Anyone who suffers from arthritis knows how debilitating this condition can be. Arthritis sufferers can find themselves in severe pain throughout the day, making it difficult to complete even the most basic daily tasks.
As you probably know as a dog owner, your precious pup can also develop arthritis. In fact, one in five senior dogs has osteoarthritis, which means that as your dog ages, they have a fairly high chance of ending up with this condition. Just like humans with the condition, arthritic dogs can be in so much pain that their quality of life is greatly reduced. That’s why finding treatment is crucial.
New research suggests that CBD has the potential to help dogs who suffer from arthritis. In fact, more veterinarians are recommending CBD to pet owners as a way to help their dogs find relief from their pain. So, how does CBD have the potential to help with this condition? And, how can a dog owner properly give their dog CBD for maximum relief? We’ll be answering all these questions so that you can start trying out hemp on your furry companion in an effort to help them with their pain.
What is Canine Arthritis?
Canine arthritis usually refers to osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that affects both humans and dogs. Osteoarthritis tends to occur as a dog ages and is caused by a wearing down of the cartilage surrounding the joints. This cartilage wears down simply from overuse. The cartilage exists to cushion the joints so that movement is comfortable and freer. Once this cartilage breaks down, a dog may experience severe pain with movement and a decreased range of motion due to the friction that occurs.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any part of the body, but in dogs, it tends to affect the knees, shoulders, hips and elbows most frequently. That’s because these are the joints that are used the most frequently.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Canine Arthritis?
The first major sign of canine arthritis is a decreased amount of activity. If your dog just seems to be slowing down, you might first brush it off as a natural part of aging. But, over time, you’ll likely find that your dog no longer has any interest in playing, and spends most time sleeping.
You may find that your dog gradually struggles more and more to complete basic tasks like walking across a room or going up and down stairs. You may also notice changes in behavior as this type of pain can cause your dog to become depressed. If your dog seems less interested in food, that’s a good sign that there’s something going on.
What Causes Canine Arthritis?
Canine arthritis, as we said earlier, can be completely related to age as the cartilage is prone to breaking down after years of motion. However, there are certain factors that can contribute to the onset of this condition such as obesity and poor diet. Also, a dog can develop the condition due to an injury. It’s important to point out that while canine arthritis largely affects senior dogs, it can affect dogs of any age. Also, there are certain breeds that are more prone to the condition than others due to their unique body structure and weight.
What are the Effects of Canine Arthritis?
Canine arthritis can be devastating and debilitating. If your dog’s pain is severe enough, he or she may become lethargic which can lead to its own health problems as dogs require a certain amount of activity to maintain their overall health. Also, if your dog has difficulty getting around, it means that you’ll have to be around them more frequently in order to help them complete certain tasks.
Additionally, canine arthritis can be extremely difficult for you, the owner. Watching your dog suffer and lose its playfulness can be extremely painful emotionally.
How is Canine Arthritis Usually Treated?
Canine arthritis is typically treated with medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. These drugs are administered throughout the day in order to keep inflammation down while helping pain levels return to normal. The problem is that these drugs can come with side effects such as digestive issues and kidney troubles.
For more severe cases, a veterinarian may recommend surgery in order to restructure the affected joints. Of course, this is a very costly and relatively risky option.
Could CBD Help Dogs with Arthritis?
A newer treatment option is CBD, and lots of veterinary experts can’t recommend it enough. For those who don’t know, CBD is nontoxic, and it’s a natural compound that is found in the hemp plant. Many humans, as you probably know, take CBD daily in an effort to treat their own pain-related conditions. According to research, it turns out that CBD might benefit your precious companion in the same way.
Your Dog’s Endocannabinoid System
So, why does CBD seem like such a promising treatment for canine arthritis? It’s because of the endocannabinoid system that exists in dogs, humans and every other mammal alike. The endocannabinoid system regulates various processes throughout the body such as mood, inflammation levels and pain tolerance. The endocannabinoid
system makes its own cannabinoids that attach to cannabinoid receptors along various systems within the body. If the body doesn’t make enough cannabinoids, the body cannot reach homeostasis because the endocannabinoid system can’t regulate these crucial processes.
Taking CBD that comes from the hemp plant seems to supply the body with cannabinoids that help fight various ailments by regulating the way in which the body functions in order to heal itself. This is why CBD is becoming a popular way to treat such a massive range of conditions ranging from arthritis to anxiety.
Arthritis is a pain condition that involves inflammation. As the joints’ cartilage wears down, inflammation develops because the body believes that an injury has occurred. This is why the joints become painful and swollen. Because CBD may be able to lower inflammation on a large scale, it might be able to help with the symptoms of this condition.
Also, as we said, CBD seems to regulate the way in which the body handles pain. It may be able to increase one’s pain tolerance by preventing the nervous system from sending an abundant amount of pain signals to the brain.
Research on CBD and Canine Arthritis
Just recently, a study found dogs that were given CBD for osteoarthritis experienced incredible relief. The research found that in addition to helping them manage their pain, their inflammation levels went down and their mood and energy improved dramatically. Therefore, it’s safe to say that CBD has a strong potential to help dogs suffering from the condition.
Giving Your Dog CBD for Arthritis
These are just a few of the key factors to look for and do:
Quality Matters
Before you start giving your dog CBD for their arthritis, do some research to make sure that you’re buying a product that’s very high in quality. In addition to checking for quality, make sure that the product is specially formulated for dogs.
Be Consistent
As long as they tolerate it, it’s important to give your dog CBD daily for about two weeks before deciding whether or not it’s working or whether you need to adjust the dosage level. This is because CBD may take a couple of weeks to build up in their system before delivering results.
Dose Properly
Remember that dosage is everything, so follow the label’s instructions in order to ensure that you’re giving your dog the right amount. Some dogs may need more than the recommended dosage if their symptoms are especially severe.
Don’t Let Arthritis Wear Out Your Dog
We all know how heartbreaking it can be to watch your dog suffer from osteoarthritis. If you’re looking for a natural way to help them find relief, look into giving them CBD. This natural product might be able to alleviate their pain.
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