Most people today believe that CBD oil is healthy for humans. But did you know that dogs can also benefit from the non-psychoactive ingredient referred to as cannabidiol? Like humans, mollusks, fish, and mammals also have an ECS (endocannabinoid system). Hence, products containing CBD oil can improve the quality of life of dogs.
Decades of research and studies have concluded that cannabis can be used for medical purposes and can serve as an excellent natural remedy for pets. This is one of the reasons why more and more veterinarians are looking to use CBD oil to treat diseases like eczema, arthritis, and inflammation in dogs. Despite its popularity, questions still remain over its safety, and if claims of being the best natural remedy for pets is true.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol or simply CBD is a natural tincture or concentrated extract of cannabis plants. It has a high level of cannabinoids and little or no THC. These oils are often manufactured by applying organic solvents like ethanol and benzene on the cannabis plant.
However, before starting to treat an animal with cannabis, you should bear in mind that psychoactive cannabinoids such as THC or tetrahydrocannabinol have a more potent effect on our pets than on ourselves. The wrong dose, in some cases, can seriously compromise their health. Excess THC produces psychoactive effects, which include liver damage, coma, and even death. However, these effects rarely occur in humans.
That’s why, in the case of the medicinal use of cannabis in animals, edible oils, extracts or oils rich in CBD are used rather than the main substance. This way, the side effect is reduced to the barest minimum thanks to the absence of THC.
Although CBD extracts are completely legal, no regulation approves their inclusion among drugs to be prescribed by veterinarians. Unfortunately, most synthetic drugs often prescribed have notorious side effects which may damage the health of animals. This is why, despite the absence of such regulation, many people choose to provide CBD to their pets, which seems to be able to help positively.
Why should dogs be consuming Hemp?
Contrary to most beliefs, this kind of cannabis is oil and not cannabis plant. Hemp was illegal in the United States and many other countries for a long time because it was associated with other classes of cannabis plant. However, today, you can find cannabis products at several stores. And not only will you see soaps and hemp lotions, but teas, oils, seed, and proteins all made from cannabis. The cannabis category with therapeutic benefits for your dog is not found on the shelves of supermarkets, however.
How CBD works
The hemp plant contains several chemicals, such as CBD, phytocannabinoids, terpenoid, and flavonoids. Humans and other kinds of mammals have special receptors for cannabinoids located in the central nervous system. All these elements together make up the endocannabinoid system. Studies show that there are several types of cannabinoids with anti-inflammatory effects that can help with different conditions, such as pain, tumors, seizures, muscle spasms, skin problems, lack of appetite, aggression, anxiety and neurological disorders.
Benefits of CBD oil for your dog
CBD oil is used to treat chronic and acute diseases. This compound contains properties that combat chronic diseases, which include arthritis, compromised immune system, stress responses, aggression, and digestive problems. At the moment, studies are being developed on the effects of CBD on Chronic diseases like type 1 diabetes, organ disease, and cancer.
This compound even serves to reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness after a surgical procedure. If you are supplying conventional medications to your dog for any of these problems, with CBD oil, you can use lower doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect. Considering that conventional medicines have side effects, CBD comes as an added advantage.
How Fast Does It Work?
Like most medications, you will not see immediate effects. It takes time to notice visible changes. Your dog’s pain may be relieved after a few hours of giving cannabis, but other symptoms such as inflammation may take a few days to vanish. First of all, since the CBD oil has a low concentration of THC, your dog will not feel psychoactive effects like drowsiness.
Know The Right Dose
CBD is said to be one of the best natural remedy for pets, but each dog is different. Hence, the dose should follow suit. We recommend starting with a low dose and increasing the amount if no change is seen. It’s recommended that you start by administering 1 drop of CBD oil for every 10 pounds of weight of your dog per day.
Continue this dose for a week and then increase to 1-2 drops per 10 pounds of weight twice a day as long as there are no side effects. You can increase the dose every 4 or 5 days until you notice side effects, which may include disorientation, hyperactivity, and excessive sedation. If you notice any of these effects, stop the treatment and wait for them to reduce. Then, start the treatment again with a lower dose if the disease symptoms persist.
It’s important not to let your dog out of your sight during the administration period. The key is to find a dose that produces excellent results without causing any form of side effects. If you maintain a particular dose for a long time without seeing results, if disease symptoms persist, increase the dose a little.
The difference between the application in humans and animals is that the immune system of the latter is not strong enough to fight side-effects. A dosage too high can cause coma, vomiting and even death of the animal
Conclusion
If your beloved dog is uncomfortable, you will probably spare no effort to try out a natural remedy for pets if orthodox medicine fails to deliver the right result. However, care must be taken to ensure this doesn’t go wrong.
That’s why you need to pay attention to the right dosage and discuss the treatment with your veterinarian before using it on your dog. However, if it comes off well, be assured that days of discomfort will be a distant memory for your dog with this excellent natural remedy for pets; CBD.