Did you know that, just like humans, cats and dogs also have an endocannabinoid system? Many of the ailments like anxiety, arthritis, pain and convulsions manifest in pets the same way they do in humans, and the healing effects of CBD can work magic in the same way, as well.
But just what is the endocannabinoid system, you ask?
When you cut yourself and your wound eventually scabs over, this is part of your endocannabinoid system sending immune cells to fight pathogens and create blood clots, so you don’t bleed out. The job of your endocannabinoid system is to make sure that everything is running smoothly in your body.
CBD interacts with this system by stimulating receptors and opening pathways in the brain to allow easier flow and access. Chemicals that are elevated in the system are called endocannabinoids, and they work by binding to cannabinoid receptors located all over your brain and body.
Not only does CBD assist the endocannabinoid system in humans, it has many useful benefits for pets, including:
- Painkiller
- Anticonvulsant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Promotes homeostasis
- Stress reliever
- Antiemetic
- Anticancer effects
Treatment for osteoarthritis can be added to this list, as well. In a case study by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, researchers set out to determine the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) based oil in dogs with osteoarthritis. They used two different doses of CBD enriched (2 and 8 mg/kg) oil. A randomized placebo-controlled, veterinarian, and owner blinded, cross-over study was conducted with dogs receiving each of two treatments: CBD oil (2 mg/kg) or placebo oil every 12 hours. Each treatment lasted for 4 weeks with a 2-week washout period. Hematology, serum chemistry and physical examinations were performed at each visit.
The researchers found excellent benefits and no observable side effects! As put in their terms:
“Clinically, canine brief pain inventory and Hudson activity scores showed a significant decrease in pain and increase in activity (p < 0.01) with CBD oil. Veterinary assessment showed decreased pain during CBD treatment (p < 0.02). No side effects were reported by owners, however, serum chemistry showed an increase in alkaline phosphatase during CBD treatment (p < 0.01). Clinical significance: This pharmacokinetic and clinical study suggests that 2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with osteoarthritis.”
This is excellent news for older pets suffering with joint pain. Until now, most pet parents have had to rely on anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to provide their furry loved ones with joint pain relief. However, there are unfortunate side effects that come along with them. Additionally, many veterinarians suspect that NSAIDs do not provide adequate relief for arthritis pain in animals. And some pets, particularly older ones with gastrointestinal or kidney disease, can’t take them at all.
This new research, and others that have studied the effects and uses of CBD oil in pets have shown no apparent side effects – and not just in young, healthy animals. Senior pets, pets with neurological problems, and now pets with joint pain are seeing the benefits CBD oil has to offer without suffering damage to organs and tissues.
Does your furry friend struggle with joint pain, anxiety or inflammation? Come see us at Think Botanicals so we can recommend a top-quality, all-natural CBD treatment to help them find relief.