Can a Cat Overdose on CBD Oil? Dispelling Myths and Fears

August 30, 2023

Uncategorized

10 min read

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Can a Cat Overdose on CBD Oil? Dispelling Myths and Fears

This article will dispel myths and fears about things like “Can a cat overdose on CBD oil.” It will also provide vital information on the correct CBD dosage for cat usage, the proper safety standards, and potential benefits.

CBD oil for cats

CBD oil has become very popular, especially when used for pets, particularly cats. However, there are many misconceptions about cats overdosing on CBD oil and other myths and fears. Addressing these is important to understand how you can use CBD oil to help your cat.

CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the many compounds derived from the Cannabis plant. It is a non-intoxicating compound because it doesn’t have THC. THC is what gets you high.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body, and this means it can help cats by:

Controlling pain
Improving well-being
Reducing anxiety

Can a cat overdose on CBD oil?

An overdose, as it applies to any form of medication or supplement, is when you take so much that the product poisons your body. An overdose is different from mild side effects. Medications or supplements like CBD oil can cause side effects, but that is not the same thing.

Excessive CBD consumption won’t cause an overdose in the way most people think: where someone uses too much of a drug and poisons themselves. However, if you don’t give your cat the right dosage, you can give them an unsafe level of CBD oil that can cause serious side effects, which may require medical intervention.

Common misconceptions and myths about CBD oil overdose in cats

CBD oil is toxic to cats

CBD oil is not toxic to cats. But can a cat overdose on CBD oil? They can take too much and suffer ill effects, especially if they consume soft chew products or if the CBD products interact with other medications.

It is always best to talk with your veterinarian about the correct CBD dose for cat situations and any potential interactions that might have with medications.

A little extra CBD oil will speed up healing

This is incorrect. If you are using CBD oil, particularly for severe health concerns like nausea, vomiting, epilepsy, or other cancer symptoms, it needs to be treated the same as any other medication, which means you give your cat a certain amount every day on a consistent basis. You might provide a certain amount multiple times per day, but you should stay within the recommended dosage for your cat based on weight, age, and well-being.

There’s no such thing as too much CBD for cats

This is incorrect. As is the case with humans, cats can consume too much CBD and suffer some harmful side effects. That’s why knowing the correct CBD dosage for cats is essential.

CBD oil will make my cat high

This is incorrect. With any cat CBD dose, you are using precisely that: CBD. CBD does not contain THC, which gets you (or your pet) high. This means no amount of CBD will cause a “high” in your pet, but that does not mean there aren’t potential side effects if using the wrong dosage.

Note: Some CBD products also contain THC. Products can legally have up to 0.3% THC in them. So check to see what cat CBD dose is right for your pet and whether the product has THC. If it does, then the cat could get a slight high.

There’s no way to measure the correct CBD dosage for cats

This is also incorrect. Many products come with measurements you can reliably use based on things like:

Breed
Age
Diet
Weight
Health

For example, some products come in a liquid you can add to food, in which case medicinal stoppers are used as the measurement, with corresponding details on the packaging. Other products are soft chews with CBD oil in them, and, again, instructions on the correct dose correspond to the number of chews in a day.

Tips for picking the proper CBD dosage for cat problems

When learning about the right cat CBD dosage, start by looking at the guidelines from specific manufacturers. One company, for example, states that portions for a cat should be one-half or a full dropper daily. However, their products also state that smaller doses (equal to one half or dropper) can be used incrementally throughout the day as needed.
Most CBD manufacturers will recommend between 1mg and 5 mg of CBD oil for every 10 pounds your cat weighs.
You should start with smaller doses with any new product and remain consistent with your CBD dosage for cat issues, knowing that (as is the case with any medication) it can take up to two weeks for real effects to take hold.
If you are using a cat CBD dose for severe health concerns like epilepsy, tumors, or cancer symptoms, you can usually use higher doses, something you can verify with your veterinarian.

All side effects mean my cat has overdosed on CBD

No. With the right cat CBD dose, your cat is unlikely to experience any complications, but they can experience:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Inappetence (lack of appetite)

The reason there is a risk is that certain soft chew CBD products for cats can pull fluid from the body and into the gastrointestinal tract, which is what causes things like dehydration or diarrhea, but this only happens if they ingest too much, and it is not a sign that they are high.
These side effects do not mean your cat has overdosed. And in most cases, there’s very little you need to do to treat any of these side effects if they occur other than symptomatic care for any gastrointestinal distress.

Summing Up

Can a cat overdose on CBD oil? No, but administering the incorrect cat CBD dosage can cause mild or moderate side effects. Thankfully, most side effects are nothing to worry about, and they will right themselves without medical intervention.

As a pet owner, it is essential that you use CBD oil safely when administering it to your pet. Use the right amount and the appropriate dose as indicated by packaging directions or your veterinarian. If you are interested in trying CBD oil for cats, talk to your veterinarian to find a good quality product with the proper dosage.