Anatomy of Dogs and Cats: the Endocannabinoid System

Puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs are some of mankind’s non-human best friends. No matter their age, every cat and dog breed is remarkable. Some have sleek fur and multicolored coats, while others are spotted and furry beyond belief. But have you ever wondered about the internal anatomy of your cherished pets? This may or may not have come as a shock to you, but the composition of cat and dog organs are quite similar to a human. Though we physically look nothing like our favorite cats and dogs, our bodies are so much more similar to theirs than you might think.

From an internal viewpoint, humans and domesticated animals are very similar, and therefore, the collective responses to tetrahydrocannabinol THC, CBD, and cannabis-based products are nearly identical. Pets and people alike can sometimes exhibit increased levels of anxiety and paranoia when THC heavy cannabis products are involved. In contrast, cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp-based products have very healing and calming effects.

The CBD treats unique to the dog industry is slowly but surely becoming more widespread now than ever. However, many dogs and cat owners are hesitant to purchase treats that contain CBD or hemp for their pets. The common misunderstanding is that anything intended for pets and derived from the cannabis plant will have abnormally euphoric and psychoactive effects on dogs and cats.

This assumption makes sense, considering the fact that people experience a feeling of being high with weed in their systems. There’s more to the story though.

CBD oils and treats specifically made for dogs and cats do not produce the feeling of being high because they contain little to no THC. They are created using CBD oils and hemp, neither of which cause the psychoactive responses that a human is exposed to after smoking weed or eating THC in the form of edibles.

CBD is sometimes derived from the cannabis plant, so there is the potential that CBD for dogs and CBD for cats contain a very minimal amount of THC. Don’t worry, though. The levels of THC in CBD, if any, are incredibly minor. It is in no way potent enough to cause any changes in psychological functioning.

Are you wondering how your pet’s body processes CBD and hemp? We have you covered! First, we will dive into the endocannabinoid system and explain how it relates to CBD for pets. From there, we’ll go in-depth about the effects of CBD for dogs and CBD for cats.

What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?

Anatomy of Dogs and Cats: the Endocannabinoid System | Innovet Pet

As you might suspect by the name, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is specifically designed to process cannabis-based products and the cannabinoid compounds found in them. In fact, this system was named with the word cannabis in mind.

First and foremost, the endocannabinoid system of dogs and cats works to regulate an incredibly wide array of bodily functions.

Some examples of the functions that the endocannabinoid system is responsible for include…

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