When our pets become ill, we all try to find the best possible treatments and medicines. If you have a sick or irritable pet, you may already have heard of CBD oil.
However, you probably still have many questions about CBD oil, what it is and how it could benefit your pet.
In this article, we will discuss seven main benefits of CBD for pets.
Before we begin: understanding CBD
Before exploring CBD's individual benefits, it is important to address some basics about this compound.
Here is some basic information about how CBD interacts with the body.
What is CBD?
Simply put, CBD is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
The most important thing to remember is that, unlike THC, the plant's main psychoactive compound, CBD is entirely non-psychoactive and safe for pets. CBD also has no known toxicity level and does not pose an overdose risk. The CBD found in pet supplements is generally obtained from a cannabis variety with extremely low THC content.
How does CBD interact with the body?
CBD interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system. This biological system is present in all mammals and affects many physical and psychological functions, including memory, sleep and the immune system.
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, mainly consists of two types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. These receptors are designed to interact with endocannabinoids, cannabinoids naturally produced by the brain. However, they can also interact with plant-derived cannabinoids such as CBD, triggering various responses in the body.
With CBD, many of these responses are very beneficial. The endocannabinoid system is essentially the system that processes cannabinoids introduced into the body. CBD's effects are similar in humans, dogs, cats and other pets. This is because dogs and cats, like humans, have an endocannabinoid system that works in the same way. Many of the conditions listed below, such as anxiety, arthritis, pain and seizures, also manifest similarly in pets and humans.
7 incredible benefits of CBD oil for dogs
- Powerful pain relief
- Antiepileptic effects (seizures caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain)
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Stress relief
- Antiemetic effects (preventing vomiting)
- Anti-cancer effects
- Promotion of homeostasis (a cell's tendency to maintain its own metabolism)
1. CBD is a powerful pain reliever
In 1997, a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology showed that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in pain management. Today, CBD is very popular for its pain-relieving properties. It can help manage pain in many different ways.
Studies have shown that CBD may temporarily inhibit the absorption of anandamide, a chemical known to help reduce pain signals in the brain. This temporary increase in anandamide may have various effects that reduce the sensation of pain.
Research has also shown CBD to be a powerful anti-inflammatory. For example, by reducing inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, it may ease their painful symptoms.
2. CBD is a known antiepileptic
Epilepsy is probably the condition for which CBD is most widely used. It helps control seizures, tremors, tics and spasms. CBD is a natural antiepileptic.
News of CBD's natural antiepileptic effects first spread in 2013, when Charlotte Figi, a young girl with severe epilepsy, made headlines worldwide.
Charlotte, who experienced 300 seizures a week, relied on CBD oil as her only medicine. Following its remarkable effects on Charlotte, CBD began becoming popular around the world.
Numerous studies since then have shown CBD to be highly effective in controlling various tremors and seizures.
Research also suggests CBD may help manage tics and tremors caused by Tourette syndrome.
You can read Charlotte Figi's extraordinary story in our article “CBD and epilepsy.”
3. CBD is anti-inflammatory
As mentioned earlier, CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. These are believed to be one of the main reasons it is so helpful in treating various conditions. They are thought to be linked to its ability to interact with receptors in immune cells.
CBD interacts with CB2 receptors, generally located in immune cells. By activating these receptors, it can trigger a wide range of immune responses. Fighting inflammation is one of them.
Conditions such as arthritis, MS and irritable bowel disease can involve chronic inflammation, which causes the immune system to malfunction. By reducing inflammation, CBD may help stop the symptoms of these diseases.
4. CBD reduces anxiety and stress
CBD addresses psychological conditions as well as physical symptoms. Many studies have shown that CBD controls various mental symptoms, including anxiety.
Like humans, pets can suffer from worry, stress and even specific phobias.
Common forms of anxiety affecting dogs include separation anxiety, noise anxiety, travel anxiety and specific phobias. In humans, anxiety and stress may make us bite our nails, pace around or tremble slightly. In dogs, anxiety can cause similar repetitive behaviors.
Some common signs of anxiety in dogs include:
- Persistent barking
- Chewing furniture, shoes, rubbish and other objects
- Urinating and defecating, usually indoors
- Aggression
- Trembling
CBD has been observed to help reduce feelings of anxiety, thereby reducing these symptoms.
Typical anxiety medicines tend to target a type of serotonin receptor known as 5-HT1A. By targeting these receptors, anti-anxiety medicines may help temporarily increase serotonin levels in the brain. This can improve mental well-being and temporarily reduce feelings of anxiety or fear.
Research suggests CBD may work similarly and temporarily increase serotonin levels in the brain. Alongside helping reduce stress, CBD may have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.
5. CBD is an antiemetic
Nausea and vomiting are very common symptoms. They may result from a particular condition or from treatments such as chemotherapy.
In both humans and dogs, nausea and vomiting are serious symptoms that often cause reduced appetite, rapid weight loss, fatigue and more.
The many antiemetic medicines on the market can effectively control nausea and vomiting, but may also cause a wide range of side effects, including:
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Strong sedation (a state of deep sleep)
- Lower seizure thresholds in animals with epilepsy
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy (an acute disturbance of consciousness)
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
Strong evidence suggests CBD controls both nausea and vomiting while stimulating appetite. Interestingly, it does this by stimulating 5-HT1A receptors, the receptors that help reduce anxiety.
By activating this receptor, CBD may significantly reduce feelings of nausea and suppress the vomiting reflex. Research also suggests prolonged stimulation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the brain may help reduce nausea and vomiting.
Some studies describe CBD as a better antiemetic than modern medicines available on the market. Best of all, CBD does not produce the side effects caused by conventional antiemetics.
6. CBD may slow tumor growth
Cancer and malignant tumors are common in pets and fatal in many cases. There is currently no known cure for cancer. Treatments aim to slow tumor growth.
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment used to eliminate cancer and tumors in pets. Unfortunately, it can cause a wide range of side effects in animals, just as in humans:
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
New research suggests cannabinoids such as CBD may have unique anti-cancer effects. A growing research community is exploring how cannabinoids may help slow cancer growth and spread and even reduce tumor size.
For example, a 2011 study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston showed that CBD could induce programmed cell death and thereby inhibit breast cancer growth.
Another study, published by researchers at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, showed that CBD could help protect rats against colon cancer by stopping the development, growth and spread of malignant tumors.
7. CBD promotes homeostasis
Homeostasis can be described simply as the body functioning properly. When our bodies are balanced, all our biological systems can perform at their best. Many diseases arise when this balance is disrupted.
New research shows that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in maintaining this balance.
You can read our detailed article about the endocannabinoid system here.
For this reason, many pet owners use CBD oil regularly both to treat particular conditions and to improve their animals' quality of life.
You can try CBD for your pet!
If your pet has conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, stress, epilepsy, arthritis or cancer, we recommend discussing CBD with your veterinarian and trying it.
