For many, our furry friends are not only companions but family. We take their health as seriously as our own. As dietary supplements continue to rise in popularity, it might not come as a surprise that there are similar supplements available for dogs. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become a popular addition to people’s everyday lives in the past few years, but are you aware of its potential benefits for your four-legged friend?
Here are some ways a CBD supplement made specifically for dogs may help your furry family member:
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Our senior dogs can suffer from mental decline in their old age just as humans do. CBD oil may help protect the brain from toxicity, which can protect brain cells from death or damage. While more research is needed, studies have suggested beneficial effects for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease in humans.[1]
Anxiety
Dogs can become anxious from many different things like thunder or fireworks or in situations where there is a lot happening. If you have a dog that suffers from anxiety, CBD oil might be able to help, as CBD has soothing properties in humans.
Pain
CBD is well known its pain-relieving properties.[2] Thanks to CBD oil, your dog may get relief from chronic pain without the side effects associated with prescription pain medication.
Epilepsy
Many dogs suffer from seizures and must take medications that can be hard on the liver. In humans with epilepsy, CBD has been shown to reduce the total number of seizures. And a small study showed that CBD can reduce seizure frequency in canines although further studies are needed.[3]
Digestive Health
As our furry friends start to age, they can begin to experience a decline in their digestive system functions. CBD and other cannabinoids have been shown to improve symptoms of nausea in humans.
Inflammation
Older dogs often suffer from inflammation caused by arthritis, which can be very painful. CBD oil as a supplement may help target those aching joints. In fact, a small study showed that
2 mg/kg of CBD twice a day helped alleviate discomfort in canines.[4,5]
Itchy Skin
CBD oil treats rich in omega-6 fatty acids may help dogs who have dry and itchy skin. Since CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, it can help humans with certain skin conditions and therefore may also alleviate these conditions in dogs.
Cancer
Research has shown that CBD oil and other compounds found in hemp may have an anti-tumor effect. CBD oil could stop cancer cells from growing but further research is needed.
Bottom Line
CBD is non-intoxicating, and can be added to food, used as a topical ointment or cream, taken in pill form, or used straight from the dropper. Be sure you choose a supplement or treat that is specifically formulated for canines and follow the dosing instructions.
While CBD is considered safe, it could increase liver enzymes and therefore it is important to to follow the advice of your veterinarian when using CBD as a treatment for any condition.
Michael is a marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com with a primary focus on customer satisfaction. Technology and fitness combined with healthy lifestyle obsession are his main talking points.
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References
- Maroon J & Bost J. Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surg Neurol Int. 2018;9:91.
- Vučković S, et al. Cannabinoids and pain: New insights from old molecules. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:1259.
- McGrath S, et al. Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019;254(11):1301-1308.
- Bland SD. Canine osteoarthritis and treatments: A review. Veterinary Science Development. 2015; 5:5931.
- Gamble LJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and clinical efficacy of cannabidiol treatment in osteoarthritic dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:165.