Veterinary medicine has been advancing significantly, it is thanks to this that our pets have greater hope of having a cure or better treatments for different diseases, since they have been in charge of obtaining and developing medications capable of helping sick animals have no not only more years of life, but also a greater quality of it.
CBD has been gaining strength in various treatments for humans, so there may be doubt as to whether or not it is useful for diseases in animals. The wonderful thing about this product is that every living being that has a spinal column also has an endocannabinoid system, which means that CBD can work in them.
In this article we will tell you how CBD works to attack your pet's conditions, which animals can use it, the established dosages, the effects, the legality of this medicine and other points of interest.
Benefits of CBD for companion pets
Many veterinary doctors recommend the use of CBD for the treatment of their patients, obtaining favorable results thanks to the benefits that this medicine brings them. Even those doctors who have not used CBD recognize that It has many advantages that must be taken advantage of.
Reduces pain
The vallioid receptors are located in the brain, and are responsible for regulating pain sensations. When CBD is administered to the pet, it acts on this receptor, blocking its function and therefore reduces pain sensations.
Stimulates the appetite
Many diseases cause pets to lose their appetite, causing it to worsen and their physical appearance to deteriorate much more. CBD helps these animals regain your appetite, so little by little they will have more strength and energy, making the disease that affects them easier to treat.
Anti-convulsant
There are dog breeds that are usually prone to suffering from epilepsy and other similar diseases. Thanks to the fact that CBD has shown effectiveness in epileptic seizures in humans, it was decided to test it in dogs and cats, and the seizures decreased considerably.
Anxiolytic and Antidepressant
Dogs, especially, are prone to suffer from anxiety and depression, studies and doctors have shown that CBD is of great help for animals that suffer from these disorders, since it binds to receptors that regulate serotonin, achieving stabilization of the enzymes that cause this disease.
Prevents the proliferation of cancer cells
Just as in humans, CBD has shown to be able to considerably reduce the ability of cancer cells to reproduce, making it possible for the patient to go into remission and there is even evidence of dogs with cancer that have been completely cured with CBD, However, there are not many cases and studies that support the action of CBD as a cure in animals.
Others CBD benefits In pets they are, antibacterial, Relieves chronic pain, Relieves joint pain, Stimulates bone growth, Reduces inflammation, Improves the health of the skin and hair, among many others.
How CBD works on pets
Although most studies with CBD begin by testing animals, not all react in the same way, rats are the most used in these experiments, and pets such as cats or dogs do not react the same. what are you.
CBD in dogs
To determine the effects that CBD has on dogs, several studies have been carried out over the years, in order to improve the health of your furry friend without causing collateral damage.
Various studies have demonstrated the complete effectiveness that this cannabis compound has on a dog's body, taking into account that they are the species of animal that has the most endocannabinoid receptors. CBD not only helps treat your pet, but if it is a pet in perfect health, CBD will take care of Strengthen your energy, your joints, improve your physical appearance and help prevent diseases.
This Cannabis compound will also provide your dogs with vitamins A, B12, C and E, which, in combination with a good diet, will have more years of quality life.
CBD in cats
Being vertebrates, cats also have an endocannabinoid system, so CBD acts perfectly in these animals, having good results associated with its use. Cats are prone to developing bone and joint diseases, anxiety, asthma and aggression, in all of these cases CBD has shown positive, even in older cats.
In the same way as in humans, the endocannabinoid system of cats, together with the intake of CBD, helps regulate sleep, improves the immune system; Additionally, if your cat has an infected wound, you can apply CBD as a topical and it will help not only disinfect it but also heal it.
In what diseases can CBD be used?
Animals have a very different life cycle from that of humans, which is why they tend to develop age-related diseases very early, including bone diseases and neurological diseases.
Other diseases that your pet can develop are idiopathic tremor syndrome, various types of cancer, kidney diseases, inflammation of the intestines and more.
All of these and some others can be treated with CBD, since it is a compound that provides hundreds of benefits for animals.
Side effects of CBD in dogs and cats
CBD is a medicine that has been shown not to have many side effects in humans, and the same is true in dogs and cats. The only problems that have been associated with use of CBD in pets, is that they tend to be excessively thirsty, drowsy and have an increased appetite, this being bad for overweight animals, so it is normal that you see your pet more lethargic than usual.
In these cases, what is recommended is to reduce the dose applied, since, in the vast majority of the time, the reason these effects appear is that the animal is receiving a higher dose than its body can withstand.
Can my pet overdose?
If you still do not know how to control the dose of CBD that you give to your pet and by mistake you exceeded it, what can happen is that your pet forgets processes such as walking or eating, due to the strong drowsiness produced by the overdose of this compound.
If this is the first time you apply CBD to your pet, we recommend that you pay attention to its behavior, since, although cases of drowsiness have been recorded, they are never as serious as when there is an overdose. Ideally, you should temporarily suspend its use and consult with your veterinarian so that you can administer the correct amount of CBD.
What happens if I give my pet CBD with THC concentrations?
Despite having similar processes in the endocannabinoid system, pets are not like humans, who enjoy the psychoactive effect of THC, taking it not only for medical purposes but also for recreational purposes.
Dogs and cats feel these effects much more strongly than humans, and it can have serious consequences such as liver damage and even death.
If you have a CBD product with a high THC content, it is recommended that you take special care and avoid giving this product to your pet as much as possible. On the other hand, if you are a cannabis smoker, you should avoid blowing smoke directly at your pet, as this will also harm it.
How to determine if your pet needs CBD
It is difficult to understand animals, so many times you do not know when they are sick, when something hurts or even when they are hungry, therefore, there may be a question about when you can give CBD to your pet, or how to know. if you really need it.
Because CBD not only serves to treat diseases, but also as a preventive method, it never hurts to give CBD to your pet, as long as you have the prior consent of a veterinarian.
CBD can help reduce your furry friend's fear of storms, fireworks and any external noise that, due to high decibels, could disturb their peace.
How to administer CBD to your pet?
CBD Oil is one of the easiest products to apply to your pet, since you can use it orally or directly in their food and even in water, since many pets tend to be restless and this makes oral application more difficult. of the compound.
When you are going to apply it orally, it can be on the edge of the cheek, you will ingest it immediately and after 30 minutes it will begin to take effect.
If your pet has a wound, rash, sore or some other skin disease, you can use a cream or balm rich in CBD. This will not only relieve the pain, but also disinfects the area while helping it heal, if it only has CBD. in oil, you can also apply it topically and achieve a similar effect.
Recommendations when administering CBD to your pet
Never administer medications of any kind to your pet without first consulting a veterinarian., CBD is no exception, find a veterinarian with knowledge in the use of this compound, so that they can give you correct advice and an appropriate plan for your pet.
It must be taken into account that CBD inhibits the absorption of other medications, so if your pet is receiving treatment for any disease, investigate and consult about whether or not they can be used together.
If your pet has treatment for liver diseases, it is advisable to use CBD with a minimum of 6 hours after having taken your usual medicine, since CBD acts directly on enzymes produced in the liver and can change its functioning if another medicine is available.
CBD dosage
Each animal reacts differently not only to CBD, but to all medications, which is why each one should have a personalized dosage table, however, there are results in many animals, which have helped create a standardized table so that you can have a base and administer CBD correctly to your pet.
The dose you apply to your pet is directly related to its weight, as well as its metabolism.
It is recommended to use CBD oil in 5% drops and increase gradually to achieve the necessary effects
Less than 10 Kg: One drop a day.
Between 10 and 20 Kg: Two drops a day.
More than 20 Kg: Three drops a day.
Is the use of CBD in pets legal?
The issue of the legality of CBD both in humans and in pets is a delicate issue, which is associated with the different laws that exist in each country; however, as time passes, the stigmas that exist about it are being eliminated. the use of this compound, since, due to its origin, its psychotropic brother THC is associated with it.
The WHO has determined that CBD is beneficial to health, which has significantly helped reduce prohibition laws on its use, however, the FDA prohibits the use of CBD in pets within the borders of the United States. , where veterinarians, despite having shown great interest in the subject, cannot prescribe CBD to their patients without risking having their license revoked. What they can do is inform their patient owners about the existence and benefits of CBD.
There are still countries where it is prohibited to use CBD on your pets. It is expected that this will be an issue that will change, thanks to scientific advances and the studies that are constantly carried out on this compound in humans and pets.
We recommend you read more about the legality of CBD in Spain and the European Union in our Blog.
Other animals that can use CBD
Not all people have only dogs or cats, there are many who decide to have more exotic pets such as reptiles, or some smaller ones such as rodents and there are even many who appreciate horses.
These pets also get sick, they also need treatment and they also have to take care to help them prevent certain diseases.
All animals that belong to the Kingdom of Chordates or vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system that is mostly similar to that of humans, so it is believed that CBD can bind to their endocannabinoid receptors easily. Amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals fall into this group.
Despite not having much evidence on the use of CBD in these animals, we want to take a step forward in this issue, to be able to alleviate the diseases and conditions of many of these animals using this cannabis compound.
Horses have also used CBD, once again demonstrating its effectiveness. This species usually suffers a lot of joint pain developing osteoarthritis, arthritis, tendinitis and laminitis, resulting in chronic pain for the animal and lameness. CBD, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, helps reduce pain, reduce and even eliminate lameness, can give your horse more energy, strengthens his joints, allows him to have better muscle development, and is a solution to gastrointestinal problems.
There is a case where a horse named Phoenix was going to be euthanized due to chronic joint pain, and the horse could not stand up, much less walk. His owner, a few days before euthanasia was to be applied, decided to give him About our CBD oil, with which he managed to get his 20-year-old horse back on his feet, little by little he regained his vitality and today he is a healthy and 100% active horse.
Fish have also tried CBD, and despite there being very few studies to support this, there is evidence that by feeding your fish CBD or industrial hemp directly, they have better growth and higher levels of OMEGA-3. In turn, this compound helps reduce the stress levels of this animal, avoiding death in many cases.
Some studies support the use of CBD in pets
An investigation carried out in 2018 studied the effects of CBD in dogs with arthritis, where the results showed that 80% of the subjects tested reduced pain, resulting in better mobility of the animals.
Parallel to this, a study was carried out whose objectives were to determine the basic oral pharmacokinetics, as well as to evaluate the safety and analgesic efficacy of a Cannabidiol-based oil in dogs with osteoarthritis. A single dose was applied using two different doses of CBD-enriched oil. The dogs each received two treatments, the first with CBD oil 2mg/kg every 12h for 4 weeks and then 4 weeks with placebo oil every 12h. The study modality was placebo-controlled randomized crossover.
Thanks to this study, it was determined that 2 mg/kg of CBD oil twice a day can Help increase well-being and movement in dogs with osteoarthritis.
The results obtained in the patients who used CBD were a decrease in pain, there were no side effects, and an increase in the dogs' mobility and energy.
Another study carried out in 2019, aiming to evaluate the effect of orally applied CBD in dogs that have seizures due to epilepsy. It was a blinded randomized controlled clinical trial in 26 dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy, they divided the group into 12 patients who would use CBD and 14 who would only receive a placebo.
The patients with CBD had to ingest 2.5mg/kg for 12 weeks, the other 14 dogs would receive the same procedure, but with a placebo. The dogs that received CBD reduced their seizures by 33% more than those that received the placebo; however, both groups had a similar response percentage, since there were dogs that developed ataxia and were removed from the experiment.
Real-life cases of CBD use in pets
Since pet owners do not wait for more studies to be ready to support the use of CBD as a treatment for their pet's illness, there are many cases that show how dogs, cats and even horses could have a better life thanks to this compound.
Nicky the dog and his experience with CBD
Nicky went through long and expensive treatments to help him face the repeated seizures that prevented him from leading a good life. His owners did everything to see their dog healthy, however, nothing worked.
3 years later and without any news, the doctor who was treating Nicky at that time gave the news to his owners that the best thing they could do for their dog's life was to practice euthanasia, however, for them, that It wasn't an option. After many more attempts, Dr. Tatiana Rivera heard her story from some colleagues, so she personally went to her house to talk to them about the use of medicinal cannabis.
After she convinced them to use CBD, they began the treatment, which began with two drops of cannabis mixed with olive oil, she had to take her doses every 8 hours. Once started, Nicky went 10 days without seizures.
After that, they increased the dose little by little until it reached 30 drops every 8 hours. Thanks to this, Nicky managed to go 2 consecutive months without having a single epileptic seizure.
Zeus, the cat who used CBD to treat anger
Montana Lee is the owner of Zeus, who says that her cat went from being relaxed and affectionate to becoming a hostile and aggressive cat. No one liked being around Zeus, since he was capable of scratching and leaving ugly scars.
Montana discovered CBD and decided to apply it to her cat, resulting in a docile, loving cat with even brighter fur and eyes, in just 2 weeks. She gave him CBD-rich pills and treats, with which she was able to improve her cat's attitude by 100%.