Everything You Need to Know About CBD Oil and Pain Relief For Dogs
CBD is something that we hear all about these days. But there seems to be a lot of confusion about what it actually is and what it does for the body. Because there’s a lot of misinformation out there, it can be difficult to know the truth.
Something that makes CBD so special is that it doesn’t just offer pain relief to people. It also provides pain relief for dogs.
Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
What Is CBD?
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a chemical compound that is produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana and hemp are two types of the Cannabis plant and they both make CBD. Marijuana tends to produce small amounts of CBD and high amounts of THC while hemp produces high amounts of CBD and little to no amounts of THC.
CBD doesn’t contain any psychoactive properties and it can’t get you high.
CBD and THC for Dogs
CBD has similar metabolic pathways with a type of drug known as NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Examples of NSAIDs include Rimadyl and ibuprofen. These pathways regulate many of the body’s processes, including blood clotting and inflammatory responses.
When CBD oil is used in conjunction with THC, the efficacy of the CBD has been shown to improve, so long as the mixture contains less than 0.3% THC. This is known as the “entourage effect”, which states that CBD is able to mitigate the negative aspects of THC and produce more powerful positive effects.
Why Give Dogs CBD?
CBD is often discussed as a therapy for a plethora of conditions. It’s been shown to have the following properties:
- cognitive support
- immune system management
- appetite stimulant
- allergy relief
- anti-diabetic
- bone stimulant
- decreases vascular pressure
- antipsychotic
- immunosuppressive
- cardio-protective
- antispasmodic
Let’s look deeper into some other benefits from CBD.
Arthritis
Since CBD shares similar properties to NSAIDs, it makes sense that it can help with inflammation. Also, it’s worth remembering that pretty much any medical disorder that ends in “-itis” is related to inflammation.
Arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, is one of the most common inflammatory complications in cats and dogs. Giving your dog two doses of CBD daily can help relieve them of joint pain.
Pain
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can help with other kinds of inflammatory pain as well. One particular pain that could be especially relieved is back pain that’s caused by IVDD (intervertebral disc disease).
Seizures
Perhaps one of the most researched applications of CBD in people is related to seizures. However, there hasn’t been as much studying done when it comes to animals.
Seizures in dogs can indicate a variety of underlying issues. If your dog has idiopathic epilepsy, then giving them CBD could help relieve their pain and reduce the frequency of their seizures.
Cancer
The word “cancer” covers a wide variety of different diseases, each of which can benefit from their unique set of treatments. For people, CBD has been shown to have positive effects for treating tumors directly. It can also help with secondary symptoms of cancer as well as chemotherapy.
CBD can help relieve cancer patients of vomiting, nausea, and pain and it could be beneficial for dogs in the same way.
Anxiety
CBD can also treat anxiety and stress in dogs. It can do this without having the negative effects that come with traditional medications like Prozac.
CBD is able to increase the serotonin levels of your brain, which leads to a more positive mood and outlook.
Can Your Veterinarian Prescribe CBD for Your Dog?
In the United States, it’s illegal for veterinarians to prescribe or sell CBD. They’re also not allowed to instruct or encourage you to go about and buy CBD products. However, you are still allowed to discuss the potential benefits and risks of a CBD treatment plan that you have come up with on your own.
If you’re thinking about giving your dog CBD, then you should definitely speak to your vet. Ideally, you would speak to a vet who has experience working with CBD in some capacity.
Possible Risks of Giving CBD to Dogs
Overall, it appears that CBD is extremely safe for cats and dogs. However, you still don’t want to misuse the CBD oil or give your dog an exceptionally high dose.
It’s believed that CBD can cause an increase in alkaline phosphatase in the liver in dogs. Still, there’s no conclusive evidence that this is harmful to dogs.
Some anecdotal evidence also suggests that your dog may become sleepy when they take incredibly large doses of CBD, but those effects go away after a little bit of time. You also don’t have to worry about any negative drug interactions with CBD but you should still consult with your vet if your dog is currently on other medication.
Understanding the Importance of Finding Pain Relief for Dogs
We all love our dogs. And when they suffer, we suffer. Thankfully, CBD is growing in popularity and the research is suggesting that it could provide some major benefits including inflammation and pain relief for dogs. Still, it’s important that you first consult with your vet before giving your dog any kind of treatment.
Are you looking for the perfect CBD oil for your dog? Contact us today and see how we can help you!
