CBD For Birds – Benefits, Uses & Best Product
You may have heard a lot about CBD for cats and dogs, but what if you’re a bird owner? Can birds use CBD? Everyone wants the best health care for their beloved family pets, but many pet owners simply don’t know about the benefits that CBD has to offer, or whether it is appropriate for their particular pet. Let’s explore, shall we?
The amazing avian endocannabinoid system
Have you heard about the endocannabinoid system? And did you know that really any animal with a backbone has one? Of course, this includes birds. Pet owners are increasingly turning to CBD as a wellness regimen for their pets, or to use when the pet gets an illness.
CBD can’t cure everything, but it does work with the bird’s endocannabinoid system to keep the body in balance by regulating functions like inflammation, stress and anxiety, and pain.
Plant phytocannabinoids like CBD “fit” the vertebrate animal endocannabinoid system, which helps birds regulate both neurological and immune function. Humans and animals produce their own endocannabinoids, and scientists are discovering that many illnesses stem from a deficiency in these natural endocannabinoids.
In these situations, the plant cannabinoids like CBD can come to the rescue to supplement the body’s deficiency. Incredibly, the plant CBD binds with the bird’s endocannabinoid receptors, thus restoring body balance.
Fight these feathered-friend diseases with CBD
According to the Audubon Society, feeder birds suffer from four main diseases: salmonella, avian pox, aspergillosis and trichomoniasis. Birds are very susceptible to these diseases if they share a feeder with other birds.
Salmonella bacterial infections are very common in birds. The infections usually spread when healthy birds eat food contaminated with droppings from birds already infected with salmonella. The infections are are gastrointestinal in nature, and accompanied by diarrhea and lethargy. Salmonella is serious; birds with symptoms usually die within one to three days.
Even worse, the salmonella infection can spread to people who handle sick or dead birds. If you have an infected bird, always wear disposable gloves when handling the animal and wash your hands thoroughly after contact.
Trichomoniasis is another common parasitic infection that infects many bird species, particularly doves and pigeons. Like salmonella, this spreads through infected food. Birds often develop mouth and throat sores, have difficulty eating and are unable to swallow.
Birds can also succumb to a fungal infection called aspergillosis caused by the Aspergillus fungus. Bird nesting materials or seed mixtures can become damp, causing spores of the fungus to grow. Birds can then inhale the spores into their lungs and that can lead to bronchitis or even pneumonia. Birds usually continue to eat but are weak, have labored breathing and may have diarrhea.
Birds can also contract viruses, like avian pox which is known to affect at least 60 bird species. A signature sign is the lesions that develop on the birds’ unfeathered body parts (legs, feet, eyelids, beak area). Most birds can recover from this virus, which is spread by direct contact with another bird or mosquitoes carrying blood of infected birds.
Is CBD safe for birds?
Birds can use CBD, but dosage is very important. Currently, most pet CBD products are formulated for larger animals like dogs and cats, but more and more pet products are being formulated for smaller pets like birds.
With all CBD, dosing is key and done by weight. For every 50 pounds in your pet, a typical dose is 5mg CBD. However, always consult with your veterinarian before starting CBD or any other medication for that matter. Start out slow at first, limiting your pet’s CBD to twice per day until you understand how the pet is reacting to it.
Pet owners should be aware that although humans and birds both possess an endocannabinoid system, those systems are very different from each other, so your pet should only take CBD specially formulated for birds, and should never take CBD formulated for humans.
CBD has no major side effects; it is safe and non-toxic. The most common side effect is drowsiness; higher CBD doses are known to have a sedative effect. Many pet owners find it convenient to use a dropper bottle to give CBD to smaller pets, but CBD can also be applied topically to help with skin infections and other problems.
HempirePets Oil Is A Heavenly CBD Product For Birds
The market is flooded with all kinds of CBD products, including pet CBD, and unfortunately there is very little quality control in the industry. We have found that Hemp Well is a very safe and effective oral supplement for birds. It contains hemp oil that is rich in natural cannabinoids found in hemp as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Hemp Well may help support immune system and may also promote relaxation and temper destructive behaviors.
The oil is best when given orally, under the tongue at least 20 minutes before feeding. The oil can also be applied topically to help with any skin issues the bird may be experiencing; in particular, it is very useful on inflammation. In fact, CBD is a powerful inflammation fighter, so it may help support your bird’s healthy joints and relieve minor aches or discomforts.
CBD has been studied for its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, so it may alleviate all of the common bird diseases described above.
Hempire Pets Oil won’t make your bird high. By nature, hemp plants contain less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that marijuana is most known for.
CBD also helps with anxiety, so it can help calm a stressed bird, promote relaxation, and calm destructive behaviors like bird screaming and feather plucking.
Check Out Hempire Pets On Amazon
How do I make a smart choice of CBD product?
When choosing a pet CBD product, look for an all-natural product that is both organic and GMO-free. Ideally, the product should advertise its hemp farming techniques like sustainable farming, and the label should clearly indicate dosage and independent lab results that verify the product is free of additives, toxins, THC and other harmful chemicals. Make sure that dosing is clearly explained on the label as well.
If you liked this post, don’t forget to check out our best hemp oils for small pets on Amazon here.
Aidan Lehane is an entrepreneur who has a lifelong passion for CBD, Hemp and allowing people to find an effective natural remedy to many of their pains and illnesses.
Aidan has been a constant advocate for cbd and hemp legalization for over 2 decades and is often found researching & creating blogs and videos about CBD, on the Great Hemp Youtube channel while testing and reviewing countless products for quality and effectiveness.