Holistic CBD Oil: Dog Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis can be a terribly painful condition for your pet, as performing even the easiest of tasks might feel like moving a mountain for them. Indeed, seeing your dog in so much pain can be very stressful for you, especially when you are short of ideas on how to ease the condition or at least the symptoms.

CBD is beneficial for dog arthritis treatment alongside a host of other conditions and illnesses. It might not cure the condition, but it will certainly provide some much-needed relief for your companion.

Arthritis in Dogs

Arthritis causes unusual changes in joints that cause extreme pain. Inflamed joints are often to be blamed for the condition. A lot of factors can cause this inflammation in your dog’s bones, and the exact cause is often hard to identify. Possible reasons for arthritis include a malfunctioning immune system or an infection of some kind. Other than that, traumas, injuries, genetics, or being overweight can contribute to joint inflammation that leads to arthritis. 

Arthritis is a very slippery slope since, if left unaddressed, it will reduce your pet’s movement, and will lead to an increase in weight. Eventually, the weight might go beyond what the joints can bear, and this will lead to an aggravation of pain symptoms. A vicious cycle. Therefore, it is important that you watch out for any indications of pain that might signal towards an underlying joint problem. It is essential to address these indications as early as possible an adequate dog arthritis treatment. Treating the symptoms early will prevent them from worsening over time.

Traditional Treatments for Arthritis in Dogs

Almost all vets deal will deal with your pet’s arthritis through painkillers or drugs that reduce inflammation. Commonly, Metcam or Rimadyl are prescribed.

The problem is that most of these medications come with nasty side-effects, mainly when used for a prolonged period. Some of these side effects are diarrhea, seizures, skin issues, weight loss, jaundice, irritability, compromised kidney and liver function, and vomiting.

There are some alternative therapies that have proven to help. These include hydrotherapy, acupuncture and, more recently, CBD oil. 

CBD Oil for Dogs

CBD (cannabinoid) is a compound that is extracted from cannabis. These compounds also exist in the medical form of marijuana, which has a number of health-related benefits. A lot of CBD oil for dogs – and humans – does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which means that the consumption of these CBD oil products will not get your dog ‘high’. CBD alone, being psychoactive, is generally harmless for dogs while providing some of the many benefits that THC does. That being said, many pet owners do safely use products that contain low amounts of THC, without any psychoactive effects.

Dogs and humans tolerate CBD better than they tolerate many traditional medications. CBD functions through the endocannabinoid system, existent in every mammal. This system attracts the compounds and then transports them all over the body, which helps them address whatever issues your pet might be facing. It helps with a variety of issues, including depression, lack of appetite, and seizures.

How does CBD Help with Arthritis?

CBD oil has proven to be beneficial as an anti-inflammatory agent. This means that it can effectively reduce arthritis pain and discomfort in your dog.

As mentioned previously, when your pet consumes CBD, it goes inside the body and connects with the endocannabinoid system, present in all mammals.

This system comprises of two key cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2. The two receptors are present across the entire body, including the brain. The interaction between CBD and these receptors triggers beneficial effects for your pet.

CBD oil can combat inflammation anywhere in the body. By making the endocannabinoid system to work at its optimal best, CBD decreases pain in almost all body parts, including the joints.

A recent experiment conducted at the University of Kentucky in 2016 yielded similar results. This experiment involved the researchers artificially created arthritis in rats and then treating it using CBD gels. After just four consecutive days of the gel use, there was a marked reduction in pain and inflammation in the affected areas.

Pain Management Using CBD

The research mentioned above showed that CBD does not only help in decreasing inflammation; it also helps in pain reduction connected to arthritis.

To check the effects of CBD on pain management, CBD was tested on a dog that was diagnosed with cancer. Alongside that, the pet was also suffering from hip dysplasia, which produces arthritis-like symptoms. The dog was naturally in a lot of pain, and his quality of life was severely compromised.

The owner, distraught, was desperate for some sort of treatment that would help alleviate the pain. She eventually came across CBD and, after a bit of reluctance, decided to try it out.

Within a week, the dog was a lot more active and seemed to have a significant decline in pain levels. Additionally, it also got the appetite back (likely a result of the cancer treatment and pain). CBD oil helped improve her lifestyle while producing no side effects at all.

Possible side-effects

CBD is considered a safe supplement for dogs since they have the same endocannabinoid systems as human beings; therefore, the CBD acts in the same way as in your pet’s body as it would act in yours.

However, it is important to note that your dog’s sensitivity to CBD will depend upon his weight. 

It is recommended that you start in small doses to check how your pet reacts to it. You can then adjust the doses accordingly until you reach the optimal level. Side-effects are rare and usually mild but can include drowsiness, itching, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Check with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about side effects or your dog seems high. 

This optimal level will depend upon the age, disease, weight, lifestyle, and breed of your pet. You also need to factor in the intensity of the particular brand that you are using.

Always talk to your vet before starting a new supplement program. While CBD oil is something we give to our own dogs, we want every pet to be safe.

Categorised in: Dog Health, Older Dogs

This post was written by Admin