Can CBD help a dog in pain?
It is a well-known fact that cannabinoid or CBD is highly beneficial for humans. In fact, research indicates that it can help relieve stress and anxiety, and also help in treatment of arthritis, epilepsy and cancer. However, did you know that CBD oil has been proven to help a dog in pain as well?
In this blog, we will uncover how exactly CBD can be beneficial for your dog. However, first let’s address the most common question that a dog owner might have.
Is CBD harmful for dogs?
NO. Unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which can cause toxicity and even lead to death in dogs when prescribed at human dosages, the worst CBD has been documented to do is to cause diarrhoea and changes in some liver enzyme values after several weeks. However, the one thing every dog owner must keep in mind is to always consult a veterinarian specially in case your dog is taking other drugs or medication.
Does CBD actually work for dog pain?
While research with dogs is scarce and limited, there has been enough research conducted on CBD’s effect on laboratory animals and humans with results indicating that CBD is highly beneficial for relieving arthritis pain, itchiness, and anxiety.
Arthritis: A research conducted at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine study found that dogs which had been given CBD at a rate of 4.4 mg per pound twice daily for a month showed significant improvement in pain relief and quality of life.
Itchiness: A study conducted by the Australian company CannPal found that their CBD product reduced itchiness, inflammation, and skin lesions by 51% after eight weeks of treatment. Moreover, an American study conducted by the company ElleVet found their product, which combines CBD with another cannabinoid, CBDA, significantly reduced the owners’ reports of itchiness.
Anxiety: Although, no controlled study has been conducted in this regard, it has been found that anxiety and noise reactivity is a major reason that dog owners have shifted to CBD.
It has also been noted that CBD is effective in promoting bone healing, fighting infection, treating inflammatory bowel disease, slowing degenerative myelopathy, and relieving pain in certain laboratory animals. However, there has been no study conducted for the same on dogs specifically.
How to find the right CBD product for your dog?
- Learn how to recognise low-quality products and invest in high quality products manufactured by reputable companies
- Make sure to check the purity and dosage of CBD oil by getting the product tested by a third-party lab
- Invest in an organic product that is free from toxins
- Try to buy a CBD product that comes from CO2 extraction even though it might be a little expensive
- Always consult a veterinarian for the accurate dosage and medication of the CBD product