CBD Oil For Dogs
CBD oil for dogs has shown encouraging results for a wide range of canine conditions–with no serious side effects. Researchers are investigating different ways to use CBD in veterinary medicine to help treat a myriad of canine conditions and diseases that afflict our beloved companions.
However, your dog doesn’t have to have a serious medical condition to benefit from daily supplementation of hemp CBD Oil. Adding a full spectrum CBD oil to your dog’s dietary regimen can also be beneficial for pets with milder, symptom-free conditions that over time could manifest into a full-blown medical diagnosis.
Top 10 Reasons to Give Your Dog CBD Oil:
1. CBD Oil Relieves Pain
Cannabinoids have been suggested as a possible alternative treatment for conditions like chronic neuropathy, canine arthritis, joint inflammation and, more optimistically, eliminating the excruciating pain cycle associated with certain canine cancers. Studies show CBD to be very effective for decreasing nerve-related pain.
Using CBD oil for dogs’ pain has become a popular form of treatment to manage aches and pains in canines with lymphoma, arthritis, hip dysplasia or any number of ailments that can cause physical discomfort.
It is currently thought to be so effective, that more and more pet owners are choosing it instead of traditional pain killers. CBD based interventions have already proven successful in treating degenerative disorders like hip dysplasia, certain types of cancer, epilepsy and seizures in dogs, but one of its primary applications is for dogs with chronic arthritis pain and inflammation.
2. CBD Reduces Inflammation & Allergic Response
According to medical literature, CBD oil affects many canine biological pathways through the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and functions to optimize cellular interactions involved in the repair and restoration of whole-body systems that maintain normal canine homeostasis.
These effects can be at the cellular level or in the gene-expression for developing certain allergies or ‘sensitivities’. CBD oil as a treatment for Allergic Dermatitis seems to work by modulating the cellular inflammatory response.
Cannabidiol has been found to target and reduce oxidative stress on organs and offers promise as an anti-inflammatory agent. The majority of age-related illness in dogs can be attributed to inflammation.
CBD has been shown to decrease the production and release of inflammatory cytokines that can cause allergies, hypersensitivities and autoimmunity disorders. CBD has also been shown to decrease the impact of inflammation on oxidative stress involved with premature aging and cognitive degeneration. Studies show CBD inhibits the production of inflammatory macrophages and decreases chronic inflammation in canine hip dysplasia, arthritis & auto-immune disorders.
3. CBD Helps Epilepsy & Reduces Seizures
Numerous studies have provided evidence to prove that CBD has therapeutic effects when it comes to relieving epilepsy and seizures in dogs. All medications have inherent side-effects, but CBD has minimal side effects when used to relieve seizures over currently approved medications for canine seizures.
Most dogs with seizures are put on drugs such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide. While they may help control the seizures, they can be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver and other organs. Studies have also shown that CBD provides unique advantages when it comes to relieving canine epilepsy and seizures compared to the currently available prescription anti-convulsant medications.
According to research, CBD shows not only anticonvulsant activity, but it also limits seizure duration. CBD has been shown to work well in treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) Results from an uncontrolled study support anecdotal reports showing that CBD may be a promising treatment for TRE and it is generally well-tolerated.
4. CBD Protects Nervous System
CBD can protect the nervous system and help with neuro-degenerative diseases. For dogs suffering from degenerative myelopathy and other spine and nerve issues, CBD shows a lot of promise. It’s been shown to help human patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by protecting the brain cells from toxicity.
The antioxidative properties of cannabinoids suggest a therapeutic use as neuroprotective agents that protect the brain and central nervous system from neurotoxicity.
For senior dogs, CBD has been shown to protect the brain from cell death caused by free radicals and toxins as they age. The ability of cannabidiol to protect against neuronal injury without toxicity or side effects even when chronically administered or given in large acute doses indicates it has valuable nervous system protection against disease.
A daily dose of CBD can help protect your dog’s brain & preserve mental acuity from the potential ravages of time.
5. CBD Prevents & Kills Cancer
Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over the age of 10–but half of all canine cancers are curable if caught early. Dogs are susceptible to some of the same types of cancers as humans, but they can metastasize at a much faster rate.
There is mounting evidence that cannabinoids (THC and CBD) may represent a new class of anticancer drugs that retard cancer growth and inhibit angiogenesis. While conventional chemotherapy drugs are highly toxic and indiscriminately damage cells in the body and brain; by contrast, THC slows tumor growth in certain cancers by significantly reducing the ability of cancer to spread. THC selectively targets and destroys tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed.
Cannabidiol has been found to have anti-tumor effects. CBD has even been shown to stop cancer cells from growing and increased tumor cell death. Empirical evidence shows that dogs treated with cannabis demonstrate a faster healing rate with tumor size reduction within a very short time–sometimes just weeks–with very small quantities of these natural plant phytonutrients.
As an adjunct medication for canine cancer patients, CBD’s anti-tumor properties can help increase the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. Cancer cells can become extremely sensitive to THC and CBD after being exposed to radiation or chemotherapy. But beyond simply helping with the nausea of chemotherapy, there is strong scientific evidence of a deeper benefit of using cannabis along with conventional therapies.
There are real-life examples where a dog’s life has been extended by months and years and in some instances, there’s been a complete reversal of tumors with zero clinical evidence of cancer using only cannabis extracts as sole therapy.
6. CBD Restores Appetite
CBD increases appetite and helps with nausea. If you have trouble getting your dog to eat, CBD may help. The National Cancer Institute reports that CBD in addition to controlling cancer, has the added benefit of increasing appetite.
In animal studies, CBD has also been shown to help with vomiting and nausea, even when they’re the result of ingesting toxins and drugs.
While wasting and weight loss are common in canine cancer patients & older, senile dogs; using CBD can stimulate your dog’s caloric intake and frequency of eating healthy prepared meals. CBD can help sick dogs to take in healthy, healing food nutrients essential to fighting disease & maintaining homeostasis.
7. CBD Reduces Anxiety
An accumulating body of evidence from clinical experiments show that CBD has strong anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties and is well-tolerated by dogs with symptoms of severe anxiety disorders. CBD works by exerting several actions on a dog’s brain. CBD acts similar to a class of prescription anti-depressants, known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), by boosting nerve impulse signaling.
In fact, some studies have shown that CBD can enhance the transmission effect on serotonin receptors faster than those of SSRI’s.
Several studies have been conducted that establish the efficacy of CBD in improving the destructive behaviors of canine separation anxiety disorder. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or behavioral issues like social interaction disorders, depression or noise phobias, CBD-rich hemp oil may bring them immediate and long-term relief.
8. CBD Protects Heart Function
CBD promotes healthy cardiovascular function. Studies show it can reduce the damage from injured blood vessels and irregular heart rates, protect blood vessels from damage and dilate the arteries, and reduce heart rate and blood pressure associated with stress and anxiety.
Pre-clinical data appear to support a positive role for CBD treatment in the heart, and in peripheral and cerebral vasculature.
CBD protects against the vascular damage caused by a high glucose environment, such as that found in type 2 diabetes.
A common theme throughout these studies is the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of Cannabidiol to have therapeutic potential to promote healthy cardiovascular function.
9. CBD Aids Sleep & Recovery
Sleep is a dynamic process with critical consequences if that restorative process is interrupted. Sleep is essential for your dog to build immunity, repair tissue, regulate metabolism and blood pressure, control appetite and blood sugar, and process learning, along with a myriad of other physiological processes – all of which are regulated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
CBD receptors in the canine ECS system are known to participate in the management of sleep/ wakefulness, pain-sensation, mood and memory, and immune-system functions. CB1 receptors modulate neurotransmitter release in a manner that dials back excessive neuronal activity, thereby reducing anxiety, pain, and inflammation.
CBD plays a major role in modulating sleep activity and therefore is key to optimize the overall health and homeostasis of your dog.
10. CBD is Safe & Effective
With so many studies showing the health benefits of CBD oil for dogs, the most encouraging result is that CBD is safe for all breeds and all sizes of dogs.
Even when taken in high doses and over extended periods of time there is no risk of toxicity at any dosage level of CBD oil for dogs.
The bottom line is, CBD oil could be a safe, healthy, even lifesaving, phytonutrient for your dog.
Curtis has been passionate about the health and welfare of animals since his first dog rescue.
After studying Sports Medicine & Biology at the University of Oregon, Curtis went on to excel in a career of Clinical Nutrition, later owning a health care supplement company serving private-practice physicians.
Known for his expansive knowledge of natural health and alternative medicine, Curtis believes that natural plant-based therapies can be applied to veterinary animal care which led him to study the science of Cannabinoid Medicine. His expertise in Functional Medicine led him to formulate a unique hemp-based canine care product, Canine Support Formula, fulfilling a dream to combine natural pet-care strategies with the new therapeutic potential of medical cannabis.
In reverence for his own dog, Parker, Curtis has dedicated his company–K9 Medibles–to improving the health and longevity of all dogs.
To learn more about Curtis and how K9 Medibles can help your dog, click HERE.