Seeing your dog suffering from arthritis is devastating. Although there are medications available to deal with inflammation and pain, these often cause different side effects in dogs. Fortunately, an effective alternative has been found that treats multiple health ailments in both humans and animals without causing any serious side effects – CBD for dogs.  

Research suggests that CBD is a useful compound as it may help reduce the symptoms of arthritis and slows its progression. In this article, we discuss how CBD helps treat arthritis in dogs. Let‘s have a look below!  

What is CBD?  

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is naturally found in the Cannabis sativa plant along with other 112 cannabinoids. CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the main cannabinoids of the plant, may be responsible for delivering several health benefits. Since THC has psychoactive properties, this cannabinoid gets you high. On the other hand, the CBD compound doesn‘t cause any euphoric sensation and is safe to consume.  

The consumption of hemp-derived CBD became legal as it contains less than 0.3% THC level. The CBD compound can be used in most of the 50 states in America for treating health conditions in humans and animals.  

Dogs with Arthritis  

Among all pet animal species, dogs suffer from arthritis more often due to injury, excessive running, or genetic predisposition. According to a survey, one in four of 77.2 million pet dogs in the United States are diagnosed with some type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in dogs than rheumatoid arthritis, and pain is the primary symptom.  

Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease as it slowly causes inflammation, which is characterized by hypertrophy of bone at the margins, degeneration of the cartilage, and changes in the synovial membrane – this leads to stiffness and pain in joints. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that may potentially help reduce the production of inflammatory cells while decreasing the immune cells in the case of arthritis. The Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor carried out research, and it was observed that CBD may contains anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the naturally occurring substance may be able to decrease pain and inflammation in dogs with arthritis. It was also concluded that the CBD treatment appears to be safe without affecting the functions of the kidney and liver. The CBD compound may help your dog deal with arthritis in the following ways: 

• Improves digestion  
• Decreases joint pain  
• Helps in mobility  
• Better appetite  
• Lowers pain and inflammation  

Most mammals, including human beings, cats, horses, and dogs, have the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). It functions with a series of receptors, transmitters, and specialized enzymes to regulate bodily functions, such as – immunity, anxiety, skin health, digestion, and more. Since the natural compound is effective for treating various health ailments, it seems too good to be true. CBD may be highly beneficial because dogs have the ECS, which potentially allows CBD to be helpful. It may have a stabilizing effect on many of your dog’s bodily systems and will often be receptive to cannabinoids in hemp oil: in food, natural supplements, or even applied topically.  

Can My Dog Use Human CBD Oil?  

You might wonder whether you can give your dog a human CBD oil or not. Well, the answer is yes. It is safe to give your dog CBD designed for human beings, but make sure to use the CBD that contains no THC, as it is toxic to animals. Also, it is advised to check in with your vet before you give your dog any amount of CBD.  

Ways to Give Your Dog CBD  

Add CBD Oil to Dog Food  

The majority of dog owners use this method because it‘s effective and comfortable. Just prepare your dog‘s food like you usually do, and add an appropriate CBD amount on top of the food. Both dry and wet food is good to go for this method. 

Place CBD in Your Dog’s Eating Bowl  

Another successful method is putting CBD edibles or CBD oil in your dog‘s feeding bowl. Since your dog is familiar with its bowl, it’s easier to feed them CBD edibles or oils. Leave it there for some time and observe if your dog has a liking to it.  

Put CBD to Your Dog’s Treats  

Adding CBD to your dog‘s favorite treat is also a great idea. It’s similar to adding the CBD to cat food. Just grab your dog‘s favorite treat, put CBD to it, and wait for them to eat it. Breaking the treats into pieces can create more surface for the CBD oil to get absorbed.  

Is CBD Legal? 

Until recently, according to federal drug regulations, CBD drugs (except for the FDA-approved epilepsy medication Epidiolex) have been lumped into the same category as heroin. Yet when the Farm Bill came into law in December 2018, it allowed hemp-derived CBD that contains no more than 0.3% THC. CBD derived from the marijuana plant is also illegal because it still has illicit status under Schedule 1. Even the TSA recently announced that it will allow people to travel with hemp items, including CBD manufactured under regulations set out in the new legislation. “Nonetheless, we are still waiting for the USDA to establish the final rules on the legalization of hemp products, which means that CBD is not yet legal in any state,” says Cristina Buccola, a lawyer specializing in the cannabis field. “While we are awaiting clarification from the federal level, you can test the laws of your own state. That being said, any type of enforcement related to CBD has been targeted toward the manufacturers and distributors — not the customers.”

Buy CBD oil by checking out our site and shop! Learn more about CBD for dogs and CBD oil for cats with pain.