5 Conditions CBD Can Help Your Dog With

CBD for dogs is the talk of the town and for all the right reasons. Around the globe, our fanged friends and their owners are leading a stress-free lifestyle owing to the miraculous properties of cannabidiol (CBD). Due to this reason, researchers have turned their entire focus on this wonder herb and science is delving deeper into the mysteries behind the properties and benefits of CBD with each passing day.

So what makes CBD a life-changing experience for dogs? Pet owners who are just getting acquitted with CBD think of it as merely an anxiety-busting compound but there is much more to it than meets the eye. Without further ado, let’s talk about CBD and how your pet can benefit from this Nature’s miracle.

So What Exactly Is CBD?

Short for cannabidiol, CBD is one of the many chemical ingredients extracted from Cannabis sativa plant (hemp plant). It is the same plant from which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is obtained, a psychoactive agent that induces a “high” state. What makes CBD stand out is the fact that it lacks the psychoactive properties associated with THC.

CBD works by interacting with the cannabinoid receptors located in the central and peripheral nervous system of the mammalian body. These receptors, aka CB1 and CB2 receptors, affect various physiological processes of the body, such as pain modulation, metabolism, appetite, movements, etc. Hence, CBD is able to exert its effect on these bodily functions.

Benefits of CBD for Dogs

CBD is being used as an alternative therapy to treat a wide range of health problems in dogs, the most important of which are discussed below.

1. Chronic pain

Chronic painful conditions can drastically affect the quality of life for your pawed friend. Chronic pain is a common manifestation of gut or joint inflammation in dogs and can prove to be quite debilitating. Other chronic painful conditions in dogs include pain of nervous origin or that related to malignancies.

CBD works closely with the body’s endocannabinoid system and by inhibiting the release of pain mediators in the pain nerve fibers, helps in pain modulation. This is why CBD is better able to control pain in scenarios where conventional therapies like NSAIDs fail. It is also beneficial for controlling acutely painful conditions in dogs such as trauma, strains, and sprains, etc.

2. Anxiety

Acute anxiety and phobias can prove to be quite debilitating for dogs and the dog owners alike. If your dog refuses to comply due to an acute fear of certain conditions like noisy areas or car rides, it can make you feel helpless and frustrated. This is where CBD comes in handy.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (JAHVMA) in 2016, pet owners report a positive outcome of using CBD for dogs for behavior-based disorders such as separation anxiety and noise phobia. This is because of CBD’s effects on brain centers related to emotional intelligibility in dogs.

3. Joint Inflammation

Age-related wear and tear phenomenon can result in weakening of joints and related structures in dogs. The same can also happen as a result of acute trauma and can greatly reduce the mobility of your dog. It is quite devastating to see your favorite pet immobilized as a result of painful and inflamed joints.

CBD has been shown to have extraordinary anti-inflammatory potential and this property has been attributed to the CB2 receptors located in peripheral mammalian organs, particularly the immune system. By interacting with these receptors, CBD interferes with the synthesis of mediators of inflammation. A study published in Frontiers of Veterinary Science in 2018 validates that CBD can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with joint inflammation.

CBD thus prevents joint swelling by controlling leakage from blood vessels, averts joint redness by interfering with the production of histamine and other such inflammatory chemicals and reduces pain by controlling prostaglandin production. The signs and symptoms of joint inflammation are, thus, carefully prevented by CBD, allowing your dog to be more agile and bound away happily.

4. Uncontrolled Neuromuscular Activity

Uncontrolled muscle jerking as a result of aberrant brain activity is quite common in dogs and so far, most of the medical treatments provide only symptomatic relief with quite short-lived effects. The discovery of CBD proved to be a new milestone for treating uncontrolled neuromuscular activity in dogs. Research has reinforced the beneficial role of CBD in curbing the uncontrolled firing of neurons in brain circuits that leads to uninhibited muscle activity in dogs.

The anti-convulsant potential of CBD has long since been discovered and has been put to great use in mammals. Dog owners report significant reduction in the frequency and duration of the episodes of uncontrolled brain neuronal activity and absence of the typical side effects associated with conventional medicines used for such conditions.

5. Reduced Appetite

Coaxing your dog to eat can prove to be quite tiring, especially when your canine companion is suffering from reduced appetite either due to illness, gut disturbance or nausea, etc. It comes as a surprise to many dog owners that CBD can help stimulate appetite and can make your dog eat better.

By interacting with cannabinoid receptors, CBD has the potential to activate the serotonin receptors located at multiple locations in the gut. The excitation of serotonin receptors helps increase gut secretions and digestion which help in appetite stimulation. CBD also exerts its effects on the appetite center in the brain. The net effect is increased appetite that can make your pet’s (and your) life easier.

How Can I Feed CBD to My Dog?

Most of you have already thought about it multiple times by now. Fortunately, the popularity of CBD for dogs has solved that problem already. CBD is now available in a variety of different forms for dogs. CBD comes in the form of oil, tinctures, dog biscuits, dog treats and even ointments etc. which are adequately flavored to suit your pet’s taste. You either add CBD oil to their usual food or directly feed them the dog treats or biscuits for positive effects on your pet’s health.