Americans are a nation of dedicated dog lovers, spending over $100 billion on their animals during 2020. Around $30 billion of this went toward veterinary care.
That means there are a lot of pets out there relying on pharmaceuticals for their health. Are you looking for an effective alternative to these drugs?
As an animal lover, it’s only best to seek out natural supplements when your priority is keeping your pets healthy without any chemical side effects. CBD could offer a solution.
Let’s investigate whether CBD oil for dogs works as well as it does for humans.
How Does CBD Affect Your Dog’s Health?
Like humans, animals have an internal system, called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors found in almost all the cells of our bodies.
These receptors react with cannabinoids produced in their bodies or ingested via other means to regulate several aspects of health. The ECS helps soothe and stimulate the digestive system, immune system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
CBD is one of the most common cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.
It’s legal to take CBD in all its forms and many Americans have already discovered its benefits. So, since our dogs also have an ECS, why shouldn’t it work for them?
The main issue when you’re figuring out how to maintain healthy pets is always the safety of the medication used. Some treatments that work well for humans and other animals, like tea tree oil, have toxic effects on dogs.
Is CBD Safe for Dogs?
It’s important to note that the FDA has only approved CBD for medicinal use in one instance, although it’s legal to use it as a health supplement for both pets and people.
While there’s a lack of formal studies on CBD for animal use, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence from pet owners that suggests it’s totally safe and effective.
None of the existing studies indicate harmful side effects from CBD, although some dogs became sleepier than usual.
Safety is a major issue for producers of CBD products for dogs, so producers looked at all this word-of-mouth evidence long before releasing their products on the market.
It’s vitally important that you only buy pet products with 0% THC for your dogs. THC is lethal for dogs.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs?
Regardless of which supplement or home cure you want to use for your dog, it’s important to discuss your plans with your vet. They know your pet best and can advise you on possible interactions with other medications they’ve prescribed for your pet.
According to the AKC’s chief veterinary surgeon, CBD may have several benefits for dogs.
1. CBD Can Reduce Seizures in Dogs
The one product approved for medicinal use is an anti-seizure medication for children with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome. So, it makes sense that veterinary research has focussed on this benefit for dogs too.
A 2019 study conducted on dogs currently receiving conventional anti-epileptic treatment showed an 83% reduction in seizures, compared to only 43% in the control group.
2. CBD May Help Dogs With Osteo-Arthritis
Another clinical trial, conducted in 2018, showed a reduction in pain scores for dogs treated with 2 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight.
Importantly, both the above studies used broad-spectrum CBD containing additional cannabinoids and terpenes, in their trials.
Evidence suggests that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties support its ability to relieve pain.
3. CBD Can Relieve Pain and Inflammation in Dogs
A more recent study centered on treating osteoarthritis took place in 2020, producing strong results in favor of CBD’s pain and inflammation relieving properties at higher doses.
Veterinary surgeons expressed surprise at how quickly these dogs showed an improvement. Most owners reported a vast improvement in their dogs’ mobility in just a month.
4. CBD Could Ease Digestive Problems
Although there aren’t any tests surrounding the issue, both CBD and THC are well-known to increase appetite in humans. Dog owners have observed the same effects on their dogs.
So, if you have a dog that doesn’t thrive due to poor appetite, you can try giving it a dose of the ‘munchies’ with CBD.
5. Anxiety-Reducing Effects of CBD
A test conducted using fireworks to produce anxiety in dogs didn’t prove a strong correlation between CBD use and decreased anxiety. What it did prove was that CBD had absolutely no harmful effects on the dogs used in the study.
After the fact, researchers agreed that the seven-day test period was insufficient to measure the effectiveness of CBD against anxiety. So, if you want to see if CBD helps your dog’s anxiety it can’t do any harm.
Many pet owners swear that CBD helps reduce the symptoms of generalized anxiety in dogs.
Choosing the Best CBD Products for Your Dog
When it comes to CBD, you’ll find a lot more variety when it comes to human supplements than you will for pets. Yet, whether you’re shopping for CBD oil for pets or dog treats like this product, it’s important to keep a few criteria in mind.
These are:
- Pick only products that have undergone 3rd -party testing
- Choose American-grown products
- Pick broad-spectrum CBD products with terpenes and 0% THC
The correct dosage of CBD for your dog depends on its size, weight, and the condition you’re hoping to alleviate. So, always check the labels on your pet product before giving your dog any.
Most products provide detailed dosage information on their packaging. If they don’t have this information, don’t buy them.
Better Health for You and Your Pet
Spending time with dogs has a few health benefits, it can help alleviate anxiety and even decrease your blood pressure. That’s why dogs work in many therapy environments.
While CBD oil for dogs offers many health benefits, there are many other aspects to keeping your pup in top condition. They still need affection, exercise, free access to water, good quality dog food, and expert veterinary care.
When you tick all these boxes, you’re assured of a long, happy, and healthy association with man’s-best-friend.
Keep browsing our website for more tips on how to keep your whole household in the best shape ever.
Comments are closed.