The idea of your dog taking marijuana products can be scary. You don’t know how they might react to the effects. Don’t worry, though, CBD won’t make your dog high because it is not psychoactive.
CBD is one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Unlike THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), which is psychoactive, CBD is known more for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Humans have used cannabis for over a thousand years to treat various illnesses. Now, many pet owners are turning to cannabis products to treat their sick pets as well and finding it very beneficial.
Cannabinoids like CBD are potential treatments for various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pain, lack of appetite, and epilepsy. CBD is also used in the management of cancer, nausea, and vomiting.
Dogs have an endocannabinoid system similar to that of humans. It means that a substance that affects the human endocannabinoid system will affect dogs in the same way.
Many pet owners are turning to CBD oil for dogs. Here is why:
1. It Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Does your dog have separation or noise anxiety? Does it bark a lot and get jittery when you leave? CBD may help.
CBD binds to dogs’ endocannabinoid system and helps in balancing emotions. When you give a dog CBD, the drug is known to intiate neurotransmitters that convey hormones that calm the dog when stressed.
CBD is not only useful for dogs with separation anxiety but also phobia. If your dog can’t be around people, you can try giving it some CBD.
2. Improves Brain Function
When you bond with your dog, you become lifetime friends. Sadly, dogs do not live as long as humans. They have a lifespan of about 13 years. Your dog will start aging rapidly after about eight years. This can be a sad process as its brain starts to waste.
Inflammatory Central Nervous System (CNS) Disease is common in older dogs. When a dog has CNS, it may lose the sense of its environment. Communicating with it will become difficult, and it may lose its way around frequently.
Endocannabinoids play a key role in modulating neurotransmitter activity in the CNS system. This provides evidence that the dysfunction of the cannabinoid system contributes to canine inflammatory CNS diseases.
Placing your aging dog on CBD therapy can help boost its endocannabinoid system. CBD supports mitochondria development and cellular function. CBD is also known to have anti-inflammatory benefits, which improve brain health.
3. CBD Treats Itchiness
You probably have a dog that itches a lot, and no medication seems to work. The cause may be food, fleas, or lice. Some dogs seem to respond better to these allergies than others. The secret is that they have a strong immune system.
CBD offers relief for many allergic reactions in dogs such as dermatitis. The anti-inflammatory properties in CBD can be useful for itchy dogs. CBD can also boosts the dog’s immunity, giving it a better chance to manage allergies.
4. CBD Increases Appetite
Is your dog giving you trouble eating and you can’t find a solution? Dogs need to have a good appetite because that is what makes them healthy.
If the dog is unwell it may have nausea, which may cause a lack of appetite. Without eating, your dog may not have a good chance of fighting off diseases.
CBD can stimulate appetite and help dogs that are struggling to eat. CBD can also help sick dogs relax and get quality sleep, which is helpful for healing.
5. CBD Relieves Pain
Chronic pain is a prevalent condition in dogs. This type of pain is maladaptive as it does not offer any protective function. Pain causes stress in dogs and takes out their joy. If your pet seems dull, it could possibly be suffering from chronic pain.
CBD can be efficient in treating hard to treat pain. It also is known to have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation that causes pain. The endocannabinoid receptors that CBD binds to also help modulate pain transmission.
While CBD is not a conventional treatment for dogs, many holistic veterinary practitioners recommend CBD for dogs suffering from joint pain. Joint pain caused by arthritis is common in aging dogs.
CBD can relax the nerves and help soothe the pain resulting from damaged nerves or cartilage. CBD can also be beneficial in alleviating intestinal inflammation.
6. CBD is natural and Non-toxic
If you are worried about CBD toxicity, worry not. Many studies that focus on the toxicity of marijuana look at the psychoactive element THC and not CBD in isolation.
CBD is not psychoactive, and it will not give the euphoric high associated with marijuana. CBD contains therapeutic properties without the psychoactive element.
There is no toxicity associated with CBD. You don’t have to worry about your dog overdosing and getting sick from CBD.
What this all Means
CBD is seen as a revolutionary treatment for many diseases in humans and now the benefits are being extended to dogs. CBD is not only known to offer relief from ailments, but it also can improve the overall health of the dog.
There is limited research on the benefits of CBD to dogs. However, initial studies show promising outcomes with fears of toxicity having been ruled out. Some dog owners and vets are already experimenting with CBD on their sick dogs. While there is still a long way to go, the results show great potential.
