A lot of people love their pets, and would do all they can to ensure they are as healthy as they can be. Why not? These fun, adorable animals shower us with so much love which sometimes outweighs ours for them. Some pet parents however, are really showing up to the occasion when it comes to loving and caring for their pets. In some families, the family dog has just about the same rights as every other member of the family.
But caring for pets is no easy job, especially for first-timers. Many people have a hard time caring for themselves, let alone looking after a pet that absolutely depends on them for its survival. Many dog owners or pet parents, in general, agree that owning a pet made them more responsible individuals.
So, aside from showering us with unfiltered love and making the home much more fun and livelier, dogs make us better humans. Little wonder they are the most owned pets in the world. What’s there not to like about these creatures? Click here to learn more about why many people think dogs are the best pets.
Seeing as these canines contribute so much to our lives, it can be quite heartbreaking to see them in any form of pain or discomfort. As much as we try to keep our dogs in great health, some things are just beyond our control. For example, it’s common for older dogs to suffer from health conditions like arthritis and anxiety. It’s painful to watch your once agile pet not being able to move and play as it once used to.
In extreme cases of anxiety, the pup is unable to move on its own at all. In one case, the dog, an Ibizan Hound, was in so much pain and so was unable to move.It was so severe that it was assisted in doing everything including eating, drinking, and using the bathroom. It was really a bad time for its parents until they found one treatment that turned things around. Mind you, this dog was taking other medications prior to this time, and they had no significant effect.
There is also the case of Lady Amelthia, a Greyhound that suffered from anxiety that was triggered by thunderstorms. Her parent tried a couple of medications that reduced her anxiety level from 100 to 50 on the anxiety scale. But this number was brought down to 5 by this same new treatment- CBD. There’s a big chance you’ve heard of it as it is causing a sensation in the pet medication market.
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is a chemical, precisely a cannabinoid. It is one of over 100 that occur naturally in hemp and marijuana; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is also another popular cannabinoid. CBD quickly grew in popularity because of its many therapeutic properties. It works by reacting with the body’sendocannabinoid receptors.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for maintaining balance in the body, a process known as homeostasis. The ECS regulates the body by sending signals to other systems to speed up or slow down certain processes. Cannabinoids from plants like marijuana and hemp are also able to interact with these receptors, each in different ways. Visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system to learn more about the ECS.
Seeing as it is Connected to Marijuana, Won’t CBD Cause a High?
The answer is no. This is usually the primary concern of most dog parents looking to introduce CBD treatment to their ailing pet. Quite frankly, their fear isn’t misplaced seeing as marijuana is highly intoxicating. But the thing is that THC, the other cannabinoid we mentioned earlier, is what is responsible for marijuana being so psychoactive.
Unlike THC, CBD is in no way psychoactive and so cannot cause a high no matter how much of it you give to your pet. If it makes you feel any better, and it should, the majority of commercially available cannabidiol is extracted from hemp, and not marijuana.
Unlike marijuana that is mostly made up of tetrahydrocannabinol and contains less than 0.3% CBD, hemp is mainly composed of CBD. The amount of THC found in hemp is so small that it is incapable of making your pet high.
So, does it Work?
Anecdotally, it does. The two cases you read earlier are a few of many other observations reported by dog owners. From these reports, which are not a few, CBD works in the treatment of several medical conditions including arthritis, anxiety, seizures, epilepsy, loss of appetite, and even cancer.
There’s ongoing research that aims to prove these claims but at the moment, there isn’t any conclusive evidence. However, results from observational studies do suggest that the chemical is effective in treating these medical conditions as claimed by pet owners who administer the treatment to their pet.
When it comes to the treatment of arthritis in dogs, cannabidiol does shine. In addition to reports from dog owners, a study carried out by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine showed positive results. The study involved giving dogs 4.4 mg of CBD per pound, twice a day for a month. At the end of the duration, the researchers found that the dogs showed significant improvement in pain relief and overall quality of life.
How Can I Get CBD?
You can get CBD for dogs in different products ranging from oils to treats, capsules, and tinctures. It all bores down to which one of these options your pet prefers the most. You may find it helpful to know that oils and treats are the two most popular options.
So, What Can We Deduce from all This?
With positive results like these, it’s hard to ignore their credibility. As a pet parent who loves their pet and only wants what’s best for it, the choice is yours to make. You can always ask other dog owners who administer CBD to hear what they think. It’s also reassuring to know that all the side effects that have been reported are not life-threatening.