What is CBD & how does it benefit my pet?
What is CBD?
Don’t be deceived by other companies that are labeling their products with extremely high milligrams of Hemp Oil. This doesn’t clearly specify the milligrams of actual CBD. Many of these pet supplements are measuring Hemp Oil content to inflate the perception of potency, not necessarily the beneficial CBD content. These supplements usually have little or no nutritional value, very little CBD and is purely a deceptive marketing strategy that tries to fool the consumer. We only use the highest quality CBD extract (not Hemp Seed Oil) combined with natures finest nutritional oils.
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a compound found in cannabis, the plant we often associate with marijuana.
In fact, it is one of over 113 “cannabinoids” found in the cannabis plant, many of which are also being investigated for their potential health benefits.
Unlike THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, CBD is completely non-psychoactive and safe to be used on pets.
CBD also has no known toxicity level, and is incapable of causing an overdose.
In fact, the CBD found in Pawlistic Pet Supplements are sourced 100% from USA grown hemp, a variety of cannabis that naturally contains extremely low concentrations of THC.
How does CBD interact with your pet?
CBD interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.
The ECS is a biological system found in all mammals, and is involved in managing a wide variety of biological processes, including memory, sleep, immune response, and more.
It mainly consists of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).
These receptors are built to interact with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids naturally produced by the brain).
However, they can also interact with plant-derived cannabinoids like CBD,which in turn cause a variety of responses throughout the body.
When it comes to CBD, many of these responses are very beneficial.
The endocannabinoid system is essentially the system that processes cannabinoids introduced into the body.
Below I’ll outline some of the main benefits of CBD in more detail.
List of conditions CBD can treat:
Reduces Anxiety & Calms Phobias
Arthritis & Joint Pain
Anti-Inflammatory
Skin Irritations
Enhances Cognitive Function
Slows Cancer Cell Growth
Congestive Heart Failure
Relieves Pain
Decreases Aggression
Increases Appetite
Asthma
Diabetes
Liver Disease
Autoimmune Diseases
Regulates Sleep Patterns
Helps prevent Nausea
Epilepsy, Seizures, or other Neurological Disorders
Let's Take a Closer Look at This List
Here is a detailed list of some of the major benefits of CBD which can improve the health of your pet.
Keep in mind these apply to dogs, cats, and other equestrian pets.
1. CBD is a Powerful Painkiller
In 1997, a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology showed that the endocannabinoid system was deeply involved in managing pain.
Today, CBD has become renowned for its painkilling properties.
CBD can help manage pain in many different ways.
First of all, studies have shown that CBD can temporarily stop the absorption of anandamide, a chemical that helps dampen pain signals in the brain.
This temporary increase in anandamide can have various effects, one of them being reduced pain sensations.
Secondly, CBD has been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory (we’ll explore this in more detail below).
By reducing the inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, for example, CBD is also able to reduce the painful symptoms caused by the condition.
2. CBD is a Known Anticonvulsant
Perhaps one of the best-known medicinal uses for CBD is its ability to help controls seizures, tremors, tics, and spasms.
That’s because CBD is a natural anti-convulsant.
News of CBD’s natural anticonvulsant properties first broke in 2013 when the story of Charlotte Figi, a young girl with epilepsy, made headlines across the globe. Charlotte inspired a whole new wave of optimism and research into cannabinoids and other compounds found within the Hemp plant. Charlotte’s only hope for managing her 300 weekly seizures was a tincture now known as Charlotte’s Web, made from CBD rich cannabis. Since then, numerous studies have proven that CBD can help manage a wide variety of tremors, spasms, and tics.
Unfortunately, Charlotte has recently passed away in April of 2020 due to an undisclosed virus. Although Charlotte may not be with us in person, She has inspired billions of dollars of both State & Private research that now has the potential to expose the incredible potential of cannabinoids, flavonoids, & terpenes of the Hemp plant. Charlottes legacy will forever live on.
Other studies have also shown that both CBD and THC can help manage spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis, and research also suggests that CBD can help manage the tics and tremors caused by Tourette’s syndrome.
Unfortunately, it isn’t quite clear how CBD works as an anticonvulsant.
Seizures are generally believed to be caused by the rapid, uncontrolled firing of neurons in the brain.
Preliminary research suggests CBD can help restore order to these neurons, causing them to fire normally and essentially prevent the onset of seizures.
3. CBD is Anti-Inflammatory
CBD is renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects.
In fact, the anti inflammatory effects of CBD are believed to be one of the main reasons the compound is so useful in treating a wide variety of conditions.
CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects are believed to be linked to its ability to interact with receptors in immune cells.
CBD interacts with CB2 receptors, which are generally located inside immune cells.
By activating these receptors, CBD is able to evoke a wide variety of immune responses.
One of these responses is to fight inflammation.
In some cases, this inflammation can be caused by a malfunctioning of the immune system, causing it to attack healthy cells.
By helping lower inflammation, CBD can help reduce pain and other symptoms of conditions like GI Conditions in pets, arthritis, and more.
4. CBD Reduces Anxiety & Stress
It’s important to note that CBD doesn’t just help deal with physical symptoms.
In fact, many studies have shown that CBD can help manage the symptoms of a variety of mental conditions, including anxiety.
Much like humans, pets can also suffer from anxiety, stress or even specific phobias.
And while the exact source of anxiety may differ in pets, it can cause stress and specific physical reactions just like in humans.
Some common forms of anxiety affecting dogs include separation anxiety, noise anxiety, travel anxiety, and even specific phobias.
In humans, anxiety and stress might cause us to bite our nails, pace around, or become a little shaky.
In dogs, anxiety can cause similar repetitive behaviour.
Some common symptoms of anxiety in dogs include:
Persistent barking
Chewing (furniture, shoes, rubbish, etc)
Urinating and defecating (usually inside the house or crate)
Aggression
Tremors
CBD has been shown to help reduce feelings of anxiety and thereby reduce these symptoms.
How it does so, however, isn’t completely clear.
Typical anxiety medications tend to target a type of seratonin receptor in the body known as 5-HT1A.
By targeting these receptors, anti-anxiety medications can help temporarily boost seratonin levels in the brain.
This can then lead to improvements in mood and help temporarily reduce feelings of anxiety or fear.
Research suggests that CBD might work in a similar way, also temporarily increasing seratonin levels in the brain.
In doing so, the compound can have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, while also helping reduce stress.
5. CBD is an Antiemetic
Nausea and vomiting are really common symptoms.
They can be the result of a specific condition, or can also be caused by treatments or medications such as chemotherapy.
Both in humans and dogs, nausea and vomiting are serious symptoms, often leading to a decreased appetite, rapid weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, and more.
There are plenty of antiemetic medications on the market. These drugs, while often effective in controlling nausea and vomiting, can cause a wide variety of side effects, including:
Hypotension
Strong sedation
Lowered seizure thresholds for animals with epilepsy
Excessive drooling
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Diarrhea
There is a strong body of evidence that shows that CBD is a successful antiemetic, controlling both nausea and vomiting while also stimulating appetite.
Interestingly, it seems to do so by stimulating 5-HT1A receptors, the same receptor which can help reduce anxiety.
By activating this receptor, CBD can significantly reduce feelings of nausea and also suppress the subsequent vomiting reflex.
Research also suggests that prolonged stimulation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the brain can also help reduce nausea and vomiting.
6. CBD May Slow Tumor Growth
Cancer and malicious tumors are common in pets and, in many cases, prove to be fatal as it was in one of my past pets.
Until now, there is no known cure for cancer, and treatment usually focuses on slowing the growth of a tumor while reducing pain and other symptoms.
The most common treatment for cancer and tumors in pets is chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, like with humans, chemotherapy can produce a wide variety of side effects, including:
Tiredness, fatigue, and lethargy
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Diarrhea
However, new research shows that cannabinoids like CBD can have unique anti-cancer effects, too.
In fact, a growing body of research is beginning to explore just how cannabinoids can help slow the growth and spread of cancer and even reduce the size of tumors.
For example, a 2011 study conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston showed that CBD can cause programmed cell death and hence inhibit the growth of breast cancer.
Another study, published by researchers from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, also showed that CBD can help protect against colon cancer in rats by stopping the development, growth, and spread of malignant tumors.
There are many more studies exploring the use of CBD and other cannabinoids in treating cancer.
7. CBD Promotes Homeostasis
Homeostasis can best be described as the proper functioning of the body.
It occurs when our bodies are in balance, and ensures all our biological systems function to the best of their ability.
However, sometimes this balance gets thrown out, and that’s when disease and illness strike.
New research suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in maintaining this balance, mainly because it is involved in such a wide variety of bodily processes.
Hence, researchers suggest that, by stimulating the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids like CBD can help promote homeostasis in the body.
This is why many pet owners choose to use CBD not only as a medicine to treat a specific illness, but also as a regular supplement to promote the overall health and wellbeing of their pet.
Other Benefits of CBD
One of the wonders behind CBD is its many potential therapeutic uses.
Above I’ve listed some of the most popular therapeutic benefits of CBD for dogs and other pets, but there are many more.