Health Benefits to Dogs from CBD Oil

Research suggest that CBD oil can have many of the same benefits as costly prescription pharmaceuticals, with fewer risks and dangerous side effects.

Anxiety

While researchers are still trying to pin down the exact mechanisms by which CBD decreases anxiety and stress in mammals including humans and dogs, more than a decade of studies show that CBD can be highly effective in this application. Anxiety in dogs can manifest itself in many ways, including aggression, fear, noise phobias, and separation anxiety (which is a particlularly big issue for pups, as their owners have been forced to return to the office). CBD has been shown to be effective in all these areas, helping dogs to feel more relaxed and at ease with minimal side effects.

While CBD can be remarkably fast acting—taking effect in as little as 5 to 20 minutes—its anti-anxiety benefits have been shown to accrue with regular usage over time. This means that if your furry pal suffers from regular bouts of anxiety, you might be best off giving them a regular dose of CBD oil, which can help your dog remain calm and comfortable over the long term.

Seizures / Epilepsy

Research into CBD as a treatment for seizures and epilepsy in dogs has made exciting advances in recent years. Standard pharmaceutical treatments for dogs suffering from seizures such as phenobarbital, potassium bromide, and diazepam not only can cause serious side effects, but they also fail to stop seizures in roughly 30% of dogs with epilepsy. However, a number of large clinical studies are underway exploring CBD as a treatment for epilepsy in dogs, suggest that CBD oil can be a safe, natural treatment for dogs suffering from seizures, particularly due to epilepsy.

Joint Pain / Arthritis

Joint pain and arthritis are both common ailments experienced by aging dogs, yet traditional treatments with prescription pain medications have significant side effects, including kidney and joint damage. Plus, pain meds merely mask the symptoms while not doing anything to address the core problem. CBD oil, on the other hand, has the potential to both alleviate the pain while attacking the cause by reducing joint inflammation. The same CB1 and CB2 receptors that have a significant role in how dogs’ bodies perceive pain also have an important part to play when it comes to stimulating the immune system to fight inflammation, causing the body to induce additional anti-inflammatory processes. This can lead to improved joint health and reduced pain over both the short and long term.

Future Uses

With so much still to be learned about CBD oil and its potential benefits for dogs, we are constantly discovering new applications for this powerful, naturally occurring substance. As research continues, we look forward to even more areas in which cbd oil can improve the wellbeing of our canine companions.