Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic compound found in cannabis and hemp, has gained widespread attention for its wide range of therapeutic properties. There is little doubt about CBD’s efficacy as an anti-seizure agent and its effectiveness as a treatment for nausea and vomiting. However, the positive effects of CBD are not limited to these particular indications.
Cannabidiol has a variety of other potential therapeutic uses that are currently being explored by researchers, including its use for the treatment of various types of pain, anxiety, depression, autoimmune disorders, and more. As such, much of the existing clinical research on the effects of CBD has focused on its use as a pharmacological intervention of various types.
Many medications undergo rigorous testing before they are approved for use on humans and/or animals. However, this approach is not always taken when it comes to natural products or supplements- there isn't a large body of research looking only at the therapeutic benefits of CBD oil specifically.
There hasn't been much research into how cannabis and cannabinoids may be used in animal health issue. but thanks to its growing popularity, there have also been some noteworthy trials with CBD oil alone. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the existing literature on the usage of CBD in animals.
What Does Research Say About the Effects of CBD in Animals?
Studies in experimental animals have found that CBD can reduce seizures, reduce anxiety, and have an antidepressant effect. While there is some promising evidence for the use of CBD, more research needs to be done before we can say for certain how it works and what dose is required to get the specific effects and benefits.
Studies have shown that CBD oil can be beneficial for alleviating canine osteoarthritis symptoms. In a 2017 study, Cornell University researchers found that two 2 milligram doses of CBD oil per day is associated with improved activity and increased comfort in cases of canine osteoarthritis. However, the assessment for changes as a result of these treatments was carried out by the animal's owners.
Arthritis is a leading cause of pain, disfigurement, and disability in Canada 1 in 5 of all adults have received an affirmative diagnosis. But what about the Animals? The temporary relief for them is usually limited to rest, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain. (1) Looked if CBD could be an option to help manage dog arthritis. (affirmative diagnosis of osteoarthritis)
New ground breaking study:
If you want a quick summary It goes as followed:
The study demonstrated cannabidiol (CBD) exerts robust and quantifiable anti-inflammatory properties in experimental systems.
These experimental results were quite prominent with administration of liposomally-encapsulated or high-dose naked CBD but not low-dose naked CBD or placebo was associated with significant improvements to quality of life as quantitated by both owner and veterinarian.
Topical CBD For Pain In Animals?
There are a few key pieces of evidence gleaned from animal studies which appear to translate well to the use of CBD oil, mainly because the levels of CBD used in the trial could, in general, be replicated safely with CBD oil. For example, The European Journal of Pain shared a CBD study where this constituent was applied to the animal's skin and analgesic effects were monitored.
The researchers concluded that this 'transdermal' administration of CBD was associated with decreased pain and inflammation in cases of arthritis. Meanwhile, a further animal trial found that CBD reduced neuropathic and inflammatory pain. From this, and in line with empirical evidence and trials such as the Cornell one noted above, it appears that we can say with some confidence that CBD oil may be used to address a range of painful conditions in animals, particularly those associated with the joints, the nerves, and which there is accompanying inflammation.
One thing to note is these studies have been carried out using isolated CBD rather than the whole' CBD oil products/Plant. Though these studies can't definitively predict how a CBD oil will work if used in a similar disease/health complaint, they do at least help us hypothesise the likely outcome were CBD oil to be given at a dose that delivers the same amount of CBD used in the study. This is something to keep in mind when you research CBD.
How Can We Use This Research For Therapeutic Effects In Pets?
A thorough understanding of the effects of CBD on various animal types can help us decide whether it is a viable treatment for our pets.
The study above on osteoarthritis contains the dose.
Which 50mg of CBD and 20 mg of the liposomally-encapsulated (nano) once per day.
This gives you a reference if you own a Large breed dog with hip problems.
We would recommend splitting the dose twice a day for even better results.
Starting Low and working your way up to these level one the course of a few weeks If you find you are see the result you want at a lower dose stay there.
If You look at the result to can clearly see why It is very important we as dogs owners are able to dial in correct dose. Not as many visible signs of relief were seen in low-dose naked CBD or placebo groups you could be preventing your dog from getting the relieve they need simply due to your not understanding dosing. But Not anymore!
CBD Oil For Dogs Dosage Calculator:
It used to require a little experimentation in order to get the right dosage. We have taken 5 years of data, over 10,000 products sold and made this calculator below. We have taken the guess work out how to start with CBD oil. Luckily enough they line up with this study!
Click to use the calculator. This will help you find out how many milligrams of CBD need to be in the bottle and how much CBD needs to be in each ml of liquid.
Variability in Study Results and Interpretations
As with any type of medication, the effects of CBD can vary significantly from one study to another. This variability may be due to the fact that the researchers in these experiments used different dosages of CBD and may have used the drug for different lengths of time.
There may also be other factors that make some studies more promising than others. For example, certain types of animals (e.g., mice, rats, rabbits, ferrets, etc.) may have a more suitable genetic makeup for certain types of seizure research, while other animals (e.g., dogs, cats, non-human primates) may be better suited for studying anxiety and depression.
For example, studies have found that administering CBD to mice led to an increased expression of certain brain proteins, suggesting that CBD may induce brain changes similar to those seen in rodents experiencing antidepressant effects. A seperate studies have found that administering CBD to rats led to a reduction in anxiety-like behavior and may be useful as a treatment for mood-related disorders in pets.
This may be due to the fact that rats and other primates experience a range of mood disorders similar to those seen in humans, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and other common disorders.
Conclusion
If your dog is currently taking medications. Always consult your veterinarian and CBD can affect the way your pet body metabolizes the drugs. A pet or animal taking one of these medications won't automatically be unable to take CBD oil, but the doses of both the CD oil and the medication will need to be carefully considered by the vet and the animal owner.
While the evidence on the effects of CBD is largely limited to human studies, it is encouraging. In particular, the findings of CBD’s effectiveness in reducing seizures, reducing anxiety, and inducing antidepressant effects in experimental animals are promising. The current research on the effects of CBD in animals is limited, and more studies are needed. However, given the wide range of potential therapeutic effects that CBD may have, there is great potential for the compound to be used in animals.
References:
(1)
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain.
This study was funded in part by a sponsored research agreement (to MMH) between Medterra CBD, Inc and Baylor College of Medicine.
Daily administration of CBD for 30 days improves veterinarian-perspective subset QOL scores among large dogs with affirmative diagnosis of osteoarthritis.
(3)
Anxiolytic Effects of Repeated Cannabidiol Treatment
(4)
Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.
D.C. Hammell,L.P. Zhang,F. Ma,S.M. Abshire,S.L. McIlwrath,A.L. Stinchcomb,K.N. Westlund
(5)
Cannabidiol Exposure During the Mouse Adolescent Period Is Without Harmful Behavioral Effects on Locomotor Activity, Anxiety, and Spatial Memory
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