Can CBD Oil Help Cats with Kidney Disease? Our Vet Answers
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Kidney disease is a leading health issue in senior cats. If you have an elderly cat, you might start to notice signs of kidney disease, including weight loss, decreased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a substance that is rapidly expanding as an alternative to conventional therapies to treat various health problems with claimed benefits such as to reduce inflammation, nausea, anxiety, and alleviate chronic pain.
Many pet parents wonder whether CBD oil can be safely used as a treatment for cats with kidney disease. The answer is that, with the scientific information we currently have, it appears that CBD oil is well absorbed and has few side effects in healthy cats. However, CBD oil administration in cats with kidney disease has not been tested and therefore, it cannot be safely recommended. If you wish to give it to your cat, you should speak to your veterinarian first. There are no CBD or hemp-based products approved for use in pets by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so the lack of regulations can be a safety concern for cat owners interested in using these natural products.
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What Is CBD Oil?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, an active ingredient found in cannabis plants. CBD oil is derived from hemp plants—a legal definition of a cannabis plant that produces very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive drug also found in cannabis. CBD oil without THC is legal to sell in the United States, and many pet companies sell CBD oil geared toward pets. It’s often used as a home cure for chronic pain.
Is CBD Safe for Cats?
The short answer is that good quality CBD oil is probably safe for cats, but we don’t know for sure. . Unlike humans and, to a lesser extent, dogs, there haven’t been any major studies on giving cats CBD oil. That means that there is still not enough data on its effects on a large scale. CBD oil is also not an FDA-approved treatment for cats. Your vet won’t be able to prescribe CBD.
However, CBD has also been used by many pet owners over the years, and more and more evidence suggests that the adverse effects seen after its use are usually mild, transient, and don’t require veterinary intervention; however they can’t be ignored. CBD oil ingestion has been seen to induce changes in blood liver parameters, as well as lethargy and reduced appetite. A 2021 study found that most adverse effects in cats were seen after ingestion of THC-containing CBD oil and these consisted of lethargy, incoordination, low body temperature, vocalizations, and third eyelid protrusion. THC is toxic to cats and looking for products with no or minimal amounts of THC is the safest option with the current knowledge.
There is one more caveat, though. CBD oil products aren’t FDA regulated, and there are some worries about CBD extracts sold online. At least one study¹ found that many products had less CBD than advertised and that some products had THC in dangerous amounts. It’s always important to buy CBD from a vet-recommended source in order to keep your cat safe.
Why Give Cats CBD Oil for Kidney Disease?
If you have discussed with your vet the possibility of giving your cat CBD oil, there might be some reasons to think it could help cats to alleviate some health problems related to kidney disease. The majority of cases of kidney disease in cats are chronic, after they have suffered irreversible damage. In these cases, the best treatments aim to control the symptoms, support kidney function, and slow down the progression of the disease. Treatment plans tend to include diet changes, medications, and supplements to help control symptoms. Some of the recognized effects of CBD oil may be useful in cats with kidney disease. Although there aren’t enough studies on cats, research in mice, dogs, and humans suggest that the following signs might be relieved:
- Nausea: CBD has been seen to reduce nausea and vomiting in people, especially during chemotherapy.
- Inflammation: CBD has anti-inflammatory properties predominantly seen in human medicine and dogs with arthritis.
- Pain: There is evidence that CBD helps dogs with chronic arthritic pain.
- Fear and Anxiety: Scientific data found that approximately 50% of pet parents giving CBD to their dogs perceived calming and anti-anxiety effects.
Last Thoughts
If you have a cat with kidney disease, you should speak to your vet if you wish to give your cat CBD oil. With the current scientific information, CBD oil is not a treatment that can be recommended for cats with kidney disease to alleviate any specific signs. The lack of research and product regulation makes it too risky. Many owners have reported great results, and there are reasons to think that CBD may be a natural and safe way to help cats, however, we will have to wait a little longer to be able to provide reliable information on how CBD oil can be used safely and effectively in cats.
See Also:
- 7 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease in Canada
- How to Help a Cat With Kidney Disease Gain Weight: 6 Vet-Reviewed Solutions
Featured Image Credit: Lightcube, Shutterstock
