Being a pet owner englobes multiple responsibilities we have to take care of, regardless of the type of pet we are keeping. When it comes to dogs, however, there are some specifics we have to cover.
First of all, we have to ensure that they live in a comfortable environment. Secondly, we have to make sure that they are consuming proper meals. We also need to provide them with an adequate level of attention and socialization, and lastly, we have to take care of their health in many different ways.
Health-related responsibilities can entail things like taking care of their weight, their exercise needs, their maintenance (Like grooming and baths), and of course, their health problems. That being said, health problems can be complicated to manage, especially when most of them are treated with traditional drugs that can, in the long term, bring a lot of side effects to the table.
This is a bigger problem than what people often believe since when dogs reach a certain age, they become much more prompt of suffering from a wide ride of physical conditions, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and even joint complications. These are usually treated with anti-inflammatories and pain killers, but as mentioned earlier, they become more harmful the more you use them.
Thankfully, there’s an alternative method of treatment for these conditions that have been gaining a lot of popularity in the pet-owning community: cbd oil for dogs, a solution for many physical and mental complications.
What is CBD, Though?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a type of cannabinoid that can be found in the cannabis plant’s chemical structure. Along with THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, they are the main compounds found in the plant. However, all CBD-related products are actually derived from another plant: The hemp plant, and there’s a reason for that.
You see, THC is known for being the psychotropic compound inside of the cannabis plant, meaning that this compound is the one that gets people high whenever they consume cannabis and its many derivations.
On the other hand, CBD is non-psychotropic, and the hemp plant, a familiar of the cannabis plant, contains higher levels of CBD, and really low levels of THC, only reaching up to 0.3% of its chemical structure.
Thus, all products using cannabidiol as its main compound are created using the hemp plant, and they are all unable to get you high, no matter what, while bringing all the benefits of medicinal cannabis.
This is really important solely because THC is actually toxic for dogs!
The Endocannabinoid System
The reason why CBD is capable of bringing health benefits, which we will discuss later in this article, is because of the way it influences the endocannabinoid system. Also known as the ECS, the endocannabinoid system is a complex compound of neurotransmitters that are in charge, directly or indirectly, of many physiological functions of the body, as shown at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system.
Both THC and CBD are pretty much capable of influencing it in a way that brings benefits, but THC is a little bit more aggressive than CBD, which is the reason why it gets you high. But dogs, and many other animals, have stronger and much more sensitive neurotransmitters that can be overwhelmed by THC, making it an actually toxic compound for them!
For that reason, cannabis and its many derivations should never be used in dogs and other animals, mainly because it can heavily intoxicate them and cause them a lot of distress and symptoms that might take a while to be fully cured.
Thankfully, CBD is capable of bringing the same benefits as cannabis without these problems. But what are these benefits, and why is it so popular??
Understanding Its Popularity
The first thing we have to say is that one of the main reasons why CBD oil is so popular is its accessibility. Getting your hands on cannabidiol-based oil is fairly easy as long as it is legal in your area, so we recommend you check it out beforehand. That being said, cannabidiol-based products have been legalized in most states inside of the United States, so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it.
Now, another reason why cannabidiol products are so popular is because of their safety. Contrary to more traditional methods of treatment, such as drugs, cannabidiol is pretty much harmless in the long-term run, especially because it doesn’t cause liver damage as long as you are consuming it alone.
Sure, cannabidiol can still cause side effects, but they are pretty much harmless in comparison to anti-inflammatories or pain killers. These side-effects might include things like diarrhea or vomiting, yet they can be easily managed by reducing the dosage!
The Actual Benefits of CBD Oil
Now, there are many benefits to using CBD-based oil, but it is mainly used to handle pain-inducing conditions and inflammatory diseases since it is capable of alleviating pain and greatly reducing inflammation, perfect for senior dogs dealing with joint pain or similar inflammatory conditions. This does not only relieve some of their pain, but it also allows them to recover some of their mobility as well!
Another reason why pet owners use cannabidiol is to help their dogs handle anxiety-related problems. A fairly present affliction that is present in adopted dogs is known as separation anxiety, which causes a lot of distress when they are left alone, and this stress and anxiety can be reduced thanks to the relaxing capabilities of cannabidiol.
It can also be used for situations that are considered stressful, such as appointments for professional groomers, trips, moves, and visits from other people. Some people use it when their pets are meeting new members of the family as well, to calm them down and reduce the chances of the pet acting aggressively.
This post was last modified on September 26, 2022 6:34 pm