CBD, or cannabidiol, has recently been in the news as an effective way to help people manage anxiety and pain without the negative side effects of prescription drugs.
Many people wonder if their dogs can benefit from this natural treatment as well!
In this article, we discuss how CBD can be helpful for senior dogs who are struggling with painful conditions like arthritis or aches and pains caused by injury or illness.
We’ll also tell you how you can choose the best CBD supplement for your dog’s individual needs.
And list 5 signs that your senior dog may benefit from CBD supplementation!
1) Chronic pain
Despite some confusion among pet owners. Studies show that CBD can effectively treat pain in pets.
This is because our endocannabinoid system (ECS) is connected to both serotonin receptors and dopamine receptors in our brains.
So what’s good for us is often good for our dogs. If your pooch has chronic pain or anxiety. It’s worth consulting with your vet before trying out any new supplements—especially since they may have drug interactions.
In fact, one study found that using CBD oil with other drugs could potentially lead to an overdose.
However, it’s possible that using an isolated form of CBD could mitigate these risks.
Still, we recommend talking to your vet before giving your dog any type of supplement. They know their patients best!
2) Reduced appetite
Some dogs lose their appetite after suffering an injury or illness. While others lose interest in food as they get older.
If your dog doesn’t seem interested in eating much. You should have her checked by a vet to make sure there isn’t something physically wrong with her.
But if you determine that she is healthy and just losing interest in food, CBD may be able to help.
A study published in Current Pharmaceutical Design found that CBD can reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting—which are common side effects of cancer treatment—in animals.
The same study found that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially slow down neurodegeneration (the process by which neurons die) and even boost appetite.
In fact, research suggests that CBD may one day become a popular remedy for those dealing with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
And in 2016, researchers discovered that administering cannabidiol to rats resulted in increased levels of oxytocin—an important hormone associated with feelings of love and bonding.
The result? Less anxiety, more empathy toward other dogs!
Not only does it appear that CBD can increase trust among pets, but it also helps humans feel closer to them. Plus, it smells nice. What’s not to like?
3) Coughing, wheezing, phlegm production
Does your senior dog suffer from bouts of coughing, wheezing, or excessive phlegm production?
If so, they could be suffering from inflammation in their lungs. However, your furry friend won’t benefit unless you start them on an anti-inflammatory diet and perhaps a CBD supplement.
While it can take up to two months for some dogs to experience improvement. It could make all of that coughing more tolerable. And, who knows…maybe other symptoms will subside too!
Here are five signs your senior dog may benefit from a CBD supplement I’ve Got My Eyes On You: It is well known that a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than ours.
However, what many people don’t realize is that their eyesight isn’t as sharp as ours either.
Unfortunately, our four-legged friends have difficulty seeing objects far away which means it might not be long before vision loss affects them.
Fortunately, studies show that CBD oil may help slow down macular degeneration.
Not only does CBD oil appear to reduce oxidative stress (the cause of macular degeneration). But it also helps protect against further damage caused by UV light exposure.
What’s more, taking a daily dose of CBD has been shown to improve night vision and eye health over time.
So if your senior dog is having trouble seeing things like food bowls or obstacles around them. Consider starting them on a daily dose of CBD today!
The Benefits of Aromatherapy: Did you know that aromatherapy can promote relaxation?
That’s right—just like humans, dogs respond positively to scents such as lavender and peppermint.
4) Anxious or depressed
Cannabidiol could help with depression and anxiety by regulating neurotransmitters in your dog’s brain.
A study found that anti-anxiety effects are induced through endocannabinoid receptors in your pet’s brain. Some other studies have suggested that regular doses of cannabinoids can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
If you suspect your dog is anxious or depressed, talk to your vet about whether it would be a good idea to try CBD.
Some conditions like separation anxiety can be helped tremendously by cannabidiol. It may also be useful for dogs suffering from PTSD after being rescued from abusive situations.
And while we don’t know exactly how much CBD is needed to see these benefits. Some research has shown that using products containing high levels of CBD can result in relief within as little as 20 minutes!
Talk to your vet if you think your senior dog might benefit from CBD.
Also, there are plenty of human CBD supplements on the market right now that you can try first to see if they work.
We recommend starting small (no more than 5 mg per day) and slowly increasing until you find what works best for your pup. Just remember not all CBD is created equal so look for one made with full-spectrum hemp extract with no THC.
Most companies producing quality products will be able to provide testing results indicating their product contains 0% THC—which means no psychoactive effect!
5) Seizures
There’s some evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) can help with seizure disorders in older dogs.
From 2012 to 2017, researchers reported studying 137 epileptic beagles.
The dogs were split into two groups: One group was given cannabidiol as an oral supplement while another was given a placebo.
After four weeks, they found that only 3 percent of dogs given CBD had seizures, compared to 15 percent of those in the placebo group.
More research is needed on humans and animals alike before any conclusions can be made about CBD’s effects on epilepsy.
But it certainly seems like it could benefit your senior dog—and you don’t have to worry about negative side effects!
A 2013 study published in Epilepsy & Behavior reports that no adverse events related to cannabis treatment [were] observed during clinical trials.
Dogs who took cannabidiol seemed less likely to experience other side effects commonly associated with traditional anti-seizure medications such as vomiting, depression, or lethargy.
