Canine CBD: Risks vs. Benefits

CBD is a compound extracted from hemp or cannabis. However, unlike THC, it is known to have no psychotic effects, and therefore, does not produce a ‘high’ when consumed. This means that your dog can safely consume CBD oil.

CBD is extremely beneficial in treating and curing a wide variety of conditions in human beings. Since dogs (alongside other mammals) have an endocannabinoid system similar to that of humans, there is a great deal of interest regarding how canine CBD will affect your dog’s health. Following are some benefits of using CBD for your pet:

CBD Oil Is a Potent Painkiller

People throughout the world use CBD to ease the pain – both for themselves and their pets. Once inside the human body, CBD interacts with several receptors in the endocannabinoid system. As a result, it can help relieve pain in a wide variety of ways.

A study involved 66 participants with Multiple Sclerosis. After using a CBD product for one month, all participants experienced reductions in their pain levels. Many of them, who were previously in a wheelchair, were able to walk after the 30 days of treatment. This means that CBD can also help your dog with neurological issues, helping him improve his day-to-day life. 

Also, if your pet is suffering from an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis, CBD can help alleviate the pain and swelling, and significantly improve your dog’s quality of life, while helping to stop the spread of the disease.

CBD Oil Is an Established Anticonvulsant

CBD has been studied very carefully over the years, to assess its impacts on conditions like seizures, epilepsy, and tremors. The studies and experiments conducted have shown CBD to be effective in such conditions, more so than many traditional medicines. Moreover, since it has no adverse effects, your pet can safely consume the compound.

CBD has Anti-inflammatory Properties

Perhaps the most extensive use of CBD products has to do with its potency as an anti-inflammatory agent. This property makes CBD extremely useful for many conditions. Thus, canine CBD can help your pet with diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), arthritis, vascular inflammation, and even certain types of cancers which are caused due to chronic inflammation (such as liver cancer).

Helps with Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety (particularly separation anxiety) is common in dogs. Usually, the vet will try to treat your pet with a number of anti-anxiety or anti-depression drugs, which might or might not work, while potentially causing a host of unpleasant side-effects. After some animal-related studies, CBD has emerged as a promising alternative for treating mental health problems. Canine CBD does this by acting on your dog’s receptors for serotonin release – a neurotransmitter responsible for managing moods and attitudes.

Helps with Cancer Symptoms

Cancer, and its treatment, cause terrible side-effects like vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, and lack of appetite. CBD has shown to significantly help with all of these issues related to cancer and cancer treatments. 

A study involved 177 people with cancer-related pain. These participants were experiencing almost no pain relief using painkillers and other allopathic medication. Soon after being treated with the CBD compound, they started experiencing marked reductions in pain and discomfort.

So, if your dog is suffering from cancer or undergoing cancer treatment, CBD oil will help you maintain his quality of life by making day-to-day life more relaxed and comfortable.

Neuroprotective Properties

Research suggests that CBD, with its ability to positively affect the endocannabinoid system, might provide benefits for humans and animals with neurological problems.

In fact, many studies regarding CBD’s therapeutic effects revolve around its potency to combat brain-related issues like Multiple Sclerosis.

Therefore, Canine CBD might help treat your dog and preserve his neurological functions in conditions like Alzheimer’s or epilepsy.

Helps with Heart Health

Studies conducted over the past few years have shown that CBD can positively impact the circulatory system.

A study involved nine healthy men consuming a 600 mg dose of CBD oil. It resulted in a decrease in resting blood pressure, compared to the placebo. After that, they were given some stress tests that elevate blood pressure. The men who had consumed the CBD dose experienced a smaller spike in blood pressure levels.

CBD can also assist in the reduction of cell-death – which is often a result of heart condition – owing to its antioxidant and stress-relieving properties.

Therefore, canine CBD will help improve your dog’s heart health. It is believed that it does that, partially through its anti-anxiety and anti-depression properties.

CBD Oil and Side Effects in Dogs

CBD has a wide range of benefits – and, in most cases – no side effects at all. However, rarely, its consumption might cause a few problems with your pet. Some of the common side-effects, in dogs as well as in humans, include drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, itching, and diarrhea (and, less frequently, constipation).

In most cases, the side-effects are not intense and go away once your pet’s body adjusts to the CBD compound. If your dog is already on some kind of medication, CBD oil might interact with it – positively nor negatively. Therefore, it is recommended to consult your vet before adding CBD to your dog’s medicine portfolio.

Once you put your dog on CBD doses, it is crucial to monitor for the side-effects. Pet owners should stop feeding CBD to their pets if they feel that the pet is experiencing negative side-effects. These effects typically stem from giving too high a dose too early on. Wait until these adverse effects have subsided, and then begin again, this time on a lower dose. Once you have established that the pet is not having any adverse reactions, you can gradually work your way up until you work out a dose that works best for your pet.

However, if side-effects persist or you are stressed out about your dog’s health, it is best to consult your vet.

Part of safely administering CBD is concerned with choosing the right product. You need to make sure that it contains minimal THC (0.3% or less), GMO, and is from an organically grown cannabis plant. You also want to ensure that the product has been checked for metals and other viruses. There are products on the market which are prepared specially for animals.

Categorised in: Dog Health, Pet Care

This post was written by Admin