Owning a dog is great but at the same time requires that you put in some work. As a pet parent, you need to care for your canine in different ways. Some of these include feeding, grooming, walking, and of course, ensuring that your dog is as much as possible free from sicknesses and diseases. This can be achieved either by preventing it or taking steps when they do fall ill to ensure they are back in good health in no time. These steps may include a visit to the veterinary and also administering the required medication at all times.
A popular and important medication that you can administer during these times is cannabidiol which is otherwise referred to as CBD by most people.
CBD as a medication is extracted from the cannabis plant and made into different CBD products that are useful for animals like dogs. Cannabis plants come in two variants which are marijuana and hemp. Of the two, hemp is the preferred plant for this extraction. This is because it contains high levels of cannabidiol and low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the compound that gives cannabis its psychoactive effect.
Marijuana on the other hand contains a high level of THC and therefore, it is illegal for general use in the United States and can therefore not be used to make common CBD products. It may interest you to know that the legal limit of THC allowed in any product in the U.S is 0.3%.
Asides cannabidiol and THC, other substances that may be found in the hemp plant includes terpenes, flavonoids, omega-fatty acids, essentials oils, and so on. Of all these substances, cannabidiol is the most popular and the most used. This is because it is the most potent of all these substances.
CBD Products Available For Dogs
The interesting thing about cannabidiol is that it can be made into several products and can also be used in several ways even for animals. Some of these products for animals include CBD oil, treats, pills, capsules, chews, sprays, cosmetics for animals, and so on. Based on these products, cannabidiol can be absorbed sublingually, by ingestion, or topically applying it on the skin of your pet.
Of all these products, CBD oil is perhaps the best and the most effective to use. This is because when absorbed sublingually, your pet can fully utilize all that CBD can offer. Using this method, cannabidiol enters directly into the bloodstream and can kick-off its effects in less than 30 minutes. CBD oil is effective both as a daily supply of CBD for optimal health and during times when your canine is down with an illness. Click here to know more about this.
Another good way for administering cannabidiol to your pet is through treats. These are crunchy snacks that can be administered to your dog as a daily supplement. With treats, cannabidiol is absorbed by digestion. It is not as effective as administering the oil but it is perfect for a daily dosage of cannabidiol to maintain the wellbeing of pets even during times when they are in perfect health. It also works as an alternative when a dog rejects pills and capsules.
What Diseases Can CBD help to Treat?
Cannabidiol can be employed in the treatment of different kinds of diseases that dogs are prone to having. These range from common illnesses to more severe ones. It is this effective because it interacts directly with the ECS which is a system that is responsible for the efficient day to day functioning of the body. You can read about the ECS here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system.
Some of the diseases that can be treated using CBD can include:
Anxiety and Stress
Much like humans, dogs can also suffer from different kinds of anxiety such as separation anxiety, anxiety due to environmental factors such as noise or a change of environment. It may also be stress or anxiety related to visiting a vet or going through a procedure or surgery.
All these can affect the behavior of your pet and make it uncomfortable. By administering cannabidiol, your pet can become calmer and relaxed.
Arthritis
Dogs are susceptible to joint pain that is associated with arthritis. This is especially prevalent in older canines and those breeds that are large. These condition needs to be managed so that your dog enjoys a level of comfort. Cannabidiol can help to do exactly this. One good thing about this is that unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are the usual medication for treating arthritis, this has little to no side effects.
Allergies
It is not uncommon for dogs to have skin reactions like eczema, atopic dermatitis, or any other kind of allergies. This can be as a result of exposure to chemicals, environmental factors, change of diet, etc. To get rid of this, corticosteroids are typically employed but CBD is a viable alternative that can be applied topically.
Other common issues that CBD can be used to treat include insomnia and restlessness, diabetes, cancers, obesity, distemper, seizures, and epilepsy, etc. You can click to this page to see more on this.
Conclusion
When it comes to helping dogs overcome an illness or keeping them in good health, cannabidiol is one medication you can always count on. As a pet parent, all you need to ensure when administering it is that you are using a good quality product. You can ensure this by buying only from a reputable source.
