CBD oil is a great remedy for various health problems. It has been proven to help people reduce the risk of diabetes, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, fight cancer, promote brain health, and relieve stress.
Research shows that CBD oil is just as phenomenal in improving pet health. It is made up of numerous chemical compounds, but it is free of psychoactive properties associated with marijuana. In other words, your animal friend won’t get high.
Have you noticed your senior dog struggling to move? Instead of rushing to your local veterinary center, you might want to give them some CBD treats. There are many CBD products your pet will actually like. But first, let’s break it down.
What is CBD oil?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is one of the major chemicals in the Cannabis plant. CBD oil is commonly extracted from hemp, a strain of the Cannabis Sativa plant. In the extraction process, the two major procedures include winterization and distillation. Both hemp and marijuana may share similarities as far as chemical composition, but unlike Marijuana, hemp cannot possibly get you high because of its minuscule THC levels. The World Health Organization reports that there is no possibility of abuse or dependence on pure CBD. A 2018 study found that CBD was effective in treating osteoarthritis in dogs, triggering interest in further exploration of CBD benefits in pets.
CBD for Senior Dogs
The following are some of the ways your senior dog may benefit from a constant dose of CBD products like treats and oils.
1. Improves mobility
It’s heartbreaking to see your once energetic dog dragging herself. The common reason behind that is an inflamed joint. According to the European Journal of Pain, CBD helps attenuate inflammation and chronic pain in animals. CBD achieves this by interacting with the complex cell-signaling system called; the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD exerts its pain-relieving properties by manipulating the endocannabinoid receptors located throughout the body. Holistic veterinarians are in support of elderly dogs being given CBD products to relieve pain and inflammation. Administering CBD to pets after an injury or surgery speeds up the healing process. When she’s free from pain, her movement should become effortless again.
2. Reduces anxiety
With advancing age, your furry friend may not take to new experiences with the heroism she formerly had. As she grows older, she becomes susceptible to anxiety, and this condition takes away from her happiness. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to restore balance in emotions. It triggers calmness and counterbalances the anxiety your dog might have. Thus, your dog is able to handle things like environmental change or phobias.
3. Eliminates nausea
Dogs throw up because of two main reasons: illness or stomach upset. But senior dogs are most susceptible to nausea. This can affect your appetite and cause your dog to appear weak. But CBD can be a great remedy for nausea. A 2011 study showed that CBD speeds up metabolism, and with an increased rate of burning fats, the brain triggers hunger. This causes your dog to close in on the plate and wolf down her food. This helps keep your dog strong and healthy.
4. Fights cancer
Elderly dogs are vulnerable to cancer. Common symptoms of cancer include: swelling under the skin, abnormal discharge from body orifices, stomach swelling, non-healing injuries, instant weight loss, stiffness, abnormal odor, and loss of appetite. According to a study, CBD can halt cancer growth and eliminate the side effects of cancer medication. But it’s important to start fighting the illness in its early stages.
5. Eliminates gastrointestinal issues
Dogs can be very sneaky. They have a habit of wolfing down things they should not. When you step out of the house, your dog might take that opportunity to raid the trash can. It never ends well. You will notice her looking nauseous, throwing up, her stomach swelling up, or panting fiercely. Poor eating habits in a dog might result in gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, bleeding, bloating, and dehydration. CBD can help promote digestive health and might treat gastrointestinal problems.
6. Manages seizures
Seizures are one of the common neurological plights that dogs experience. If a dog experiences seizures repeatedly, she suffers from epilepsy. The leading cause of seizures is idiopathic epilepsy, a genetic disorder, but other causes include toxins, kidney failure, and brain tumors. Various medications might help manage seizures. But most of these drugs come with an arm’s length of nasty side effects. CBD oil can eliminate seizures in a span of between three and five months.
Potential Side Effects of CBD Oil
CBD oil is totally safe for consumption. There are no reported cases of health complications from CBD oil. But depending on a variety of conditions, your senior dog might experience the following side effects after partaking of CBD products.
Sleepiness
When you first administer CBD products to your pet, it would not be abnormal that she grows drowsy. The increased brain activity resulting from chemical interactions creates a huge energy gap that may trigger sleepiness. She’ll be all right pretty soon.
Thirst
In human beings, it’s already proven that consumption of CBD products may get in the way of saliva production for a short period. Holistic experts agree that CBD may induce thirst in animals, too. So, it is not unusual for a dog to want to dip her mouth in a bowl of water after consuming CBD products.
Low blood pressure
It has been observed that CBD, administered in high doses, might cause low blood pressure. As a result, your elderly dog might appear dizzy. But it is no cause for worry because it is a short-lived side effect.
Factors to consider when buying CBD products
According to a study by BDS Analytics, the CBD industry will exceed $20 billion by 2024. Companies are popping up and you have the luxury of options. These are some of the factors to consider when buying CBD products for your pet.
- Made for dogs
You might be into CBD oil yourself. Don’t share your stash with your pet . Just go out and buy products that are specifically for dogs. It’ll save you trouble.
- Organic products
Pure CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant. The more untainted by chemicals, the higher its quality. If you forgo tinctures so as to experiment with other CBD products, ensure that their supplementary ingredients are organic too. This ensures that your dog pulls out maximum health benefits.
- Price should not be a huge factor
It’s okay to look around and see who’s offering organic CBD at the best price. But remember, you get what you pay for. In all verticals, you’ll find business owners that compromise product quality to turn in a profit. One of the dead giveaways is unusually low prices. So, you might want to stick to the reasonably-priced CBD products.
- Analyze products
Make sure you go through the ingredients to see what has been added in the mix. One of the things you certainly don’t want is THC; the compound that induces a high.
CBD products for dogs
CBD oil is commonly administered orally; which necessitates buying CBD tinctures. But CBD products come in a wide range.
CBD treats: let your senior dog enjoy the benefits of CBD under the trick of a yummy treat.
CBD calming chews: you don’t always have to hold open your dog’s mouth to drop CBD oil but you may have them chew.
CBD creams: your animal-friend may enjoy the benefits of CBD through massaging their paws with CBD creams.
CBD is a relatively new instrument of pet health. This means that conclusive research has not been done yet about its full benefits. As it stands, CBD is reputedly effective in treating several dog ailments, and there have not been any negative reports. You may want to introduce your senior dog to CBD products and see how it goes.
