Through years of cannabis-centered research, experts have unveiled the health wonders of the genus Cannabis. Recently, a cannabis compound known as cannabidiol (CBD) caused an uproar in the medical industry due to its natural and non-psychoactive properties, among others. Shortly after, numerous CBD products emerged on the market, which chose CBD either as the star ingredient or key ingredient in their brands.
CBD consumption in humans undoubtedly offers several health advantages, but there is still a questionable line when it comes to animal consumption. Many veterinarians have recommended CBD oils due to its health benefits for pets, especially when managing joint pains. However, some pet owners are still skeptical about buying CBD products, especially CBD oils, due to lack of information about CBD.
If you’re considering including CBD oil into your pet’s routine, you have come to the right place. Here is a comprehensive guide in purchasing CBD oil for your pets:
Hemp-Derived vs. Cannabis-Derived
Although these two terms sound synonymous, knowing the difference between a hemp-derived and cannabis-derived product will make a big difference before your purchase. Generally, opt for a hemp tincture than CBD oils that are extracted from cannabis.
Cannabis-derived means it can be extracted either from its three species: Sativa, Indica, or ruderalis, which have varying intoxication levels. If you choose a hemp-derived CBD, it is solely from the Cannabis sativa, which is a variant of hemp. In short, all hemp-derived oils are from Sativa, but not all cannabis-derived oils are from hemp.
Types of CBD Oil
When choosing a CBD oil, there will be three options to choose from:
- Full-Spectrum: Includes all phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including CBD, THC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids, etc.
- Broad-Spectrum: Has essential cannabinoids, especially CBD, except for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
- Isolate: As the name implies, this has the purest CBD removed from other ingredients.
Among these three types, always pick the full-spectrum CBD oil, which usually has richer ingredients. Since they contain all essential compounds from the plant, they can enhance the health benefits that your pet can receive, which is also known as the entourage effect.
However, keep in mind that the THC content of these full-spectrum CBD oils shouldn’t exceed the legal amount of 0.3%. Due to this, full-spectrum CBD products can sometimes have a bit of THC in them. Another reason why hemp-derived CBD is preferred than cannabis-derived ones is that you can’t get high from it.
Go Organic
Hemp plants go through numerous processes before being manufactured into CBD oils. During growing a hemp plant, there are external stressors can affect its growth; this is the reason why some people are accustomed to utilizing pesticides, insecticides, and unwanted chemicals.
Weigh your options if a CBD oil is organic or non-organic. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose a natural CBD oil than a non-organic one:
- Hemp plants are purposely used to purify soil contaminated with toxins and heavy metals, a process known as phytoremediation. If it is grown in poorly maintained soil, the chances are that your CBD oil composes of harmful pollutants.
- Organic-labeled CBD products are carefully manufactured to a standard. As a result, it won’t compromise your health as it is guaranteed that it has good quality.
Check for Certifications
Companies can lie about their products; therefore, before purchasing CBD oil, do some thorough research about the company or manufacturer and look for the Certificate of Analysis (COA) of the specific CBD oil product you’re eyeing. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document from a third-party laboratory that elaborately discusses the compounds found on the product.
Although you can’t confirm the COA’s legitimacy, having an official document to support their product claims can keep you at ease. Also, if there are ingredients listed on the product’s packaging, examine if they match the compounds listed on their COA.
Type of Emulsifications
No matter how powerful the ingredients of your CBD oil, its effectiveness will boil down by how it’s absorbed by your pet. When CBD and other essential compounds are extracted from hemp plants, the challenge for the chemists is to incorporate them into oil and make the consistency thick.
To promote quick and efficient intake, choose a CBD oil with nano-sized emulsion as much as possible compared to standard and liposomal emulsion. However, only a few companies produce nano-sized emulsion in CBD oils. Liposomal emulsions with relatively bigger particles than nano-sized will do.
Choose The Right Packaging
Like any other oils, CBD oils should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight glass bottle. Along with the product’s packaging, If CBD oils are correctly stored, they can last for years or more than decades.
Takeaways
Regardless of how diligent you utilize a CBD oil into your pet’s routine, it will never work out in its best version if you haven’t purchased the right product. With the help of the tips and things that you should consider mentioned above, you can get your hands on the best CBD oils in the market for your furry companions.