You have probably heard of the therapeutic effects of CBD oil on dogs. CBD oil is extracted from a cannabis variety known as hemp. Usually when people first hear this, their first thought is that they may accidentally get their dog high. The hemp plant contains no THC, which is the compound that creates the “high” effect in humans and can be toxic to dogs. Instead, it is high in a compound known as “cannabinoids” (or CBD for short). CBD’s have become wildly popular over the past few years as research shows it can help treat a wide variety of issues.
This totally natural treatment is trending today, so if you want to know the benefits, the conditions you can treat, and the risks associated with using CBD oil in dogs, here’s what you need to know:
How does CBD oil affect dogs?
As you know, the use of CBD for treatment is very old, but the scientific research on its properties is relatively new. The endocannabinoid system is present in mammals, including humans and dogs. This system consists of different receptors, enzymes, and transmitters to regulate many functions of the body.
So dogs are able to produce their own endocannabinoid, CBD oil’s function is simply to regulate and activate systems such as metabolism, immunity, digestion, anxiety, skin health, and many more.
Benefits of CBD oil in dogs
The use of CBD oil in the treatment of different conditions has been little investigated. There are different levels of scientific evidence for each scenario, effective or not.
However, dog owners after using it on dogs suggest it as an effective treatment for anxiety, seizures, arthritis, and pain control, especially neuropathic pain.
Pain Management
CBD oil has a well-known therapeutic effect on pain management and it also has scientific evidence. It can work in different ways.
Anandamide is a chemical responsible for sending a pain signal to the brain. CBD can temporarily stop the absorption of anandamide, which will be effective in reducing pain. CBD is also a good anti-inflammatory and pain is one of the signs of inflammation.
Anticancer Benefits
Cancer is a very deadly disease and it can kill your beloved dog. Chemotherapy is usually done to control cancerous growths. But there are many potential side effects of chemotherapy in dogs, such as vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and lethargy.
However, CBD oil shows tremendous anti-cancer effect, like chemotherapy, it can control the spread and growth of cancer.
Relieve Arthritis Pain
One of the many benefits of CBD is its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation causes various disorders in the body and will lead to the destruction of healthy body cells when the immune system is not working properly.
As a result of inflammation, the body produces immune responses, among those responses, there is an anti-inflammatory response. Therefore, CBD is considered a great supplement for senior and elderly dogs, as its helps with inflammatory based diseases like arthritis and it also increases the mobility of the joints.
Anxiety and Stress Reliever
Sometimes dogs can become anxious just like humans which results in stress. You will often see this stress in your dog behavior. Some of the common symptoms of anxiety are
- Excessive barking
- Tremors
- Chewing on a rug, furniture, and other things
- Aggressive behavior
- Urinating or defecating anywhere
CBD results in decreasing your dog’s anxiety, but it is unknown why it is effective as a stress reliever. CBD is a natural supplement that can help your dog’s anxiety, and has been found to work similarly to anti-anxiety medications in some research.
Anticonvulsant
Many studies show that CBD has many benefits in seizures. In Tourette syndrome, common symptoms are tics, tremors, and spasms, and CBD can help control them. CBD also helps treat the epileptic seizures and spasms of multiple sclerosis.
The direct relationship between CBD and seizures is unknown despite advances in studies. Seizures generally occur when the brain fires neurons violently. CBD is commonly believed to help restore normal neuron production.
Cardiovascular health
CBD oil can improve heart health in dogs. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, as a result, decreases the risk of heart disease.
Antiemetic
An antiemetic is defined as the medicine used against nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are common in many diseases. Motion sickness is one of the famous medical conditions in which these symptoms occur.
In some cases, nausea also occurs as the body’s response to medications. This condition is also common in dogs and due to this condition they suffer from decreased appetite, dehydration and weakness.
Antiemetics are used when dogs suffer from these conditions but have side effects, so CBD is used in nausea and vomiting. CBD has no side effects and gives quick results.
Dose of CBD oil for Dogs
CBD is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and a dosage chart is not published either, so we don’t know exactly how much CBD is toxic to dogs. However, you can start giving CBD from a lower dose.
Risk associated with use of CBD oil in dogs
CBD is natural and is believed to be safe for dogs. However, according to some scientific research, CBD can cause an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood profile, an important liver value.
The effect of the liver’s elevated value on the dog’s body and its medical significance is still unknown, but it is believed to cause irritation and liver damage.
Some people claim that in high doses of CBD the dog becomes sedated or sleepy, but these effects can be reversed over time.
Some research has also shown that CBD can decrease dog saliva production and cause dry mouth and increased thirst. You should provide adequate water to your dog if you are using CBD oil on the dog.
High doses of CBD can also cause low blood pressure for some time but can cause brief dizziness. If you treat your dog’s anxiety with CBD, it can cause drowsiness, especially if given a high dose.
CBD can have drug interaction if given with some drugs. So you consult your vet before treating your dog.
Each medication has some level of the adverse reaction, so it is advisable, as long as you start treating your dog with CBD, always start with a small dose and closely monitor your dog.
Bottom line
CBD is not for all dogs that suffer from the conditions mentioned above. It can be part of the treatment regimen, so you should speak to your vet before using your dog’s specific problems and treatment protocol. CBD therapy is excellent but relatively new, so this field needs a lot of research because so few studies are available.
