The benefits of CBD oil on horses
If CBD oil is administered to horses and many other animals, it is because of the beneficial effects it confers on them. In fact, these benefits have been proven multiple times by the scientific community.
First of all, it is important to know that CBD oil alleviates inflammatory pain in horses, just as it does for humans. It also improves the quality of sleep when this is disturbed and thus alleviates stress by domino effect. Taking advantage of all these benefits, the horse regains a rejuvenated mood and a more energetic physical form.
Beware, however, of mistaking CBD oil for something it is not; while it has been proven to provide all of the above benefits, it is still only a dietary supplement and should not be used as a medicine to combat diseases or injuries of any severity. CBD oil is only a plus to help your horse improve his physical and mental health.
When to use CBD oil on horses
To find out if CBD oil can have a beneficial effect on your horse, you need to spot certain behaviours in your horse.
Stress in horses
Stress is the source of many ailments in horses, as in any animal. Lowered immune systems, lack of sleep, and loss of fitness are examples of the consequences of stress. It is therefore very important to know how to recognise a stressed horse. In general, this is reflected in a number of symptoms.
These manifest themselves in strange and unusual behaviour from your horse. For example, he may show unexplained aggression, or on the contrary total apathy, which makes him no longer move from his corner, where he remains staring blankly at nothing. Similarly, certain eating habits may betray a stressful situation, such as if he starts chewing his feeder, trying to swallow his droppings, or anything else he shouldn't eat.
Tics, such as teeth grinding, tongue flicking, or strange and unusual movements, are symptoms of a horse under stress.
As we have stated, anxiety also results in a significant decrease in the immune system and thus the onset of diarrhea, gastric ulcers, and other pathologies.
By spotting these types of symptoms, an administration of CBD oil can provide comfort to your horse. But always keep in mind that this is only a supplement. To de-stress your horse, there are other steps to take, which are:
- Take him out of his stable as often as possible so that he can get fresh air and walk around freely.
- Put him away from temperatures that are too hot or too cold.
- If you use it for commuting, reduce the frequency of work.
- Get it a companion (horse, mare, or even another animal).
- Bring him distracting objects such as balloons.
Other ailments
Besides stress and its consequences, CBD oil can also be useful in other circumstances. This is the case for respiratory difficulties, particularly asthma and gout, or dermatological pathologies such as eczema.
Caution, CBD oil should be used in addition to what the vet has prescribed for your horse.
Methods and dosages for administering CBD on horses
You can't slip drops of CBD oil under your horse's tongue; it won't work. The easiest way to give it to your horse is to mix it with a portion of the food you give him. Make sure this portion is not too large to ensure that the animal eats it all and thus swallows the entire allotted dose.
How much CBD oil to give a horse
Since a horse's weight is significantly greater than that of a human, it is obvious that the dose to be prescribed will be different. For horses between one and four quintals, the recommended dose is 50 milligrams of CBD oil. Between four quintals and one ton, the dose will be doubled.
To find out how much CBD oil is in each drop of your bottle, look at the percentage of oil based on the total contents of the bottle. For example, a 100ml bottle dosed at 10% contains 10,000mg of CBD, or 1000mg per ml. Knowing that it takes 25 drops for 1 ml, each drop will count 40 mg of CBD.
Can CBD oil for humans be given to horses?
Like humans, horses are mammals. As such, we have the same endocannabinoid system. Therefore, it is entirely possible to administer doses of traditional CBD oil to your horse. Nevertheless, it is recommended to favour CBD oil specifically dedicated to horses, as it is mixed with other oils to offer a better taste to the animal.
What oil is blended with CBD for horses?
For dogs and cats, CBD oil is most commonly blended with fish oil. Since horses are herbivores, the blend has to be different from them. So it is not fish oil but hemp seed oil that is mixed with CBD in a bottle intended for horses.
Can CBD oil pose any dangers to horses?
The question of side effects often arises when it comes to consuming CBD oil. The so-called psychoactive effects that this product could cause are the dangers most frequently repeated by its detractors. In reality, this is not the case. It is a substance called THC that is responsible for these effects. CBD and THC are two different substances found in the cannabis plant.
In European legislation, it is necessary to have a THC level of less than 0.2% in bottles of CBD oil for them to be sold legally. At this level, THC has no effect on the body, let alone a horse. CBD oil is therefore safe for your pet unless it is contraindicated in certain special cases.
When to avoid CBD oil for horses
Despite the many beneficial effects of CBD oil on horses, there are some contraindications that must be observed.
For example, we advise you not to give CBD oil to a pregnant or lactating mare or a horse during a competition period.
In the case of a horse undergoing treatment, check carefully that CBD oil is not contraindicated. Finally, you must abide by any refusal of your vet regarding this administration.
