Have you been hearing about how more people are giving CBD to their pets? Today, even a good number of veterinarians are suggesting that pet owners turn to natural, holistic hemp in order to help their furry friends find relief from their ailments. Because cats and dogs have endocannabinoid systems just like us, it’s possible that CBD can alleviate their symptoms on a profound level.
If this all sounds appealing to you, we recommend discussing CBD with your veterinarian in order to figure out whether or not this product is right for them.
As we just stated, dogs and cats have endocannabinoid systems just like we do. This system is in the body of every mammal, in fact. It’s largely responsible for maintaining homeostasis throughout the body, and it does this by producing cannabinoids that attach to cannabinoid receptors along the nervous system, digestive tract and brain. This forces chemical reactions to occur that regulate bodily processes like mood, inflammation and immune function.
An In-Depth Look at Its Potential Effects
Many experts believe that pets, like us, can be very deficient in cannabinoids. Supplying your pet with CBD, therefore, might help boost their endocannabinoid system so that their overall wellbeing improves while they find relief from a particular ailment.
- They May Become Calmer
One of the most popular reasons for taking CBD is that it might help with a wide range of anxiety-related conditions including: panic attacks, severe stress and social anxiety. Many people take CBD daily in order to find relief from anxiety, and it turns out that your pet might have the same response to it that we do.
So, how does CBD make pets and humans alike feel calmer? Well, when we’re under stress, our brain secretes a chemical called “cortisol” that engages the nervous system. This process stimulates the release of adrenaline which produces the stress response. However, some of us are constantly experiencing that stress response even when we’re not in danger. This is known as anxiety, and it can present itself in the form of many different symptoms.
Since the endocannabinoid system seems to regulate the amount of cortisol that’s released from the brain, supplying that system with CBD might help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety by preventing too much cortisol from being released throughout the day.
If your pet has anxiety, you may notice that they startle easily, or that they’ve a tendency to hide even when no threat is present. It’s possible that giving them CBD regularly could help them feel calmer and less reactive, which means that you won’t have to constantly worry about stressing them out.
- They May Be in Less Pain
It’s possible that CBD can help your pet experience profound relief from pain. You may know that many studies have shown that CBD might be able to help humans with a wide range of pain conditions, and it appears that the cannabinoid affects pets in the same manner.
In fact, only recently, Cornell University did a study to determine whether or not CBD can help dogs who suffer from debilitating arthritis. The dogs were administered the same amount of CBD daily, and the researchers found that their conditions improved dramatically.
See, the endocannabinoid system has a large impact on the level of inflammation throughout the body, and it also determines our pain threshold. If our pain threshold is low, we’ll be in pain more frequently. However, it seems that taking CBD can increase our tolerance to pain so that we don’t feel it as often or as severely.
Meanwhile, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties might be able to reduce pain caused by inflammation by controlling the immune system’s response to injury. Conditions like arthritis are caused by inflammation, which means that CBD might be able to give them long-lasting relief from their pain.
- They May Become More Playful
Many pet owners have been amazed to find that giving their furry friend CBD daily has made them more playful and generally happy. There are a few reasons why this may occur. For one thing, if your pet suffers from an ailment and CBD helps them experience relief, they’ll be more likely to feel playful because they’re not dealing with chronic symptoms any longer.
Another reason why CBD may increase their playfulness is because the hemp plant seems to possess compounds that naturally boost energy levels in a subtle but noticeable way. It seems that CBD can balance the hormones in the brain that determine how energized we feel throughout the day. It also might help balance our sleep cycle by regulating the production of melatonin, while improving mood by regulating the amount of serotonin. All of these factors can contribute to a more playful, carefree state of mind.
- Their Coat May Improve
As we said earlier, CBD is naturally rich in anti-inflammatory activity. As you may know, inflammation doesn’t just affect our levels of pain. Inflammation can manifest in the form of a skin condition such as dandruff, psoriasis or eczema. If your pet has one of these skin conditions, it an affect their coat by making it oily, knotted or patchy as the hair follicles can’t stimulate growth properly.
Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, it might clear up any skin conditions, which means that their coat may improve dramatically. It’s important to note that you can find topical CBD products for pets that are applied straight to the affected areas on their skin. However, taking CBD orally can also decrease general inflammation throughout the body.
- Their Digestive System May Improve
As we said before, there are cannabinoid receptors throughout the digestive tract. Therefore, taking CBD regularly may improve overall function of the digestive system. Any pet owner knows that digestive troubles seem to be common with pets. Whether you have a cat with chronic hairballs or a dog who deals with frequent constipation, it’s possible that CBD can help soothe their troubles.
Much research has been done regarding CBD’s unique potential effects on the digestive system. It seems that because of CBD’s multi-tasking abilities, it can help with everything from indigestion to diarrhea.
Determining If Your Pet May Experience Positive Effects from CBD
If the above effects interest you as a pet owner, we suggest bringing up CBD with your vet. However, in order for you to potentially see these effects take place, it’s important that you understand the factors that determine how effective CBD may be.
Proper Administration is Key
First, it’s crucial that you get your dosing correct. How much CBD benefits your pet has a lot to do with whether or not you’re giving it to them properly. Make sure that you are consistent with your dosing so that the CBD can build up in their system. Also, make sure that you’re giving them the right amount by looking at the company’s dosage recommendations.
Only Go with High-Quality CBD Products Specially Formulated for Pets
Another important thing to consider is whether or not the CBD you’ve purchased is of a high quality. It’s imperative that you opt for a CBD product that’s specially formulated for pets, and that the product comes from a trusted company.
Your Pet’s Body is Unique
At the end of the day, every pet’s body is different, which means that every pet will respond to CBD in a different way.
Consider CBD for Your Pet Today!
Many pet owners have found that CBD has given their furry friend tremendous relief from their symptoms. If you want to try to help your pet by administering CBD, speak to your vet and look for a high-quality product. You just might find that their condition improves dramatically.
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