Using CBD for Your Dogssubmitted on 9 May 2020
Dogs are very important pets to humans. They are one of the most owned pets in the word and this may not be unrelated to the fact that they are warm, friendly, loyal and can always be trained for various functions. As a dog owner, caring for it is equally important to protect it from diseases and ill health. One way to do so is having a regular checkup and administering medications when necessary.
CBD is a growing trend in both human and animal treatment and well-being as its usage comes with several health benefits. Wondering what this is and if it is safe for your beloved pet? Read on to find out.
What is CBD?
It is a compound extracted from the hemp plant. This plant contains several other compounds like flavonoids, terpenes, and omega fatty acids. However, the most common and most used of these is CBD. It is gotten from the seeds, leaves, and flowers of the plant and can either be made into pills, capsules, soft chewable treats, dog biscuits or oil. It can be administered either orally as pills, capsules, added to food or in a sublingual way by putting drops of the oil under your dog’s tongue using tinctures. It can also be applied topically on the skin. You may read more about this here.
You may be worried of the effect it may have on your pet since it is derived from a cannabis plant like hemp. You needn’t be. The good news is that CBD from hemp is very low in THC and sometimes may not even have any. THC is the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive effect that results in getting high. With the low amounts, you can be sure your pet is safe and will not get high.
What CBD can do for Your Dog
There are several reasons why you should consider giving your dog CBD. If not for anything else, one of these is to maintain their well-being and quality of life. A daily dosage will help your pet remain strong and healthy always. Other reasons you should administer it to your pet is to treat specific ailments and health issues such as:
• Anxiety
• Pain and inflammation
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Cancer
• Insomnia
• Arthritis.
This list is not exhaustive as it can be used to treat a whole lot of other ailments in your dog. Click to read further on how it can benefit your dog.
How does it Work?
Every mammal including humans and dogs, and other animals like fish, birds, and reptiles have a system in their body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Its job is to balance and regulate the body functions so that it works properly and optimally. These bodily functions include sleep, appetite for food, bowel movements, mood, memory and so on. It produces some substances like endorphins and hormones to achieve these.
Normally, the ECS produces enough of these substances and functions well enough to take care of the body. However, in a case that it does not for any reason, there is a breakdown and this results in malfunctioning which manifests as illnesses.
The way CBD works, when used, is that this system has what is called receptors that the CBD gets attached to and this, in turn, helps the ECS to produce whatever it needs to function. That is one reason why it is useful in treating a lot of different ailments. You can learn more about how the ECS works in this article: https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#thc.
How Much CBD should you Give Your Dog?
Administering CBD to your pet is based on its size and the kind of ailment you aim to treat. While there are no specific dosages, there are guidelines, dosage charts, and dosage calculators available online to help you determine what the right dosage to give your pet should be.
Can You Use the Same CBD as Human for your Dog?
CBD for pets and animals is designed specifically for them so it is not recommended that you give them those made for humans as they are typically more concentrated. Also, they need fewer dosages than an average human so this is put into consideration when producing it.
How to Get CBD for Your Dog
Getting good quality products might be quite challenging when it comes to CBD. The way around this is purchasing only from trusted online sources. To go a step further, be sure that whatever product you are purchasing is fully organic and does not contain any additives as this could harm your dog rather than help it. To be doubly sure, you can always request for the lab analysis of the product. Reputable manufacturers and retailers will be able to give you this.
Once you have the right product, you will begin to see the benefits listed above manifesting in your pet.
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