Is your dog anxious? Here’s how CBD can help.
Whenever a thunderstorm rolls in, my dogs — Odie, Nina, and Jolene — can feel the change in the air. It sends them into a frenzy of anxiety. I grew tired of using expensive and dangerous anti-anxiety medications, so I turned to CBD. The results were amazing!
Just like people, dogs (and cats) can experience stress and anxiety. According to a recent study, in fact, up to 40% of all pets experience anxiety. Anxiety in dogs can have a variety of causes, including loud noises (like thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots or noisy traffic), separation, phobias, or experience-based fears. Anxiety can manifest in different ways, and may also include aggressive and compulsive behaviors. However, your dog’s anxiety and stress can be dramatically reduced through the use of all-natural hemp-derived CBD.
How does CBD work?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid (natural chemical compound) found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis is separated into two plant types — marijuana and hemp. Hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC (the psychoactive component associated with feeling “high”) but has all the cannabinoids, including CBD. Unlike marijuana, hemp is legal in all 50 states as well as Canada and Mexico.
CBD and other cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to help carry messages between cells. There are two types of receptors in the endocannabinoid system – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are located in the brain, spinal cord, lungs, muscles, GI tract and vascular system, while CB2 receptors function in the peripheral nervous system, as well as the bones, skin and spleen. Many cannabinoids work with both CB1 and CB2 receptors, meaning that a single compound can have several positive benefits.
CBD works well in dogs, because they have more receptors in their endocannabinoid system than even people do. This means the positive effects of CBD are felt even more strongly in dogs than in us. CBD helps dogs return to a state of calm and homeostasis, making it easier to calm anxious pups.
Are there any side effects?
One of the most appealing benefits of CBD oil for pet parents is that it’s safe and non-toxic. CBD is a medicine on which it is impossible to overdose. There are no negative long-term side effects. If you give your dog too much, what is not absorbed will be excreted through his waste. This is very different from giving him children’s Benadryl or other stronger medications, which can cause liver and kidney damage when used long-term.
Because of CBD, Odie, Nina and Jolene are able to take a nap when thunderstorms roll in, rather than pacing, barking and giving in to compulsions. I have seen the miracles of CBD firsthand, and recommend it as a safe, natural way to treat pain in your pets.
