Cannabidiol is a chemical found naturally in Cannabis plants. CBD has been researched for pain management, and many clinical pieces of evidence suggest that CBD might be effective in treating pain in humans and pets.
If your dog has undergone surgery and is experiencing pain, you might want to consider CBD to treat your dog’s pain. Here is a brief discussion on whether it is the right choice for your furry friend.
How Does CBD Treat Pain in Dogs?
According to medical experts, there is a physiological basis to investigate CBDs for dogs and their use in pain treatment. Several studies have shown that CBD effectively treats conditions such as neuropathic pain and inflammation. It has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits and a therapeutic effect on the connective tissue of arthritis joints.
CBD and Its Effect on Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system has active and total control in pain management in animals. The dog’s body has endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body.
Endocannabinoids bind to these receptors to signal the ECS that it needs to take some action. The ECS has two types of receptors – CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptor is found in the central nervous system, while CB2 is present in the peripheral nervous system.
CBD can bind to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. The cannabinoids can also interact with your body through other biological passages. Medical experts have found that, by binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD can evoke therapeutic responses in the body and help relieve pain.
Studies Focused on CBD for Treating Pain
- Studies have also shown CBDs for dogs inhibit the absorption of endocannabinoid anandamide which reduces pain response by the ECS. CBD has several anti-inflammatory properties that are activated after it binds to the CB2 receptors.
- Several pieces of evidence suggest that CBD can help treat pain, especially neuropathic pain.
- A study was conducted in 2018 to assess CBD’s anti-pain properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and safety in dog’s treatment for osteoarthritis. Dogs were given 2 to 8 milligrams of CBD dosage as per weight. The results were surprising as 80% of dogs showed improvement in their pain management and mobility.
- A study was conducted in 2019 where CBD was introduced along with seizure medication to epileptic dogs. The results showed dogs with seizure medication who received CBD had significantly fewer seizures than dogs that didn’t receive CBD.
Thus there is enough anecdotal evidence that proves that your dog can benefit from CBD products.
Potential Side Effects of CBD
- Medical experts mention CBD can reduce saliva production, and your dog might experience dry mouth for short periods after recommended dosage.
- CBD is known to calm dogs. However, a strong CBD dosage can cause drowsiness in your dog. Hence, you need to stick to recommended dosage by your dog’s veterinary doctor when using this compound to treat pain.
To sum up, it is clear that there is no harm in using CBD to treat your dog’s pain. You need to talk to your veterinary doctor first and then purchase the right products to treat your dog’s pain for best results and safety.