A lot of you may have already heard about cannabidiol (CBD) being good or healthy for dogs. However, you might have questions like, “Is this not marijuana?” “How can it be good for my dog?” “Is this not an addictive substance?”
All these questions and many more will be answered as we discuss thoroughly what are the merits of CBD for dogs. Let us start!
What is CBD?
Before anything else, it is important that we have a clear understanding of what CBD is.
CBS is a substance found in a cannabis Sativa plant. It can provide your dog with a calming effect, effectively relieving pain. Remember, it is not a psychoactive substance; so, there is no need to worry about potentially intoxicating your dog.
It stimulates a calming effect by targeting receptors in the brain, central nervous system (CNS), immune cells, and organs.
So, if CBD is not a psychoactive substance, what is?
Hemp vs Marijuana
Hemp and Marijuana both come from the cannabis Sativa plant. However, they have different properties and effects.
Hemp contains roughly 3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance found in the plant. Mostly, it contains CBD.
Marijuana is found in the buds, leaves, and plant resins. This is the part rich in THC— this is the part that comes with psychoactive effects not just on humans but on dogs as well.
So, what is our takeaway from this?
There is nothing wrong about hemp, which is a rich source of CBD— be it for humans or for dogs. Now, this brings us to our next question— what are the benefits of CBD for dogs?
Table of Contents
7 Benefits of CBD for Dogs
1. It Alleviates Pain Associated With The Most Common Diseases
Many common diseases among dogs such as autoimmune disease, cardiovascular (CV) disease, and inflammatory bowel disease exhibit the usual symptoms. These include the following:
- Behavioral change
- Chronic pain;
- Loss of appetite; and
- Nausea
According to herb.co, “CBD is a powerful, all-around stimulant that relaxes dogs and alleviates their pain.”
2. It Boosts Appetite
When your dog experiences nausea, he or she usually loses his or her appetite. There are also other factors that may cause appetite loss; and it is telling a lot, given that dogs really love to eat.
By giving CBD to your dog, digestive problems are alleviated and the pain is likely relieved.
3. It Can Ease Cancer Symptoms And Prevent Cancer
Some of the common symptoms of cancer include appetite loss, chronic pain, nausea, among others. With CBD, your dog suffering from cancer is less likely to feel uncomfortable and in pain. It also minimizes the side effects of the illness.
CBD has the ability to strengthen your dog’s immune function, effectively killing cancer cells. Further, it can prevent cancer cells from producing energy.
With its anti-tumor properties, CBD can prevent and combat cancer, especially when it is administered in small doses every day.
4. It Helps Counter Anxiety
Dogs may also experience anxiety. There are a lot of factors causing it, but a good example would be being apart from their owners. So, if you leave, your dog may be anxious.
This anxiety can lead to destructive behaviors such as chewing, pacing, urinating, among others. With the properties of CBD, it can provide the much-needed relaxation to your dog.
CBD Can Protect The Nervous System And Help With Neurodegenerative Diseases.
CBD shows a lot of promise for degenerative myelopathy and other spine and nerve issues. It’s also been shown to help patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This is thanks to its ability to protect the brain cells from toxicity.
For senior dogs, CBD can protect the brain from cell death caused by free radicals and toxins.
5. It Protects The Central Nervous System (CNS)
CBD can help with CNS problems such as degenerative myelopathy. It has properties that protect the brain cells from toxicity among us, humans. The same can be said for dogs.
CBD has been proven to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease. For dogs, it can protect brain cell death due to harmful free radicals and toxins. So, your dog is likely to live longer without suffering from these health issues.
6. It Relieves Arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation of joints, causing severe pain and other degenerative conditions. Since CBD is a proven pain reliever, it targets the inflamed joints to promote relief.
Its pain-relieving properties can even soothe chronic inflammation that prevents proper healing.
7. It Treats Epilepsy and Seizure
High levels of CBD have been proven to manage epilepsy and seizures. The substance reduces the frequency of attacks among dogs. There are even cases where it completely gets rid of seizures!
How is CBD Given to Dogs?
So, now that we know the benefits of CBD, you might be wondering, “how can we give it to our dogs?”
There are different ways to add CBD to your dog’s diet. It also comes in different forms. It may be in the form of cannabis oil, capsule, tincture, topical, or treat.
In my case, I prefer giving CBD in the form of treats to my dogs. This fosters a reward system, which has always been an effective tool in training them— at least in my experience.
CBD for Dogs – To Sum It Up…
Surely, CBD has a lot of health benefits for your dog. It is not the addictive substance found in a cannabis Sativa plant, but the pain-relieving one. As a result:
- Can alleviate pain associated with the most common diseases;
- Boosts appetite;
- Can ease cancer symptoms and prevent cancer;
- Helps counter anxiety;
- Relieves arthritis; and
- Treats epilepsy and seizure.
Personally, CBD dog treats are the best way to give CBD to your dog. Visit this website to find the best one for your beloved furball.
Have you tried giving CBD to your dog? In what form?
Did he or she like it? How did he or she benefit from it? Did it help him or her?
What CBD dog treats would you recommend or would like to try? Share your stories with us! We would love to hear from you!