What Are the CBD Dog Treats Benefits?
Does your dog shake, cry, and freak out when you leave their side? Are you worried about the long-term effects that pharmaceutical anti-anxiety medications will have? Do the painkillers seem to change your dog’s personality?
Separation anxiety is natural in these post-COVID times in both the parents and their furbabies. You may have even Googled how to calm an anxious dog naturally!
If you’re looking for an alternative to help relieve your dog’s pain or anxiety, then keep reading to learn more on CBD dog treats benefits.
An Introduction to CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been a hot topic in recent years, leading to many debunked misconceptions. More specifically, people around the world are becoming more aware of the difference between CBD and its more well-known counterpart – marijuana.
CBD in itself does not cause a “high” that’s associated with the consumption of marijuana. While it plays a significant part in medical marijuana, it’s derived from hemp plants rather than marijuana plants.
CBD doesn’t get you “high” because of its lack of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Typically, CBD is sold as an oil or as infused products ranging from food to even beauty products for humans.
How It Works
Your body has two receptors that the cannabinoids interact with to produce the desired effects. The two specific receptors they interact with are the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
The CB1 receptors are found all over your central nervous system, but a significant portion is located within your brain. These receptors are involved in regulating pain, emotion, movement, and appetite, to name a few.
On the other hand, your immune system houses your CB2 receptors. These receptors affect your pain and inflammation levels.
The critical difference between THC and CBD here is that THC attaches, but CBD stimulates. While there are other receptors such as nuclear receptors and ion channels, the CB1 and CB2 receptors remain the two best studied.
CBD in dogs works the same as it does in humans. They interact with the receptors mentioned above, which in turn keeps your dog’s body normal and healthy.
An Alternative to Pharmaceuticals
The grim reality of unintended abuse and overdose of pharmaceuticals is one the world faces daily.
Overconsumption of prescription pet medicine can happen unknowingly. Since they’re generally flavored to make it easier for your dog to consume, if it’s left in a place they can get to, they’ll likely go for it when you’re not looking. People in the U.S. are generally used to going to their local drug store to get over-the-counter medicine (OTC) to help ease their pain.
So it makes sense that people would also think that it would be alright to do the same for their dogs. But other than prescribed medicine, the second biggest cause of overdose in pets comes from OTC medicine.
Many of the medicines people buy OTC are incredibly toxic to dogs. Moreover, people follow the dosage directions on the label but fail to realize that giving a human dose to a dog can result in poisoning. This has lead to an increasing number of pet owners looking for natural pain relief for their dogs.
If your dog’s medication seems to work perfectly, then asking your veterinarian about adding CBD to their regime might increase the pharmaceutical’s effect. For example, if your dog suffers from inflammation and takes Rimadyl, they might benefit from adding CBD dog chews for arthritis to help alleviate inflammation and pain.
CBD and Your Dog
If you’ve been working from home, then you have surely felt the increasing separation anxiety growing in your dog. When you hear them crying and see them shaking when you have to leave for the office now, the heartbreak you feel is more than enough to bring tears to your eyes.
You may have tried hours upon hours of training to help your dog before you had to leave, but your dog shows no signs of improvement. Heck, you may have even started to think about getting them on some prescription medication!
When dogs come in with depression or anxiety, the go-to medicine for vets is fluoxetine or Prozac, and it’s shown to prove its worth. However, the side effects and having to wean your dog off the medicine when it’s time might be the hard line in the sand.
The good news is that there are a ton of CBD dog chews on the market that can help (after consulting with your vet, of course!).
CBD Dog Treats Benefits
There are many issues that CBD can help treat in dogs. Some include, but aren’t exclusive to the following:
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Seizures
- Lack of appetite
- Cancer
Whether it’s the Fourth of July or you’re leaving for work, if your dog is showing signs of anxiety, then a regular supply of CBD dog treats may help your dog cope.
While prescription medicine for your dog with seizures is proven to help, it has the potential to cause liver problems and may not even work. It’s a risk that you may have to take, but asking your vet if you can supplement the medicine with CBD dog treats may prove beneficial.
The side effects of cancer drugs in humans are painful, and dogs undergoing cancer treatment also suffer from the same painful side effects. CBD is increasingly studied and used as a method to relieve the unwanted side effects of those drugs.
And if your dog only eats what he likes, the good news is that there are not only CBD dog chews for anxiety and pain, but it also comes in drops. When you decide to give this natural calming aid for dogs, you have to make sure that you’re getting your supply from a reputable source.
You also want to be sure that you’re giving them the correct dose when you give your dog CBD dog treats. Generally, the correct dose can be found on the packaging, but you can always consult your vet to be sure.
The Natural Solution for Your Dog
The powerless feeling you get when you know that your dog is in pain or suffering and you can’t do anything about it is absolutely gutting.
Asking your vet about CBD dog treats benefits is always worth it to help your little loved one.
If you have any questions about CBD for your dog, then check out our other recent posts or get in contact with one of our specialists to answer your questions.
