Many of you are already effectively using CBD as a natural method to manage stress, occasional discomfort, mood, sleep, and more. However, you may not have considered how it could benefit your dog. As our close companions, dogs also face many similar challenges. They express emotional stress through excessive barking, destructive or compulsive repetitive actions, pacing, or panting. Additionally, many older dogs experience sore hips, knees, or backs, much like humans do.
It turns out that all mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This works like a lock and key. The ECS is the lock and cannabinoids are the keys. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the most prevalent cannabinoid in the hemp plant, and is now the focus of studies on how it can help practically everything. Let's look at the two most common issues- occasional soreness and emotional stress.
How might CBD help my dog with occasional soreness?
The immune response can cause discomfort, such as muscle soreness after exercise, which affects both humans and dogs. This soreness is often treated with NSAIDs or steroids, but these can have many side effects. CBD may provide a natural and effective alternative for relieving occasional joint stiffness from daily activity.
Cytokines, a type of T-cell, help regulate the immune response. When they become imbalanced, they can become overly active, resulting in a "cytokine storm" that leads to excessive inflammation and problems in the lymphatic system. Studies suggest that CBD may help maintain a normal inflammatory response by regulating cytokine activity.
We all want our dogs feeling their very best, able to run and play for a very long time. A Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine study found that CBD given twice daily for a month showed significant improvement in quality of life in dogs dealing with occasional soreness from joint stiffness. CBD may improve your pet's comfort in everyday activities, and may give her more years of happy life.
How else might CBD help?
CBD has been shown to promote calm, and is especially effective at easing stress around thunder and lightning storms, travel, and vet visits. A study from the University of Western Australia tested shelter dogs with aggressive tendencies. These dogs exhibited less aggression toward humans when tested after 15 days of CBD administration.
Two recent double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on dogs suggest that CBD significantly alleviates itchiness. An Australian study revealed that after eight weeks of treatment, CBD decreased itchiness and skin lesions by 51 percent. Administered daily, CBD might soothe itchy skin, leading to more comfortable and happier dogs.
Additional research is ongoing, but anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD may benefit your dog in several ways:
Easing stress
Alleviating stiffness or soreness
Improving appetite
Enhancing mobility
Supporting gut and skin health
CBD is considered a safe alternative to many pharmaceutical drugs with adverse side effects. We recommend consulting a healthcare professional about using CBD for your dog, and we hope you can experience its benefits firsthand!
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