Studies related to the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) in canines has had very little attention till recently. Over the last 5 years interest has grown within this veterinary field of medicine and the efficacy of use for our pets suffering from a range of ailments including pain, epilepsy, skin lesions, anxiety, and many others.
Please visit your veterinary practice first, if you have any concerns relating to your dog’s ailments.
Pain
Multiple studies indicated that CBD significantly reduced pain and increased the activity of dogs, thus improving their quality of life.
The mechanism by which CBD helps to reduce chronic eg. arthritis and neuropathic (nerve) pain is relatively simple. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates functions such as pain. Our body produces neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that bind to our own naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors. Research has shown that CBD targets endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation and interacting with these receptors.
Epilepsy
Cannabidiol’s clinical efficacy in treating idiopathic epilepsy in dogs has only been investigated in a few studies. However, these show a significant reduction in epileptic seizure frequency as well as the number of epileptic seizure days in dogs receiving an equal mix of CBD/CBDA (CBDA more potent than CBD) when compared with the placebo group in the trial.
Skin Ailments
The ECS is an emerging key player in skin homeostasis. It was proposed that it exerts a protective role against skin inflammation, itch, and pain, thanks to the involvement of the endocannabinoid palmitoylethanolamide and its ALIA effects.
It was noted that there was a decrease in allergic contact dermatitis, reduced skin lesions, and pruritus in atopic dogs during a comprehensive study.
Anxiety and Stress
There wasn’t a huge amount of research found relating to the reduction of anxiety and stress when CBD is administered to dogs for this reason. However one reported that aggressive behavior toward humans was decreased over time in the CBD group, compared to the placebo group when given to aggressive shelter dogs.
Most studies were focused on the use of CBD for osteoarthritis (OA) pain and epilepsy.
My girls mean the absolute world to me, they are my life. I use CBD oil (Salmon 1000mgs – above). My Gizzy has a skin allergy that flares up in late Spring, possibly a pollen allergy. Gizzy enjoys the taste and with no hesitation laps the CBD oil up.
If you would like to learn about CBD use in humans or medical cannabis refer to the blog CBD – Cannabidiol or When The Drugs Don’t Work
Love Life x
Give CBD a try. Refer to the links below for more in-depth research on the use of CBD and canines (research below 2022 – Nov 2023)
Pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of cannabidiol in dogs: an update of current knowledge