Animals and CBD now are making a team, and it is no wonder, that the world of animal healthcare is evolving day by day. CBD, a natural compound derived from the hemp plant, has a lot of benefits in treating a variety of ailments in both domestic and wild animals.
Research is still ongoing, but there exists some evidence that suggests CBD could offer significant support for animal wellness. Let’s discover how this compound can offer calm and wellness to any animal.
Animals and CBD: Understanding how does it work
Before start talking about the benefits of CBD in animals, it is important to learn how CBD works. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is non-intoxicating. This compound interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors found throughout the body that plays a vital role in regulating different functions like sleep, inflammation, pain perception, and mood.
That is why by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD may help modulate these functions and potentially alleviate various symptoms.
Domestic Animals and CBD: know its benefits
At this point, maybe you are asking how does it benefit my pet? Here we will mention 5 interesting facts that improve the health of your buddy.
- Pain Management: its anti-inflammatory properties may offer relief chronic pain conditions like arthritis. Studies have shown promising results in reducing pain and improving mobility in animals.
- Anxiety and Stress: CBD’s calming effect may be beneficial for pets who experience anxiety caused by thunderstorms, travel, or separation issues. Also, helps manage stress-related behaviors like excessive barking or destructive chewing.
- Seizure Control: Some studies show that CBD may help reduce seizure frequency in dogs with epilepsy.
- Appetite Stimulation: animals can suffer loss of appetite because of medication or illnesses. Studies suggest CBD may help stimulate appetite and improve nausea, benefiting pets undergoing treatment or recovering from surgery.
- Skin and Coat Health: CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may alleviate symptoms of skin conditions in pets, like allergies and dermatitis. Topical CBD creams could be a great option that offers localized relief for itchy or irritated skin.
Expanding the Scope: CBD for Wild Animals
The potential of CBD goes beyond domestic animals. Conservation makes efforts to constantly seek innovative ways to protect wildlife. Let’s find out how can Wildlife Biologist and other experts manage this product.
- Wildlife Rehabilitation: Animals rescued from stressful situations or injuries often experience anxiety and pain during their recovery. CBD may help manage these symptoms, aiding the rehabilitation process.
- Stress Reduction During Transport: The relocation of endangered species can be highly stressful for animals. Preliminary studies suggest CBD could potentially reduce stress during transportation, improving animal welfare during reintroduction programs.
- Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict: Some wild animals, like elephants, are known to raid crops in search of food. CBD’s calming effect could potentially reduce anxiety and aggressive behavior, minimizing conflict with human settlements.
Wild Animals and CBD
Currently, most veterinarians focus on cannabis for pets, but some in Colombia have taken the lead on using it in the Zoo. Such is the case of Diana Buitrago, a veterinarian at the Cali Zoo who estimates that she and her colleagues have given cannabis to more than 50 species since 2020.
Lions, snakes, capybaras, mountain tapirs, and the list goes on, veterinarians have found that CBD works well for pain, osteoarthritis, and allergies, and also can increase the effectiveness of treatments for conditions such as cancer. Veterinarians who work with cannabis highlight the fact of starting with small doses and then incrementally finding what works best for each animal.
Recommendations for pet owners
By the time to start the dosage on your pet, we suggest that the best option is to work with a veterinarian, through trial and error and determine the best regimen for the animal. It is a good idea to keep a diary when starting and take notes about your pet’s mood, symptoms, and levels of sleeping, eating, and playing. It will help to adjust the treatment and get better results.
Conclusion
CBD is a promising help for improving animal wellness. Whether aiding with pain management in our furry companions or potentially supporting wild animal conservation, its potential is undeniable. As research continues, CBD could become an important addition to the animal healthcare toolkit.
We invite you to visit our store and discover all our CBD for Pets products. If you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to contact our Wellness Coach.