CBD For Pets UK Law
Are you confused about the UK laws around giving CBD to your pets? The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) said “products containing Cannabidiol (CBD) are veterinary medicines and should be regulated as such”.
The VMD is of the opinion that CBD products need to be rigorously regulated, exactly as medications meant for animals, even though it may have therapeutic benefits for pets. This will restrict the amount of CBD you may feed your pet, but it also ensures that the welfare of pets is upheld.
Regular CBD users are likely aware of the comparable UK laws governing CBD for human consumption, however, these laws are changing quickly. Only safe and legal CBD will be sold, thanks to the current FSA approval process that all CBD products must pass in order to be marketed in the UK.
So Can I Buy CBD Pet Products In The UK?
In short no, you will not find any CBD pet products for sale in the UK. This is because of the marketing rules set by the VMD where they state that “CBD products for use in animals… require a marketing authorisation before they can be sold or supplied in the UK.”
You might be thinking that such authorised products exist, but the VMD clears this up by saying: “There are currently no CBD-based products that have been granted a UK veterinary marketing authorisation.”
This means that any CBD products advertised expressly for use on animals should be avoided because they are being sold illegally. The legality of these goods may vary from country to country, but any therapeutic pet product being sold in the UK should be marketed in accordance with VMD rules.
Purchasing CBD For Your Pets
While there aren’t any approved CBD products for use with dogs, a veterinarian can prescribe it for your animal, at which point you can use it legally if you follow the recommendations of the vet.
The VMD states that “as there are currently no CBD products authorised in the UK for veterinary use, a veterinary surgeon may prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product under the provisions of the prescribing cascade.”
This indicates that, with a veterinarian’s approval, human CBD products—most likely CBD oils—may be administered to pets. The veterinarian’s prescription must be rigorously followed, just like with any other medicinal or therapeutic substance meant to be administered to animals. Even more, your veterinarian might recommend a particular CBD brand, product, or strength for you to try.
Why Do Owners Give Their Pets CBD?
Pet owners use CBD for very similar reasons as people do. More research is necessary, though, and this is similar to how CBD is used in humans.
There are currently few studies on the effects of CBD on animals, and even while early results are encouraging, more extensive research is required to provide a more complete picture.
Is CBD Safe To Try On My Pet?
An initial study suggests that there is a good safety tolerance for CBD in animals. The possibility of drug interactions while providing CBD to animals is a major worry to pet owners.
The same enzyme that breaks down many popular drugs, including painkillers and antibiotics, also metabolises CBD. Simply said, because CBD absorbs the enzyme that some medications utilise to break them down, it can prolong the time the medication stays in your pet’s body. This could, in rare instances, result in negative effects or even overdosing.
Given that grapefruit is also metabolised by the same enzyme, this effect, known as the “grapefruit effect,” is not unusual in humans. Always follow your veterinarian’s recommendations while using CBD on your pet to prevent any negative medical interactions.
Human CBD VS Pet CBD?
The CBD used for pets and for humans to consume has very little difference. Veterinarians in the UK are only permitted to recommend human CBD supplements for animals at this time due to the accessibility of these products.
Only CBD products with a THC content of 0.0% will likely be prescribed because THC is psychoactive to both people and animals. Pure CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD, both of which contain zero percent THC and are non-psychoactive, are suitable forms of CBD.
