January 4th, 2021 | Updated on June 28th, 2022
CBD has been an alternative treatment for various canine-related illnesses, like osteoarthritis, canine separation anxiety, loss of appetite, and insomnia.
Despite its apparent lack of scientific anchors, why does it still increase users, both human and pets? According to a recent article, CBD’s popularity is skyrocketing ever since 2018, and many researchers and scientists are still finding how it’s working beyond the theories. Even without knowing the truth behind its mechanism of action, many people always trust this.
Why is that so, you may wonder? The popularity may be a bit exaggerated, but CBD has so many testimonies that it outweighs any remarks against it. From dog-owners that have their sick pals and cat owners with their sick kitties, all of them are vouching for it.
Since there’s a lot of them (so much that it’s now an impossible thought that CBD companies bought all of these people for fake positive reviews), many people try it, and in turn, get converted into users when they discover the claims are valid. Although that is also one of the most important factors to note, they do not need complicated scientific explanations.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol is known colloquially as CBD, which is a compound found in cannabis plants. This genus has two species that are relevant in this article, namely hemp and marijuana.
There are many differences between them, especially their cannabinoid count and what phytocannabinoids are found in their biological bodies.
Hemp is the primary source of CBD-derived products, mainly because this plant is mostly made up of cannabidiol instead of other phytocannabinoids. It also has a minimal amount of THC, which customers favor much.
Cannabidiol isn’t psychoactive, which means it’s a beneficial phytocannabinoid that doesn’t leave users high after ingesting or inhaling it.
This makes it safe for canine consumption – you can get more info about it here. Anyway, if there is one thing that should be considered, it’s that no matter what breed, pet dogs must never ingest high levels of THC.
Why is THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, so hated? It’s because it is both poisonous and overwhelming to your furry friend’s small body.
Studies show that a dog’s cannabinoid receptors are thrice as much as the human brain’s, which, if it interacts with a psychoactive agent like THC, will overstimulate their nervous system and result in coma.
Other than that, THC is a nightmare to remove for vets, especially if they’ve passed the 30-minute timeframe. Once they give a said timeframe, the vets won’t be able to induce vomiting (which could have gotten rid of the substance) because THC has already activated its anti-emetic effect.
Another issue with Tetrahydrocannabinol is its tangle with legalities. THC is the reason why marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, deeming it illegal in some states.
In comparison, cannabidiol is only a schedule 5 drug, which means they are drugs and substances that pose little to no addiction to the user. Some studies may have said otherwise, but most users claim that it is not true anymore.
CBD And Anxiety
It’s not just humans that suffer anxiety at some point. Dogs do as well, and they’re coined it as canine separation anxiety. This condition leaves your dog restless, aggressive, hostile, and even entirely apathetic to you.
It can also manifest with shivering, lack of appetite, whining always, and howling. Seeing your canine act like this is heartbreaking.
CBD works like an anxiolytic, blocking messages going towards the brain and preventing stimulation to the amygdala, the part of the nervous system that induces anxiety and depression most of the time.
CBD And Pain
This is by far the most popular use of CBD. May it be osteoarthritis, other joint pains, muscle aches, or even external wounds, CBD can be a great help to your dog’s recovery.
Despite these claims, though, there are still gaps in knowledge because of the lack of research and studies. A study dedicated to the knowledge gaps was made to show how the CBD community desperately needs them as you can read here: tandfonline. Two years isn’t enough to build solid pieces of evidence.
Still, it doesn’t stop testimonies and positive reviews from being told. For wounds, it acts as an antibacterial agent. Meanwhile for joint pains, it acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It is a versatile compound that finds itself in controversy most of the time, most of it are unfounded anyway.
