What I’ve Learned About CBD (And Why I Think Every Pet Parent Should Know Too)

I want to share something with you, not as the owner of a natural pet store, but as a fellow pet parent who, like many of you, was once unsure about CBD.

I’ll be honest...I was skeptical. So I understand how other pet parents may also question using CBD with their pets.

When I first heard people talking about using CBD for pets, I thought, “Is this just another wellness trend? Is it safe? How do I even know it works?” If you’ve ever wondered the same, I get it. There’s a lot of confusion and a lot of noise around CBD.

But recently, I had the opportunity to learn directly from one of the leading experts in the CBD and mushroom world. What I learned completely shifted my perspective, not only on CBD, but on how powerful it is as a whole food supplement for our furry family members. I think every pet parent deserves to understand CBD and how it can positively impact your pet's health!

CBD isn’t a miracle drug. To be honest, it's not a drug at all! It’s not going to instantly fix everything. But what it can do, when used correctly, is support your pet’s body in doing what it was designed to do: heal, balance, and thrive.

CBD isn’t about sedating or masking symptoms. It works with your pet’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a vital system in their body that helps regulate stress, inflammation, pain, digestion, and immune response.

Think of the ECS like your pet’s internal thermostat. When something’s out of balance, like anxiety, joint pain, or skin flare-ups, the ECS helps bring it back to normal. CBD supports that process, helping the body get back to balance naturally and gently.

The ECS communicates through two key receptors, CB1 and CB2.

• CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain and nervous system. These help control things like mood, pain perception, appetite, and coordination.
• CB2 receptors are found throughout the immune system and peripheral organs like the skin, spleen, and gut. These help manage inflammation and immune responses.

The best analogy I heard is this:
If your pet’s body were a house, CB1 receptors would be the thermostat inside, managing comfort and calm, while CB2 receptors are the insulation and security system, helping prevent things from going wrong in the first place.

CBD interacts with both, helping pets feel better from the inside out.

🧠 CBD, the Brain, and Whole-Body Wellness

One of the most incredible things I learned is how much the brain influences the entire body and how CBD helps support that relationship.

CBD works closely with CB1 receptors in the brain, which play a big role in how your pet feels, reacts, and processes stress, pain, and even fear. When the brain is calm and balanced, it sends healthier signals to the rest of the body and the body responds by functioning more smoothly.

In other words, CBD helps support the brain so the brain can support the body.

It’s like calming the control center so the whole system runs better.

• When the brain is less anxious, digestion improves.
• When pain signals are soothed, movement feels easier.
• When the nervous system is balanced, the immune system doesn’t stay stuck in fight mode.

That’s why so many pet parents see multiple benefits when they start CBD, not just in behavior, but in energy, mobility, skin, digestion, and beyond.

But here’s what I didn’t know until recently…

Not all CBD is created equal.

When we first learned about CBD at House of Paws, we were told animals under 40lbs should never have THC. Based on the information we had, we carried a broad-spectrum product. It was good. In fact, it helped a lot of pets. But what I’ve learned since then is that it could’ve been even better.

Broad-spectrum CBD contains many of the beneficial plant compounds, but the THC is removed. While that may sound safer, it actually means you’re missing part of the plant’s natural synergy.

Full-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, contains all of the naturally occurring compounds, including a tiny, safe amount of THC (less than 0.03%). That tiny bit plays a huge role in activating something called the entourage effect, where all parts of the plant work together to amplify the therapeutic benefits.

So, we made the switch.

We’ve partnered with an amazing Canadian company dedicated to creating high-quality, full-spectrum CBD and functional mushroom blends. Their products are third-party tested, clean, and designed with pet wellness at the forefront, exactly what I want for my own furry family.

You can learn more about the CBD I now use for Zaner right here and check out the mushrooms I pair with it right here.

Now you may be asking, "how did we all of sudden start talking about mushrooms? And why do I give Zaner CBD and mushrooms every day when he’s healthy?

It's because I’m not just treating symptoms, I’m supporting his long-term wellness.