That cannabidiol (CBD) can offer many benefits for humans, is now relatively widely known. But is it also suitable for pets like dogs and cats? Everything important about CBD for pets read in this article!
Can I give my pets CBD oil?
There are many supposed benefits to the effects of CBD. Therefore, it is not surprising that many pet owners wonder how they can administer cannabidiol to their pet. Frequently, CBD is used in pets to alleviate ailments such as anorexia or epilepsy.
CBD for Pets: The Study of AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association)
In a study on CBD for pets, the AHVMA has recently interviewed pet owners who already use hemp products for their pet. It examined which products are used, why they are used and how the owners assess the effect on the animal’s health.
58.8 percent of surveyed pet owners said they are currently administering cannabis to their dog to stem a veterinarian-diagnosed disease, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, seizures and arthritis. For cat owners, only 11.93 percent use hemp products so far, with 81.8 percent of respondents stating that the pet-based CBD, as well as dog owners, is used to treat cancer, anxiety and arthritis, in advance of the veterinarian were diagnosed.
Using CBD Oil For Dog Seizures – What You Should Know
The pet’s CBD report states that the animal owners’ anecdotal statements show that some cannabis products can be used to help treat both the dog and the cat’s pain, arthritis, anxiety, seizures and loss of appetite. It also states that another study by the AVMA summarized that pet owners are increasingly using cannabis to treat behavioral disorders such as noise phobia or separation anxiety. Pet owners are also increasingly using cannabis or CBD for pets to control physical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or to treat nausea and seizures.
Animal experiments with CBD
To explore the potential of CBD for human use, numerous scientists use animals for the studies. For the animals, the experiments have so far shown promising results. The studies have demonstrated the antiepileptic potential of cannabis and suggest that CBD may improve efficacy in preclinical epilepsy models.
Another study on CBD for pets showed that liver function can also be restored by the use of CBD, and also contributes to normalization or improvement of brain function. Also in dealing with hepatic encephalopathy, a syndrome that could be observed in patients with end-stage liver disease, a positive effect was found.
Of course, this is just a small excerpt from the studies that give an idea of the effect of CBD on pets.
There are now even a few clinical trials that are closely examining the use of CBD for pets. The researcher Stephanie McGrath investigates the efficacy of CBD in dogs suffering from epilepsy. As McGrath pointed out, the CBD product in the psychoactive component would
only contain a very low dose of THC. This makes it safe for use in dogs. The investigation should take a total of 12 weeks. At random, each dog is given either CBD for pets or a placebo at random. The dogs are then switched to the opposite medication for another 12 weeks.
The researcher is also conducting another study investigating the efficacy of CBD for pets in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Here each dog receives a placebo or the appropriate CBD oil for 6 weeks. For the following 6 weeks the animals are given the opposite.
Basically, the use for the epilepsy study seems to be high, especially since around 30 percent of dogs using conventional therapies continue to struggle with uncontrolled seizures, suffer from side effects or even need to be euthanized.
“It’s imperative that we find a drug or drug in the near future that is able to fight seizures in both dogs and humans,” McGrath said in an interview. CBD for pets seems to be a first step in the right direction.
Why CBD can be meaningfully used for pets
Basically, the endocannabinoid system – which is present in humans and in many animal species – is responsible for all the processes. There are
cannabinoid receptors in our body and brain that make up the whole endocannabinoid system. They respond to internally produced or endogenous cannabinoids as well as to exogenous or imported cannabinoids.
Our body can synthesize but not rebuild natural endocannabinoid substances. In contrast to THC, CBD for pets does not bind to the cannabinoid receptors, but instead increases the amount of endocannabinoids in the body system.
Because this system exists in both humans and pets, similar effects can be observed in all parties. While animals metabolize CBD and other cannabinoids differently than we humans, CBD studies for pets and humans help to understand the exact process in order to filter out the optimal treatment options.
