When it comes to your dog’s health, you can’t be too careful. That’s why so many people are choosing to give their pets all-natural supplements in order to keep them healthy. There are a lot of supplements out there that claim to be good for pets. You should always do your research before giving your dog any supplements though, because some supplements can be harmful to dogs. However, one supplement that has been shown to have enormous benefits for your canine pal is CBD oil.
What is CBD Oil?
Understanding what CBD oil actually is can definitely help you decide whether or not you want to use it for your dog. CBD oil is oil that is made from the non-psychoactive parts of the marijuana plant – commonly referred to as hemp. There are several parts of the marijuana plant that do not contain enough THC – which is the active ingredient that makes you get high from marijuana – to cause a psychoactive effect.
CBD oil is a concentrate that is made from these parts of the plant and it has been shown to have enormous health benefits in dozens of studies.
For humans, CBD oil can help with a variety of illnesses and conditions. For example, CBD oil has major anti-inflammatory properties and so it is recommended for chronic pain much the same way that marijuana is actually recommended for chronic pain in states where medical marijuana is legal.
In addition, CBD oil contains a variety of nutrients that your body likely does not get enough of. Luckily, some of the same benefits that humans get from CBD oil can also be applied to your dog. CBD oil is perfectly harmless to dogs in normal doses.
Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits specifically for canines.
1. Treats Anxiety
The first benefit of CBD oil that we’re going to discuss is the treatment of anxiety. Anxiety can be a major problem for dogs. Dogs that have anxiety cannot stand being left home alone. When they are anxious, they may become destructive. At the very least, there will be at least some psychological damage for leaving a dog alone that has anxiety.
Some dogs are also overly high strung and will be terrified at just about any noise. But CBD oil can help relieve anxiety and help them relax. You may have to combine this with other treatments, because it is not going to be 100 percent effective on every dog, but it will go a long way towards helping your dog feel less anxious.
2. Prevents Cancer
In addition, there is at least some evidence that CBD oil can help your body fight cancer. The same goes for dogs. Dogs can get various forms of cancer just like humans can, but CBD oil can boost the immune system and help it fight cancer cells.
In addition, CBD oil helps prevent cancer cells from multiplying by minimizing their ability to produce energy. CBD oil is an effective supplement to conventional cancer treatment, and if your dog has cancer, then you’ll want to do is much for them as possible. Adding CBD oil is an easy way to enhance your dog’s conventional cancer treatment.
3. Prevents and Treats Canine Seizures and Epilepsy
Seeing your dog have a seizure, or knowing that they can experience one at any time, can be pretty scary. But epilepsy is something that affects one out of every 20 dogs. Often, dogs that have seizures are put on phenobarbital or other drugs, and while these may control seizures, they are not healthy for your dog at all and may do harm to the liver and other internal organs.
CBD oil is not only harmless, but it is also been shown in studies to work extremely well against epilepsy – even against drug-resistant epilepsy. This is the same with humans as well.
4. Natural Painkiller
If your dog experiences daily pain, then you definitely want to consider CBD oil as a supplement to their food. CBD oil has major anti-inflammatory properties, and this can mean a reduction to all kinds of pain including arthritis and other joint pain.
Chronic pain is one of the things that marijuana is prescribed for in states where medical marijuana is legal. It works so well that scientists and regulators are considering classifying it as a new treatment. CBD oil works well for any pain caused by inflammation as well as neuropathy and nerve pain.
This makes CBD oil very popular among senior dogs that may be experiencing wear and tear throughout their body from old age.
5. Treats Inflammatory Bowel Disease
If your pup suffers from inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, then you definitely want to consider CBD oil as a treatment. There have been numerous studies specifically on animals like dogs that show that CBD oil can prevent colitis and restore normal gut health to treat inflammatory bowel disease.
In addition, CBD oil contains an antibiotic to get rid of bad bacteria.
6. Prevents Other Types of Inflammation
Other types of inflammation can also be treated with CBD oil. There are several ways that this happens, but studies have shown that CBD can decrease the production of inflammatory cytokines that cause allergies and autoimmune conditions.
In addition, it has been shown to fight autoimmune disease in other ways as well. CBD oil also inhibits the production of inflammatory macrophages that cause chronic inflammation and is an extremely powerful antioxidant that works better than vitamins that do the same job.
For dogs that have inflammation, adding regular CBD to their diet will definitely give them some relief and possibly treat autoimmune conditions.
7. Treats Nervous System Problems
Nervous system problems can make your dog’s life miserable, but CBD can actually treat a variety of neurodegenerative and nervous system conditions. Particularly for dogs that suffer from degenerative myelopathy, CBD has been shown in studies to give relief for and treat these conditions.
In addition, CBD oil has been instrumental in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and even dementia. That means this senior dogs now have a better alternative for neurodegenerative medication, because their choices were quite limited before.
CBD has also been shown to protect the brain from cell death that is caused by toxins and free radicals which is also something that senior dogs can benefit from. When it comes to nervous system problems and neurodegenerative diseases, CBD oil is one of the best things out there for your dog.
8. Can Help With Eating Disorders
If your dog has an eating disorder, then you may want to consider CBD oil. Eating disorders are caused by all kinds of things. Sometimes, the cause may be psychological, and in that case, CBD oil may not be a big help.
But more often, the problem is caused by something physiological. For example, if your dog has digestive problems, it can be difficult getting him or her to eat. If your dog has reduced appetite or nausea, supplementing their diet with CBD oil may help. Not only does CBD oil increase appetite according to the National Cancer Institute, CBD has also been shown in studies to assist in the reduction of vomiting and nausea no matter what the cause.
9. Can Promote Cardiovascular Health
Just like with humans, it is important to regularly check your dog’s cardiovascular health. Although it is not as well-known as some of the other dog illnesses out there, cardiovascular disease is a very real concern for dog owners. CBD oil not only works for dogs, but it also has cardiovascular benefits for humans.
The latest research shows that approximately half of Americans have high blood pressure and that heart disease is the number one killer in this country. Dogs can suffer from this illness as well, but CBD oil can repair damaged blood vessels and help with irregular heart rates.
Cardiovascular health is extremely important, and CBD oil is one of the best treatments out there that is completely natural and harmless for dogs. In addition, it can have a significant impact on the cardiovascular health of human beings as well. CBD oil can help to dilate the arteries, protect blood vessels and reduce both the heart rate and blood pressure that comes from stress and anxiety.
Keep Your Pup Healthy With CBD Oil
The bottom line is that there are lots of reasons that you should try CBD oil for your dog. CBD oil is basically harmless for most dogs, and adding it to their diet can have enormous benefits, especially for dogs that have particular medical conditions.
If your dog has irritable bowel syndrome or other digestive issues, CBD oil can help. CBD oil also helps with a great deal of other inflammatory conditions, helps to reduce neurodegenerative symptoms and can even help to treat heart disease and cardiovascular problems. It is simply one of the most effective natural treatments currently on the market and it is perfectly legal to use for both humans and dogs in most states.
