CBD has become the hottest new compound of the market, and with good reason, as people across the world are finding it to be helpful to address a variety of ailments. As a result of countless positive experiences, and some scientific evidence, the popularity of CBD has shot through the roof.
Interestingly enough, it’s applications appear to be for more than just human use, as some scientific evidence has found that CBD may be helpful for our canine friends. Of course, all pet owners want to keep their dogs safe and healthy, and many have asked whether or not CBD is safe for their four-legged friends. That is the question we’ll be reviewing.
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How CBD May Work In Dogs
Dogs, like humans, have an Endocannabinoid System. The Endocannabinoid System is involved in the regulation of numerous physical and emotional sensations, including pain, appetite, stress, anxiety, and more. It consists of multiple components, including cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes, which break down cannabinoids once the reaction is completed.
As such, the theory goes that CBD will help dogs in the same way it helps humans. CBD appears to be able to encourage a dog’s naturally produced cannabinoids to bond for more extended periods of time with their cannabinoid receptors. This, in turn, may result in a variety of impacts for dogs.
Available Research
Research on CBD in humans is slowly expanding, and more evidence is becoming available in this area. This is happening for dogs as well, as more studies are revealing information about whether or not CBD can help dogs.
One of the few studies in this area was sponsored by the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation. The AKC partnered with the Univesity of Colorado and gave 16 dogs CBD. According to the study, 89% of dogs who were treated with CBD showed an improvement in seizures.
The study author’s concluded that the results, though “encouraging,” meant that more study was needed before broader conclusions could be made. Other studies have made similar findings, noting that dogs who were given CBD showed reduced signs of pain and an increase in activity levels.
More study specific to dogs is needed. However, it is worth noting that many of the studies which are believed to be applicable to humans have been conducted on rats, and many of those studies have been positive.
Is CBD Safe For Our Dogs?
The simple truth is that there is no definitive answer to this question yet. The good news is that the limited evidence which has been made available does seem to make it clear that CBD has the potential to help our dogs. As noted above, small studies and numerous anecdotal reports have found CBD to help address some problems. However, it is impossible to say yet that CBD is entirely safe.
Numerous questions remain, including impact on a dog in the long-term, impact on a doc’s liver function, ideal therapeutic doses, and specific negative interactions with other medications. Further research that specifically tests these questions is needed, and it is unlikely that CBD will gain mainstream acceptance among the veterinary community before they are answers.
What Should I Do If I Want To Try CBD For My Dog?
First and foremost, talk to your veterinarian. They will be up to date on all the latest research and will know if your dog potentially is at risk for any adverse side effects from CBD. If your vet isn’t familiar with CBD, try to find a vet who does have that knowledge. This is a limited field with some specialized experience, so it may be tough to find a vet who is familiar with the area.
However, it’s essential to understand that some veterinarians are legally obligated not to make recommendations about using CBD, as doing so may risk licensure suspensions or other penalties. As such, make sure to check this is the case for your vet!
Second, always make sure you get your CBD from a high-quality vendor. Unfortunately, far too many CBD sellers sell subpar CBD, which is inappropriately labeled and has ingredients that are not listed. There have also been numerous reports of “CBD for Pets” which barely contain any CBD.
Thankfully, many very reputable CBD sellers are available. Always make sure you view the CBD’s Certificate of Analysis, which will confirm what ingredients are in the CBD compound. If a product doesn’t have a Certificate of Analysis, don’t buy it!
More research is unquestionably needed before anyone can definitively answer whether or not CBD is safe for our pets. However, the news so far is positive. CBD clearly has the potential to help our beloved animals.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from
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