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Is CBD safe for pets?
Knowing the purported benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for humans, it makes sense that many pet owners ask about CBD for pets.
Is CBD safe for pets?
Will it hurt them or harm them in any way? Will they experience therapeutic benefits like humans , or will they do nothing?
Pet owners look to CBD to manage discomforts, including epilepsy, anxiety and appetite problems.
With so many questions surrounding the potential uses and benefits of CBD, it’s a natural line of thinking.
In this article, we’ll answer all your hot questions about CBD for pets.
Read on to find out whether or not you can use CBD to help your furry friend.
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) study
A study by AHVMA examines which cannabis products pet owners use for their pets, why they use them, and how owners perceive these products to be valued for their pets’ health.
It is a useful study to examine the potential use of CBD for pets.
Of the pet owners surveyed, 58.8% said they currently use a cannabis product for their dog.
These cases were mainly for a disease or condition diagnosed by a veterinarian.
Mostly, this was for seizures, cancer, anxiety and arthritis.
For those with cats, 11.93% of cat owners surveyed use cannabis products.
In addition, 81.8% said they use the product for a condition diagnosed by a veterinarian. Often, the condition was cancer, stress or arthritis.
Anecdotal reports from pet owners suggest that some find cannabis products useful for pain, arthritis, seizures, anxiety and anorexia in dogs and cats,” the report says.
In addition, it states:
“Another study summarized by AVMA reported that pet owners use cannabis to treat behavior-based disorders such as separation anxiety and noise phobia, in addition to problems affecting the body and mind such as irritable bowel syndrome and pain management and seizures. ”
Animal studies using CBD
To investigate the potential of CBD for use in humans, many researchers use animals for their research.
Although these results are intended to be extended to humans, they show really promising results for animals as well.
Studies show that animal models demonstrate the antiepileptic potential of cannabis.
This suggests that CBD may enhance efficacy in preclinical models of epilepsy.
If you have a pet that struggles with epilepsy, cannabis could be the solution you are looking for.
Another study shows that CBD restores liver function.
These same studies also show that it normalizes 5-HT levels and improves brain pathology consistent with normalization of brain function.
This concerns the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. This is a syndrome seen in patients with end-stage liver disease.
Yet another study shows that the antiemetic effect of cannabinoids has been demonstrated in a wide variety of animals capable of vomiting in response to a toxic challenge.
This shows that cannabis is not toxic to animals.
These are just a small sampling of studies investigating animals and their response to CBD.
There are even clinical trials specifically investigating the use of CBD for pets and their unique issues.
CBD for pets could be a major change agent in the world of veterinary medicine.
If people could develop a drug that not only helps them, but also helps their animals, the whole medical world would change.
People may be able to take better care of their pets and do so more economically.
If there is a miracle substance like CBD that can actually help pets where no other medicine can, their owners will be able to take even better care of them.
CBD and epilepsy in dogs
Researcher Dr. Stephanie McGrath evaluates the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of canine epilepsy.
“The CBD product is very low in the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, making it safe for use in dogs.
Each dog will be randomly assigned to receive either CBD or a placebo for 12 weeks and then switched to the opposite medication for an additional 12 weeks,” he says.
McGrath is also conducting a study to evaluate the efficacy of CBD in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the term for when the cartilage in the joints begins to break down.
The bone under the cartilage starts to deteriorate as well. Understandably, this causes a lot of pain and stiffness in the joints.
As part of this study, each dog will receive a placebo or CBD oil for 6 weeks. Then they will take the opposite for the following 6 weeks.
The odds are high for the study of epilepsy.
This is particularly so because around 30% of dogs undergoing conventional anti-seizure treatments continue to have uncontrolled seizures or debilitating side effects.
In fact, unfortunately, some have to be euthanized.
“It’s imperative, really, that we find a drug or drugs that are able to control seizures in dogs – and humans, for that matter,” McGrath told Cannabist.
It seems her motivation is to find a cure for dogs that will help them stay out of seizure activity.
Giving your pet a chance at a longer or healthier life is the goal of every loving pet owner.
Why CBD can “work” for pets
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the endocannabinoid system. Scientists have found that it is present in humans and many other animals.
We have cannabinoid receptors in our brain and body, which make up the endocannabinoid system. They react to endogenous or internally generated cannabinoids and exogenous or imported cannabinoids. Natural endocannabinoids are synthesized by our body. However, they can fall short of what we really need. Providing them with additional cannabinoids through the consumption of cannabis can be very helpful.
CBD, unlike THC, does not bind to cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it increases the amount of endocannabinoids in the body’s system. In addition, it does not cause psychoactive effects in the way THC does.
Because this system exists in both humans and our pets, we see similar results in all places.
While animals metabolize CBD and other cannabinoids differently than humans, studies on pets and CBD help people understand the exact process for the most beneficial treatment.
CBD for pets will not only serve to help pets, but it could teach people what’s best for them, too.
The findings found by CBD for pets could also apply to the human medical world.
Case studies using CBD for pets
There are many case studies and a lot of adverse evidence suggesting that CBD might not only be okay to give to pets, but actually good for them.
An Australian holistic veterinarian, Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte, shares a few cases.
The first case tells of a dog with a rapidly growing tumour in its mammary gland.
The tumour was treated with CBD oil and the tumour had shrunk in three months.
Even better news, there was no reappearance three months later.
In another case, a Jack Russell with heart murmur and painful arthritis received CBD.
The dog became much more active and happy after a month of treatment.
Can CBD really affect the dog in such a significant way? The results seem to indicate so!
David Bourgoin’s 11-year-old dog suffered a shoulder injury, which subsequently developed a cyst.
“Knowing what I know about CBD, I decided that’s what I had to do for him,” Bourgoin said in an interview with NBC 7. “I have to give him the best I can.”
According to Bourgoin, after CBD treatment, his dog became noticeably more active. Now, he says, the dog can spend more time playing like a puppy.
What about the cats?
Kiki Kane wrote an article about her elderly cat Zaphod, who said she “lost his purr, his vision and his ability to jump, climb, play and most recently his willingness to be held.” BAD NEWS.
He described the cat as angry and lethargic, sleeping during the day and walking in circles at night, and “occasionally meowing in the dark”.
However, then Kane decided to try CBD oil for pets on the cat. Kane began giving Zaphod CBD oil, noting:
“I tried half a dose twice a day, which seemed to be enough to relax his facial expression and make him feel comfortable …
The CBD oil doesn’t stop his nighttime restlessness, but it relaxes him enough for me to carry him around and sit on my chest.
I know we’ll be saying goodbye very soon and no miracle drug will change that, but I’m so glad I can offer a little more comfort as the light continues to fade. ”
If CBD can transform situations in such a significant way for pets and their owners, it’s definitely worth a try!
It will do no harm, and many owners claim that it helps their pet in a remarkable way.
Will my pet be “fixed”?
Some pet owners may be apprehensive about using cannabis products for their pets.
This is largely due to fears that their pet will have psychoactive effects.
In PetMd, Dr. Gary Richter, owner and medical director of Montclair Hospital in Oakland, California, says CBD oil has no psychoactive effects on dogs when properly dosed.
“Depending on the nature of the product, if it contains little or no THC, then the dog is not going to get ‘high’,” he says.
This is great news. Every responsible pet owner wants to avoid harming or hurting their pet in any way.
Accidentally getting your dog high would not be good and in fact could make your pet very sick.
The toxicity of THC is a concern.
However, this is only an issue with products that contain too much THC.
CBD oils often contain little or no THC.
Be sure to study the ingredients carefully. Proper dosing of your pet is essential.
It is best to try it under the guidance or supervision of your trusted family vet.
Disclaimer: We have collected this information from various sources for the convenience of our customers. The declarations on these products were not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The effectiveness of these products is not confirmed by the approved research by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information presented here is not a substitute for information from health professionals. It is also not an alternative to information from healthcare professionals. Before using any product, you should consult your doctor and ask about the risk of interactions or complications.
