Rise in CBD administration among pets
These days, cannabidiol (CBD) products extend far beyond human use, with a number of CBD pet treats and supplements hitting the market. Such products provide pet owners with ways to potentially ease their furry friends’ pain and anxiety. Some CBD-infused pet products also market the ability to soothe irritated skin and aid digestion.
Thanks to the medical potential of CBD, companies that create such products are capitalizing on this opportunity. Sales of CBD pet products have skyrocketed over recent years as demand continues to soar. In fact, the CBD pet product market is expected to reach $1.16 billion in the US by 2022.
But while the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CBD-based medication for humans in 2018, CBD regulation is still lagging for consumers. Right now, CBD consumption in foods and beverages is not federally regulated, neither for humans nor pets. Guidance for the CBD pet product industry is thus trailing, leaving pet owners to fend for themselves when it comes to determining the safety and efficacy of the CBD products they purchase for their pets.
As of this writing, the FDA has not approved any CBD-based foods or supplements for humans or pets. Considering this, some might wonder how there are so many pet CBD products on the market. The regulation of pet supplements in general is already somewhat murky, regardless of whether CBD is present in the products. While supplements for humans are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), such regulations do not exist for pet supplements.
Regulating the CBD industry as a whole has a long way to go. In the meantime, those looking to give CBD to their pets are encouraged to do their homework first. More specifically, pet owners should be aware of the hemp plant’s quality from which the CBD is extracted, the process of CBD extraction, and third-party lab results that should come with CBD products from reputable manufacturers.
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