There’s a popular medicinal herb you can give your dog these days, and it’s called cannabis. Dog owners are using it to help their pets with a wide range of ailments, from anxiety to cancer.
Are dogs going to pot? Not exactly. The cannabis dogs are taking his hemp, not marijuana. Dogs Naturally explains the differences between marijuana and hemp, and how CBD can help your pet.
Marijuana Vs Hemp
Marijuana and hemp both come from the plant Cannabis sativa (though marijuana also comes from another member of the Cannabis family, Cannabis indica).
The cannabis plant has over 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. The two main types of cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBDs are therapeutic cannabinoids, whiles THC is the cannabinoid that makes you high.
Marijuana’s THC content is usually between 10-15%, but hemp must have a THC content of 0.3% or less. At this level, cannabis has no intoxicating effect for people or dogs. Hemp is higher in CBD, the substance that provides therapeutic effects.
How CBD Works
Humans and other mammals have specific cannabinoid receptor sites. These sites are primarily in the brain and central nervous system, and in the peripheral organs, especially immune cells. They make up what’s called the endocannabinoid system.
Studies show that many cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects, and can help with pain, tumors, seizures, muscle spasms, skin conditions, appetite stimulation, aggression, anxiety and neurological disorders.
How CBD Hemp Can Help Your Dog
CBD hemp can help with both chronic and acute disease. Among chronic conditions, it can help with:
- compromised immune systems
- stress responses
- digestive issues
There are also studies underway into CBD’s effects on Type 1 diabetes, organ diseases and cancer.
Veterinarians are also finding CBD hemp can be useful in treating acute ailments like:
- strains and sprains
- torn ligaments
- bone breaks
CBD can even help during post operative care to reduce swelling, pain and stiffness.
If your dog is taking conventional drugs for any of these conditions, CBD hemp pay make it possible to lower doses of the drugs to achieve therapeutic effects. Since conventional medicines do have side effects, this is a useful benefit of CBD.
How Quickly Does It Work?
As with any herbal medicine, for most ailments you may not see an immediate effect. You’ll need to be patient. Your dog may feel some pain relief in a few hours, but other symptoms like inflammation may take a few days to show improvement. CBD is most beneficial when given on a consistent basis.
Because of the low THC, CBD hemp won’t make your dog high. The most common side effect of CBD is that your dog may get a little drowsy – about the same as if you gave him a Benadryl.
On rare occasions, side effects have included excessive itchiness or mild vomiting, but these sensitivities are few and far between. If your dog reacts with these symptoms, you should stop giving him cannabis.
Australian holistic veterinarian Dr. Edward Bassingthwaighte says he’s been amazed at the success he’s had treating dogs with cannabis. Here are a couple of cases he’s referred to:
- One is a senior Staffy who had a fast-growing tumor about 6cm in diameter in her mammary gland. Chest x-rays showed there might be mestatasis. Dr. Bassingthwaighte treated her with CBD oil and some other herbal medicines. The tumor shrank away to nothing over three months, and she’s still going strong six months later with no recurrence. She’d had multiple tumors surgically removed over the years, but it was the CBD oil that really helped her.
- The other case is a little old Jack Russell with a severe heart murmur and painful arthritis. He received a whole plant extract containing CBD and in this cause also some THC, diluted in 10ml of cold pressed hemp seed oil. After a month of this medicine, he was much happier and more active, wanting to go for long walks, and his heart murmur was much less severe. Dr. Bassingthwaighte says, “I simply can’t explain the improved heart murmur. They normally don’t get better.”
Dr. Bassingthwaighte suggests working with your holistic vet if you think cannabis would help your dog. It’s a power medicine, so at least let the vet know how you’re using it.
Where Can You Get CBD?
The Barkery sells the best quality CBD products in multiple forms for both humans and dogs. CBD comes in the form of tinctures, capsules, or treats. If you’re looking to start taking advantage of the many therapeutic benefits of CBD, talk with a Barkery nutritionist today about what is best for your best friend.
For more on CBD benefits, visit 10 Things You Didn’t Know About CBD for Dogs.