Seeing your dog go through pain, minor or significant, can be disturbing for any pet parent. We take care of our pets like they are our own kids and similarly, we’ll go to the end of the world to maintain their well-being. The kind of love and faithfulness that our dogs bless us with is unconditional. However, when something happens to them, it leaves us shattered. A dog parent would do just about anything to take care of their pet.
If your dog has cancer, it must be undergoing a great deal of pain. It can be heartbreaking as the feeling of helplessness creeps in when you see your dog suffering. If you have been trying to deal with a number of symptoms associated with cancer, thankfully, there’s hope. CBD, a plant-based compound can be helpful in relieving the side-effects that your dog witnesses as a result of cancer. Here’s more about what is CBD and how it can help your dog with cancer.
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a type of compound called cannabinoid found in cannabis. There are about hundreds of other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. However, CBD and THC are two main compounds that are found in large quantities. THC is the compound that made marijuana popular for its ability to get people high, and it exhibits various psychoactive properties. CBD does not have any psychoactive properties and thus, is great to use for medical reasons.
CBD oil for pain or any other condition for pets or even humans does not contain THC. If at all, it’s less than 0.3% of THC, which is considered legal since CBD cancels the effects of that amount of THC effectively.
Trusted sellers extract CBD oil for pain and cancer only from the hemp plant and not from marijuana. This is because the hemp plant either doesn’t contain THC at all or if it does, it contains THC only in traces. However, marijuana has an abundance of THC in it. With so much knowledge about CBD, here’s how CBD can be beneficial for dogs that have cancer.
CBD OIL FOR CANCER IN DOGS
Cancer challenges the quality of life of a dog that gets diagnosed with the condition. The very first thing that has to be made clear is that CBD does not completely cure cancer. However, it is useful in improving the quality of life of your dog if it is suffering from cancer. It is especially a helpful alternative if you have been trying every single way to make your dog feel better through its struggle with cancer.
Dogs experience pain, seizures, loss in appetite, and nausea when they develop cancer. CBD is best known for its ability to reduce chronic pain. It interacts with the receptors that function to manage pain in humans as well as dogs. Besides that, the Endocannabinoid System- a system in dogs which helps in maintaining an overall balance in their body. So, CBD oil for pain interacts with the ECS and helps restore their appetite and also regulates moods in dogs with cancer. Furthermore, it can also be helpful in reducing the feeling of nausea.
CBD is also popular for its anti-seizure properties. It can significantly reduce the frequency of seizures. This property of CBD, pretty much like its painkilling property, is backed by evidence. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has even approved a medicine called Epidiolex that contains CBD.
There has been partial evidence that CBD might be useful in curbing the growth of unwanted or cancerous cells. However, more evidence in this regard would help draw better conclusions and rule out assumptions. If this property of CBD works on your dog, whatever the chances may be, your dog would be greatly benefitted.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Before you start giving your dog CBD oil for pain and cancer, make sure you consult your dog’s vet once. Also, before you buy a CBD product, make sure you check all the lab results to make sure it can be used for dogs and does not contain THC or any other harmful chemicals. If the seller claims that the CBD product works for cancer and its symptoms, there should also be evidence that supports those claims.
Make sure you also work on the doses of CBD oil for your dog. Start giving your dog low doses and see how it works. It normally takes 30 to 40 minutes for CBD to have an effect. Keep increasing the dose gradually and fix a dose that seems most effective for your dog.