Owning a dog is a task filled with enjoyment and responsibilities. They can be the perfect companions to fight depression and loneliness, and also, the perfect excuse to add some physical activities to your daily life.
But it is up to you to ensure their general well-being. Ideally speaking, as a dog owner, you should make sure that they are both happy and healthy, and this involves things like taking care of their diet as well as their exercising and social needs.
Things do get more complicated when they reach a certain age, though. When dogs turn 7 to 10 years old, it is very likely for them to suffer from a wide range of physical and mental conditions that can greatly affect many of their physiological capabilities. For example, large breeds of dogs are prompt to suffering from joint pain and inflammation, and this can greatly reduce their mobility, affecting their mental health along the way.
Of course, as an owner, it is your responsibility to help them cope with the pain and inflammation, but at times it is very hard to do so considering that pain killers and inflammation, the traditional way of handling such conditions, can cause an incredible amount of side effects, from liver damage to even depression.
That is why a lot of pet owners are using CBD oil instead. Still, a lot of people might be reluctant of trying it out, especially considering that it is related to the cannabis plant. However, in this article, we will talk about CBD oil in more detail to showcase the reason why, as a pet owner, you might want to give it a chance.
With that out of the way, let’s jump into the first matter of this subject: What is CBD, and in which way is it different from traditional medicinal cannabis?
Cannabidiol and its Relation with Medicinal Cannabis
Believe it or not, medicinal cannabis by our society for a very long time. If you check out this article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_medical_cannabis, you’ll notice that its usage dates back to ancient China, and it’s even present in ancient Netherlands, Egypt, India, and Greece.
Sadly, the plant is infamous in modern society due to the way it has been portrayed as an illegal drug. Still, medicinal cannabis has now been legalized in many countries all around the world, and it is now present in society as an incredible non-traditional method of treatment.
Now, how does CBD correlate to medicinal cannabis? Well, the plant contains two main compounds, Cannabidiol (Also known as CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (Also known as THC), with THC being the one compound providing the plant with its psychotropic capabilities.
However, CBD is non-psychotropic, and the products made out of this compound are created using a derivation of the cannabis plant that is known as the hemp plant, which contains incredibly low levels of THC, only reaching up to 0.3% of its chemical structure.
This means that all Cannadibiol-based products cannot get you high, since they contain minuscule levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol. But why does this matter? Well, THC can actually intoxicate animals to a great extent, and cause them a wide range of side effects!
For that reason, all cannabidiol-based products, and CBD for dogs are fairly reliable and harmless, yet… What can it do?
The Benefits of Cannabidiol for Dogs
The main reason why CBD is as popular as it is is because of its accessibility and safety. It can be purchased at a reasonable price and you don’t need a medical prescription for it, thus, making it a much more viable option. The fact that it is a lot safer than most traditional drugs is also another important reason.
More often than not, people and pet owners use Cannabidiol to relieve pain and reduce inflammation caused by either injuries or inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. It does so by targeting a compound of neurotransmitters that can influence inflammatory reactions and many other physiological functions.
When inflammation is reduced and the pain is alleviated, the dog can recover some of its mobility, which makes some tasks and activities that were previously impossible much more doable.
Among the functions that can be influenced by Cannabidiol, stress levels are also one of them. When we are stressed, our body releases a hormone known as Cortisol, the stress hormone. Cannabidiol can reduce cortisol levels, thus, reduce stress.
It can also calm down anxiety levels, improve quality of sleep, and become an incredible tool to help dogs cope with these symptoms. It is particularly useful when a dog is mourning, experiencing a move, a trip, or dealing with separation anxiety!
Why CBD Oil?
Among all the cannabidiol-based products you can find in the market, CBD oil is the most popular, and there’s a reason for that. First of all, it is much easier to find, since it is a lot more available than other products. Secondly, is more affordable than edibles and smokeable products. And lastly, it is very easy to manage.
You see, although Cannabidiol is definitely safe, it can still cause some side effects, including vomiting or diarrhea. That being said, they are the result of overdosing, thus, finding the right dosage is essential for an enjoyable experience.
That is why it is always recommended to start with small dosages, and CBD oil makes this easier thanks to droppers. With a dropper, you will have a lot more control over the dose, and finding more precise doses will be far more doable! You will have to experiment in the beginning, though. Just consider that the age, size, weight, and diet of your dog can influence the result, and decide on a dose according to your provider’s recommendations.
