Lymphoma is a broad ranging and diverse group of cancers that originate in a blood cells named lymphocyte. Due to its diverse nature, it can arise in almost any part of the body, however it is more common in areas that are within the lymphatic system such as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. Lymphoma is one of the most common cancer diagnoses in cats and dogs. If your pet has been diagnosed with lymphoma, CBD may be able to work alongside the medication and treatment options prescribed by your vet in order to help manage the condition.
What Is Lymphoma and What Are the Symptoms?
Lymphoma is one of the most common types of cancers found in cats and dogs. Primary lymphoma will be located in areas such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and bone marrow. With secondary lymphoma being located in areas such as gut tissue, skin, gentiles and central nervous system. Lymphoma derives its names from the lymphocyte cells that it transforms malignantly. Due to the fact that lymphocytes can travel almost anywhere in the body, lymphoma is not anatomically restricted. As there is limited restriction in its movement, it makes it very difficult to make an on the spot diagnosis as its symptoms can reflect a variety of ailments and illnesses. Your pet may have a loss of appetite, swelling of the lymph nodes, vomiting and/or diarrhoea and skin lesions. In cats it is more likely that their symptoms will involve digestive problems as the most common location for lymphoma is their gastro internal tract. Unfortunately, the symptoms are difficult to pinpoint due to the diseases mobile nature but if you think that your pet is suffering from lymphoma, consult your vet immediately.
Top-Rated CBD Brands
Rank | Brand | Shipping | More Info |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Verma Farms | Worldwide | |
2 | Verified CBD | Worldwide | Unavailable |
How is Lymphoma Treated?
As lymphoma is malignant neoplasm, the cornerstone of treatment is chemotherapy for both dogs and cats. Dogs will need to start treatment almost immediately once they have been diagnosed, as they are predisposed to a more aggressive spread than their feline counterparts. Cats will also need to undertake chemotherapy, but these treatments do have a good outcome, whilst your pet will never be cured from lymphoma, getting treatment completed as soon as possible makes the prognosis and life expectancy far better.
What Is CBD?
CBD is just one component found the cannabis sativa. Cannabis can be broken down into a variety of plants, from hemp to marijuana, all of which have the same 421 building blocks but in differing quantities. CBD or cannabidiol is just one the 421 compounds found within cannabis and makes up one out of 85 cannabinoids. It is these cannabinoids and other families of building blocks that make CBD effective when treating and managing a variety of conditions and aliments. When cannabis enters the mammalian body, it binds with the endocannabinoid system, this system runs alongside our respiratory system, endocrine system and nervous system. Us, our dogs and cats have receptors located in our brains, CB1 receptors and on top of our cellular structure, particularly within our immune system, these are CB2 receptors. Cannabis adapts the messages sent from these systems to our brains and the brain responds accordingly.
How Can CBD Oil Help With Lymphoma?
If your pet is being treated for lymphoma, the chances are they are facing chemotherapy, one of the side effects of this therapy is nausea. Cannabis has been featured in a variety of studies and has been shown to not only reduce nausea found in chemotherapy patients, but it can also help towards stimulating appetite, which is important for recovery. There has been anecdotal evidence for the use of cannabis in cancer treatments for a long time, but now the research is beginning to suggest that this is plausible. It is not just CBD that can help manage cancerous growths, the other elements within cannabis can also contribute. THC and cannabinoids seemly work together to inhibit the growth of tumours within test subjects. It is thought that the mechanics behind this are the modulation of the signalling pathways that lead to tumour arrest and cell death within the growth. Whilst this area of research still needs to be developed, results are showing that all the compounds found in cannabis play a role in not only rebalancing the immune system but promoting cell death in tumours and metastases.
Why Give Your Pet CBD Oil?
The endocannabinoid system within ours and our pets’ bodies are lipid or fat based, this mirrors the make-up of cannabis, which is why it is soluble in oil. As it is soluble, there is limited processes that are required to ensure that you are given a pure product that hasn’t gone through any drastic changes at a molecular level. Not only is an oil the least damaging way to process cannabis into CBD products, it is also easy to give your pets, you can either give it to them directly or place it on a treat. Furthermore, CBD oil gives are far more even and stable dose than other CBD products as it is quick to absorb into tissue rather than having to be digested. Consistency is key when you give your pet CBD oils, you want to make sure that they are given a regular dose to keep the level in their system at an equilibrium to ensure that they will reap the benefits. Full spectrum or whole plant extracts are an excellent way at making sure your pet gets the full array of compounds that cannabis can offer, but if you are concerned with the levels of THC, look for products that are derived from crops that have higher quantities of other compounds
Final Considerations
The research into cannabis and the effect that is has on lymphoma and other cancerous tumours is still a long way off from reaching a conclusion. However, the results that are being yielded demonstrate that cannabis is not only effective in managing the side effects of chemotherapy but can also modulate the signalling pathways within our bodies in order to increase the likelihood of cell death within the tumour as well as inhibit growth. Prior to starting a CBD plan with your pet, consult your veterinarian first to ensure that CBD oil won’t have any adverse reactions with any medication or treatment your pet is currently on.