With Trish Wilhelm, RVT, Co-Founder of VetCS
One of the questions I hear most often from pet and horse owners is:
“How will I know if the CBD is actually working?”
It’s a great question because CBD doesn’t always produce one big, obvious change. More often, the signs are subtle at first, and once you know what to watch for, they can become much easier to recognize.
I’m Trish Wilhelm, Registered Veterinary Technician and Co-Founder of VetCS. I’ve worked in veterinary medicine and with veterinary cannabis since 2017, helping pet owners, horse owners, and veterinary professionals navigate cannabinoid therapy. Here’s what I tell our VetCS clients to look for.
First, What Does “Working” Look Like?
This depends entirely on why you started VetCS in the first place.
If you have a senior dog with mobility concerns, success may look different than it does for a cat with situational anxiety or a horse that becomes tense during hauling.
Before starting, I always recommend asking yourself:
What are the two or three things I would love to see improve?
Make them specific.
Instead of simply saying, “I want him to feel better,” think about behaviors you can actually observe:
- Is my dog getting up from bed more easily?
- Is she more willing to use the stairs?
- Is my cat hiding less?
- Does my horse feel more relaxed during a trailer ride?
- Is my pet settling down more easily in the evening?
- Is my senior dog asking to go on walks again?
- Does my horse seem more comfortable moving out under saddle?
Those everyday behaviors are often some of our best indicators.
Look for the Little Things
One of my favorite parts of working with VetCS clients is hearing about the seemingly small changes they suddenly notice.
“My dog brought me his toy again.”
“She jumped onto the couch.”
“He made it all the way around the block.”
“My cat came out when company was over.”
“My horse walked onto the trailer without getting as worked up.”
These observations matter.
When you live with an animal every day, gradual changes can actually be difficult to recognize. Sometimes you don't realize how much something has improved until your dog does something they haven't done in months, or your horse handles a situation differently than they normally would.
That’s why I encourage owners to pay attention to function and behavior, not just the condition you're trying to support.
How Long Should I Give VetCS Before Deciding?
This is another question I get all the time, and there isn't one universal answer.
Some animals show noticeable changes relatively quickly, particularly when we're using CBD for situational calming support. Other goals, especially chronic mobility or age-related concerns, may require more consistency and some adjustment to find the right amount over time.
At VetCS, we often talk about finding an animal's dosing “sweet spot.”
We typically start conservatively and assess the response. If we're not seeing the support we're looking for, we may gradually adjust from there.
More isn't automatically better. The goal is finding the amount that works best for your individual animal.
And remember, consistency matters. If you're using VetCS to support an ongoing condition, giving it sporadically makes it much harder to evaluate whether it's helping.
Keep a Simple Progress Journal
You don't need a complicated spreadsheet.
Before starting VetCS, write down a few observations about your animal. You can even rate each one from 1–10.
For example:
Dog with mobility concerns
- Getting up from bed: 4/10
- Going up stairs: 3/10
- Interest in walks: 5/10
Horse needing calming support
- Standing quietly while tacking: 5/10
- Trailer loading: 4/10
- Relaxation away from home: 3/10
Check those same things again after you've been consistently using the product.
Photos and short videos can be incredibly helpful, too. A video of your senior dog walking or getting up before starting can give you something objective to compare later.
Sometimes progress is much easier to see when you're looking backward.
What About Calming Products?
Calming support can be a little different because the goal should never be to make your animal look sedated.
When a VetCS calming product is working well, I want to see the animal still behaving like themselves, just better able to cope.
For a dog, that might mean they still notice the thunderstorm, but they're able to settle instead of pacing continuously.
For a cat, it may mean they're less reactive to a stressful situation.
For a horse, it could mean they're still alert and responsive but aren't escalating as quickly when something makes them nervous.
Calm is not the same thing as sedated.
That's an important distinction.
What If I'm Not Seeing a Difference?
Please don't immediately assume that CBD “doesn't work” for your animal.
Sometimes we simply need to make an adjustment.
Over the years, I've talked with many clients who weren't seeing the response they hoped for, only to discover that the amount they were giving was too low for their animal's needs, the product wasn't the best fit for their goal, or they weren't giving it consistently enough.
This is exactly why VetCS offers individualized support.
Your 70-pound Labrador with advanced mobility concerns may have very different needs from another 70-pound Labrador using CBD for general wellness.
The label gives us a starting point. Your animal's response helps guide us from there.
When Should I Contact VetCS?
If you've been giving VetCS consistently and aren't sure whether you're seeing a difference, reach out to our team.
Seriously, that's what we're here for!
Tell us your animal's weight, which product you're using, how much you're giving, how often you're giving it, what you're hoping to support, and what you've noticed so far.
From there, we can help determine whether it makes sense to adjust the amount, change the timing, consider a different VetCS formula, or simply give the current routine more time.
As an RVT, one of the things that's always been important to me is that VetCS isn't just about selling you a bottle and sending you on your way. Education and support are a huge part of what we do.
My Biggest Advice? Watch Your Animal.
After years of working with veterinary cannabis, this is probably the advice I give most often.
Your animal will tell you a lot and YOU know them best.
Watch how they move. Watch how they sleep. Watch their willingness to participate in normal activities. Notice how quickly they settle after stressful situations. Pay attention when little pieces of their personality or routine begin showing up again.
And don't be afraid to adjust the plan along the way.
Finding the right cannabinoid routine can sometimes take a little patience, but when owners know what they're looking for, those small changes can become incredibly meaningful.
Have questions about your pet or horse's VetCS routine? Reach out to our team. I'm always happy to help you evaluate what you're seeing and determine the best next step for your animal.
Trish Wilhelm, RVT
Co-Founder, VetCS
Plant to Pet™ since 2017