Pet Owners are Giving CBD a Thumbs Up

Pet lovers are cheering CBD as a remarkable new way to treat a wide variety of animal ailments – and science is catching up too, reports Forbes. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine showed that CBD significantly increased the mobility of dogs suffering from Canine osteoarthritis; a common ailment that impacts on the mobility and comfort of dogs.

Matthew Halpert PhD, Faculty with the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine said of the outcome, “I openly admit that I was surprised at how quickly we saw such large results. I would not have expected to see too much of anything in just one month.”

Another recent study conducted by the Department of Clinical Sciences at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University in Fort Collins looked at the efficacy of CBD as a treatment for idiopathic seizures. It was a small sample of dogs but the results were big, with an 89% reduction in the frequency of seizures experiences by the sick dogs. The dogs were on anti-seizure medication at the time but the CBD made a significant difference. Dr. Stephanie McGrath, the neurologist who led the study, described the findings as ‘promising’ and ‘exciting’.

A 2012 study that explored the effects of CBD on pain in animals showed powerful results for the reduction of pain and discomfort in rats and mice, and many pet owners are convinced that CBD alleviates pain and inflammation in their fur-babies too. Meanwhile, a zoo in Warsaw, Poland is currently conducting an experimental dosing of CBD for a grieving elephant, we wait in anticipation to hear the results.

While we await longer and more complex trials on the efficacy of CBD in treating cancer in dogs, CBDDog spoke to Dr. Trina Hazzah, DVM, DACVIM, CVCH, a veterinary oncologist at VCA Animal Hospital in Las Vegas about the evidence she has personally seen in treating animal cancers. She tells of the significant impact she saw in a dog whose entire face was taken over by a tumour. After two weeks, Dr Hazzah reports, “Not only could he (the dog) open his eye, but when he opened his mouth, I just saw a little redness,” says Dr. Hazzah. “The tumor was not there. Hammer was happy, and this was just 1 mg. It wasn’t the amount, it was what the cancer needed.”

One of the most successful ways that pet owners are treating their animals with CBD is for anxiety. Whether it’s Fido under the bed during a thunder storm, a dog that has been abused or neglected or shows inappropriate aggression to other dogs and people, or a particularly skittish and anti-social cat, CBD is getting rave reviews as a natural intervention to support nervous and tricky animals. BioMuti’s dropper oils are an easy way of getting the CBD into the animals mouth and there have been no reported side-effects. As always, if you are considering giving your pet CBD, it is best to work with a vet that is open to trying CBD solutions and has a working knowledge of the ideal dosage. While some vets remain sceptical, calling for more evidence in a small but growing pool of scientific evidence, many have treated their own dogs and have been surprised and delighted by the results. More and more are willing to give CBD the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it’s time for your pet to join the CBD club.   

Pic courtesy of https://www.healtheuropa.eu/