Is CBD Helpful in the Treatment of Your Dog’s Arthritis?

It can be quite painful to watch your pup suffer in pain, especially when he or she cannot communicate the same to you through words. As pet owners, our desperate cries to relieve them from any kind of pain or discomfort is expected and we will stop at nothing to help our fur buddies.

For many dogs, the most common problem is that of arthritis, especially when they grow old. Thankfully, there are medications and treatments available to alleviate the symptoms, pain, and inflammation, CBD is the latest tool in the market to successfully treat arthritis in dogs.

There are anecdotes backed by research to prove CBD ability to relieve not only dogs but other animals and humans as well from the pain of arthritis. Hence, this article has been brought to you to understand how and if CBD is helpful in the treatment of your dog’s arthritis.

What is CBD?

CBD or cannabidiol, a naturally-occurring compound found in the cannabis plant, along with marijuana. The good thing about CBD is that it does not contain high volumes of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is mainly responsible for creating + maintaining the ‘high’ in your brain. Thus, CBD is completely non-psychoactive in nature and is zero intoxicating for you.

Perhaps, this is the reason why it has been dropped from the list of controlled substances in the US and is also legalized in all 50 states of the country under the 2018 Farm Bill. Another reason why CBD has grown quite popular in recent years is its extraordinary ability to help people heal from various health conditions. CBD is known to have therapeutic traits that have relieved people from problems like anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, skin problems, seizures, even cancer.

No wonder it has become the shining star of the health and wellness industry.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a swelling or tenderness in one or more bones/joints in your body. It is as common in canines as in human beings. In fact, as per research, canine arthritis affects one in 4 dogs in the US. With that calculation, more than 20 million dogs deal with arthritis on a daily basis.

The main cause of arthritis is inflammation followed by stiffness and then, pain in the affected area. Some of the other common symptoms found in dogs suffering from the disease include – limping, slow body movements, reduced mobility, excessive panting and sleeping, reluctance to go for walks and inability to jump.

How arthritis affects the body of your dog?

When your dog is suffering from arthritis, this means that he or she has weakened cartilage, which is found between the bones and joints in the body. When the bones deal with excessive pressures, especially with weakened or diminished cartilage, it often leads to stiffness and pain. Arthritis can also be the result of wear-and-tear, an injury, or some kind of infection in the body.

The disease also makes your dog less or completely inactive since walking around becomes painful for him or her. This also leads to weight gain, which is not a good sign since with extra weight, the pressure on the bones will increase, which might lead to more pain and trouble.

Thankfully, there are traditional medicines and various therapies to help your dog. However, CBD oil is being considered by many pet owners for the treatment of arthritis, since it is affordable, natural and effective.

Can CBD help with arthritis in dogs?

The simple answer to the question is yes, it can. What really happens when your pet consumes CBD is that the compound interacts with the endocannabinoid system or ECS in the body and triggers the two cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 and CB2, found in the brain and nervous system, respectively.

When these receptors attach themselves with CBD cannabinoids, they regulate balance in the body and bring it to the state of homeostasis, where all diseases, body discomforts and problems are automatically treated in the body.

Thus, when CBD enters the body of your dog, it starts interacting with the system in a way that definitely helps in the reduction of pain and stiffness brought to you dog as the result of arthritis. But what is the best way to administer CBD to your dog?

While CBD Oil is the most common CBD product that dog owners give their dogs, CBD Dog treats too are gaining a lot of  popularity. Primarily because of their better taste in comparison to the earthy taste of CBD Oil.

How CBD helps in treating arthritis?

CBD has certain benefits that help in the treatment of arthritis. Some of the qualities of CBD oil are listed below –

  1.     It helps in reducing inflammation in the body – There are many studies, that have already proven CBD oil’s ability to heal the body from inflammation. Since inflammation is the number one reason for the development of arthritis, along with many diseases in the body, its reduction or removal from the body will anyway keep your dog healthy and fit.
  2.     It helps with pain – Another popular and proven benefit of consuming CBD oil is its ability to reduce both acute and chronic pain in the body. This argument is also backed by strong research where CBD was proven to have pain-killing properties. Since pain is also the result of arthritis, taking CBD oil regularly can help your pet deal with the same and find relief soon.
  3.     Helps in weight loss – When your dog suffers from arthritis, chances are that he will gain extra weight because of lack of movements. CBD is also known for helping in weight reduction and thus, might help your dog do the same.

What more should you know about CBD for your dog?

To begin with, you should know that CBD oil and other formulations do not come with any side-effects, none whatsoever. Since it is completely natural, there are little to no chances that your dog will suffer from side-effects.

CBD has also been accepted and labelled as a safe and reliable way of alternate medication. It is all right to give it to your dog since you and your dog have the same endocannabinoid system and thus, the effect of CBD oil will be more or less same on both of your bodies.

There is one important thing about giving CBD oil to your dog and that’s deciding on the dosage. The exact dosage of the oil depends on the breed, gender, weight and body type of the dog. So, generally, you must stick to 2-4 drops of the oil given to your friend 2-4 times daily. Rest assured, your little friend will be alright soon.

Conclusion

There is no reason why you shouldn’t try giving your dog CBD oil from a trusted brand, especially when he or she is suffering from so much pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. You can continue with the traditional methods of treatment and still give CBD oil to your dog as a supplement. 

However, you must consult other pet owners on what brand of CBD oil will be best suited for your dog. Like CBDPure has launched CBD Pets, whose review can be found here. You can also check for a discount on CBDPure products.

Keep giving your dog a few drops of CBD oil on a daily basis and soon, you will see him or her jumping and running with joy without any pain or stiffness of arthritis.