it like crazy. To get the right amount to make a difference, you would have to take quite a lot for each dose.
For the most part, pet owners should give pet CBD to pets and stick with human CBD oil for humans. Trust me, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. For instance, Honest Paws’ high-quality CBD oil comes in 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg, and 1,000 mg. The low end of 125 mg is $34, and you might go through that in three doses and be done.
FAQs
1. Is it Safe for Dogs to Consume CBD Oil for Humans?
It’s perfectly safe for dogs to consume CBD oil for humans, so long as you administer it at the right dose — 2 mg per 10 lbs of body weight. Also, some dogs might react negatively to ingredients in human CBD products, like chocolate.
2. Do Hemp Oil and CBD Oil Refer to the Same Thing?
No, hemp seed oil and CBD oil are processed differently and are not the same thing. They shouldn’t be marketed as the same product either.
3. Is there a Difference Between CBD Oil for Humans and Pets?
The dosage is typically different, and the flavor is often very different, with one appealing to a dog’s sense of taste and the other appealing to people.
4. How to Shop for CBD Oil that can be Used for Both Humans and Pets?
Keep it organic and make sure it’s labeled with a certification from the USDA, along with third-party testing. Since you now know the dosing for dogs and people, you can purchase human CBD oil and measure it out accurately for your furry friends.
Final Thoughts
It’s perfectly clear that humans can take pet CBD products. You just need to remember that the dosing for humans versus dogs is different. I wouldn’t personally take Athena’s CBD oil, but I don’t mind the occasional human CBD oil.
That doesn’t mean I can’t take Athena’s Honest Paws because I can. It’s just not my cup of tea. However, if you’re feeling froggy about your dog’s CBD oil, feel free to leap.
While pet CBD oil isn’t inherently toxic to humans, using it is generally discouraged. Formulations vary significantly, and pet products often contain other ingredients unsuitable for human consumption. Furthermore, concentrations designed for pets may not provide the desired effects for humans. Consult a physician before using any CBD product, and prioritize purchasing human-grade CBD from reputable vendors. For specific guidance regarding CBD for yourself or your pet, speaking to a qualified medical professional is crucial.