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Health & Wellness
Have you heard the hype about CBD oil and its use for pets? If you spend any time on the internet, then you most likely have heard about CBD oil for pets, and you may be wondering what it is and if it actually works in dogs and cats. With a little research, you’ll find that while the benefits of CBD in humans is fairly well established, the science in dogs and cats is lacking. However, research is starting to be published with promising results.
What Is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound derived from hemp. Science has identified more than 140 naturally occurring cannabinoids, and these compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system in humans and animals—including your pets.
Cannabinoid receptors function to maintain homeostasis (a stable environment) in the body, and they are located throughout the body and brain. These receptors are involved in everything from pain, mood and anxiety to appetite, inflammation and immunity. CBD found in hemp can help stimulate these receptors.
What Is CBD Oil Used For?
In humans, CBD has been shown to help with anxiety, inflammation, nausea, mental disorders, chronic pain, mood disorders and seizures, and it is neuroprotective at higher doses. At lower doses, CBD promotes health through antioxidant properties. For example, in humans, CBD is a more effective antioxidant for the brain than vitamin C or E, and it can help with acne.
In pets, much of the evidence proving the efficacy of CBD oil is anecdotal, with most of the claims suggesting it helps treat pain.
CBD Oil for Pets: Helpful or Hype?
There are some recent studies that indicate giving pets CBD oil is helpful in certain circumstances.
Dr. Joe Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, DACVN, DACVSMR, associate professor and section chief of nutrition at Cornell University’s veterinary school in Ithaca, New York, recently completed a study showing that CBD oil does help dogs with chronic pain from osteoarthritis; the results of the study indicated that there was a significant decrease in pain and increase in activity for the dogs participating in the study. READ FULL ARTICLE
