CBD for Pets (including Cats & Dogs) in the UK is a strange one and buying Pet CBD isn't as straight forward as you would expect.
CBD companies are not allowed to sell CBD products designed specifically for Pets, however, under the regulations of the VMD (Vetinary Medicines Directorate), vets are allowed to prescribe "human" CBD products to animals? These are normally off the shelf, non-prescription CBD oils to add to a pet's food.
Obviously the vet would recommend how much to give the animal based on the size of the animal. They also recommend using THC free products as THC can have adverse effects on cats and dogs. Dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to THC and can suffer from what vets describe as “marijuana poisoning".
For this reason, "Broad Spectrum" and "Isolate" type oils are used as they contain zero THC.
We are even allowed to add pictures of animals to our product labels but not allowed to label the products "for Pets". We do not do this to avoid any confusion but many companies actually do. Even though these products are just normal CBD oils etc designed for human consumption.
The VMD class CBD as a "veterinary medicine". Crazy how UK CBD sellers aren't allowed to make any medical claims and can only sell CBD as a "food Supplement", yet vets class it as a medicine? Welcome to the crazy world of CBD.
The internet is full of pages and groups created by pet owners who use CBD to help their pets. Often telling stories of the great results they have had with CBD and their pets. As CBD-UK abide by all the rules and regulations of the VMD, the MHRA and the FSA, we are not allowed to recommend any specific products for pets. Hopefully in the near future, this will change and we will be able to promote our Broad Spectrum oils for use with animals.
Below is the VMD statement on veterinary medicinal products containing Cannabidiol:
Veterinary medicinal products containing Cannabidiol
We consider that veterinary products containing Cannabidiol (CBD) are veterinary medicines and should be regulated as such. We have made this decision on the basis that products containing CBD fulfil the following definition of a veterinary medicine in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) by virtue of the effects they have:
any substance or combination of substances that may be used in, or administered to, animals with a view either to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to making a medical diagnosis.
Marketing Authorisation requirement for CBD products
CBD products for use in animals therefore now require a marketing authorisation before they can be sold or supplied in the UK. There are currently no CBD based products that have been granted a UK veterinary marketing authorisation.
Using human CBD products to treat animals
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. Administration of an unauthorised product containing CBD without a veterinary prescription is an offence under Regulation 8 of the VMR. Companies supplying CBD products for human use in line with the requirements of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency must not indicate or recommend their products for use on animals.
Our next steps (VMD)
We will be writing to UK CBD suppliers and manufacturers to inform them of our decision and to ensure products containing CBD satisfy the requirements of the VMR. We will continue to provide regulatory guidance to any company wishing to apply for a marketing authorisation.
CBD for DOGS - More Information (Click Image)
CBD for CATS - More Information (Click Image)
