Hotspots aren’t uncommon for pet owners that live in warmer more humid climates. Some people think that hotspots are just where areas of the skin rub together to create sore lesions that your pet struggles to leave alone. In actual fact, hotspots are caused by increased moisture in a particular area that allows bacteria to flourish, these localised infections can be a minor irritant or cause more wide-ranging health issues if they aren’t treated and managed correctly. If your dog or cat suffers acutely from hotspots, CBD oil might be able to help.
How Do Hotspots Occur and What Are The Signs and Symptoms?
As aforementioned, hotspots are more common in pets that live in warmer climates, cats’ dogs and horses can all suffer from hotspots. They are most commonly found in areas of the body where skin rubs against another part of skin, such as the inside of the legs. The bacterial infection is localised, but if you don’t catch and treat it early, your pet may suffer from other illnesses due to having their immune system already compromised. The weather plays a large factor in pets getting hotspot, but tick and flea bites can also contribute, along with food allergies and anal gland disease.
If your pet is suffering from hotspots some of the symptoms may include but are not limited to: Lesions, swelling, licking and chewing in the same area, an unpleasant smell emanating from the location of the infection and the area oozing puss. Unfortunately, the more your pet scratches and itches the area, the worse the infection becomes so early treatment is best.
How Can CBD Oil Help?
CBD is the adopted generic term of any product that has been derived from cannabis. The term CBD has come about due to the compound within cannabis that everyone is talking about, cannabidiol or CBD. CBD is just one of 85 cannabinoids found within cannabis and only makes up 1 out of 421 building blocks within the plants structure. Whilst CBD does seem to have an array of health benefits that can be attributed to it, ongoing research is widely of the mindset that whole plant or full spectrum products are far more beneficial to ours and our pets health as we aren’t missing out on the other 420 compounds that work together to create the entourage or synergist effect.
Hotspots are a localised infection that cause more discomfort than serious health issues, but a whole plant CBD oil can help you manage an outbreak. In the immune system of mammals, we have CB2 receptors, these are responsible for helping to modulate the immune system. When we are given CBD, it binds with these receptors to limit the impact of any infection that is currently present. Furthermore, the terpenes found in full spectrum products are the compounds that are responsible for the reduction of inflammation, further increasing the likelihood of your pet making a speedy recovery as they won’t be in as much discomfort. When our pets are in discomfort, they are often stressed and even go so far as being depressed, the endocannabinoid system does not just have receptors located on the cells within our immune system, they can also be found in our brains and nervous system. It is the binding of cannabis to these receptors that produce a calming effect and reduction in stress and anxiety.
A secondary effect of giving your pet CBD oil is the regulation of their digestive system. Whilst antibiotics should always be our first option when we are treating our pet with an infection, they can damage the natural flora found in their guts. The CB2 receptors that are found in mammalian gastro-intestinal tract can help reduce inflammation and can also contribute to stopping diarrhoea and other acute symptoms linked with poor gut health.
Top-Rated CBD Brands
| Rank | Brand | Shipping | More Info |
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| 1 | Verma Farms | Worldwide | |
| 2 | Verified CBD | Worldwide | Unavailable |
How Much CBD Should I Give My Pet?
There is no blanket answer to this question, mainly because dogs and cats come in all shapes and sizes, some may also have a higher tolerance to CBD than others. You may find that the product you are purchasing states that the recommended dose is 2 to 4 drops per day. The best way to gauge it is to evaluate the size of your pet, if your dog or cat is less than 20lbs, then a less potent oil is always a good option, you will find it far easier to dose without thinking that you are giving them too much. It is always best to start your dosing small, if the daily recommended intake is 4 drops for a medium sized dog, start with 2 drops per day, spread out over 12 hours. You can always build up to a higher dose if you don’t think that your pet is benefitting from smaller doses. When giving your pet CBD oil, the main thing is to be consistent. CBD oil needs time to enter the blood stream, stabilise and bind with the receptors. The longer you give your pet the CBD, the more benefits they will receive as it has a cumulative effect on the endocannabinoid system. CBD oils also stay in your pets blood stream at a higher and more stable rate than that of their infused treat and topical cream counterparts, giving your pet a full range of benefits for a longer period of time.
Final Considerations
It is easy to become overwhelmed with the plethora of information surrounding CBD oil and our pets, especially when it comes to common ailments such as hotpots. Before you start giving your dog or cat CBD oil, it is always worth consulting your vet prior to beginning treatment. By keeping your vet informed they may be able to advise you on the best full spectrum oil and the best dose for your pet, given their age, weight and medical history. It is also good to find out if CBD oil will interact with any of the medication they are taking.
