Why do people recommend CBD for dogs, but not cats?
CBD for dogs
If you’re a pet owner, you may have noticed that a majority of the marketing around pet CBD products is aimed at dogs (well, dog owners). Why is this? Are dogs the only pets able to benefit from the non-psychoactive cannabis derivative? Or are dog owners just more likely to invest in supplements that support their pet’s wellbeing?
There may be some truth in the idea that dogs receive more in the way of supplements than other pets, but the reality is that cats can also consume and benefit from CBD products. The reason why most information is focused on dogs is that, according to cbdoilfordogs.com, pups are particularly vulnerable to many conditions for which it makes an ideal solution.
What can CBD do for pets?
While research is still in its infancy, CBD’s ability to reduce pain and anxiety in both humans and animals is gathering scientific and anecdotal evidence at an impressively fast rate.
Studies looking at CBD’s effect on the endocannabinoid system (the mechanism through which CBD affects humans, dogs, and cats) have demonstrated cannabis’s ability to target sites of inflammation, alleviate skin and joint conditions, and even bind directly to tumors, slowing cancer growth.
Because the effects occur via the endocannabinoid system—and all mammals share similar versions of the system—it’s widely assumed that CBD is able to produce similar benefits for most mammals, ourselves and pets included.
Why is this particularly relevant to dogs?
When it comes to anxiety and inflammation, dogs are kind of infamously susceptible. A large proportion of the most common issues affecting dogs relate back in one way or another to processes that at least partly controlled by the endocannabinoid system.
Because of this, CBD is able to either directly treat or lessen the effects of many of the most frequently experienced canine conditions, the biggest of which include:
Anxiety
Many dogs have a nervous disposition, which is completely normal. But sometimes, nervousness can tip over into a diagnosed anxiety condition, degrading quality of life for both dog and owner.
What begins as an obsession, phobia, or particular neuroses may spread into other areas of a dog’s life. For example, if a dog is particularly upset by a neighbor’s cat, they may begin to avoid patrolling the backyard and associate the outdoors with unwanted confrontation.
Among canine anxiety, by far the most common disorder is separation anxiety, defined as when a dog is regularly and disproportionately upset due to separation from a member of their family.
CBD oil can help dog anxiety by calming them down & increasing dogs’ susceptibility to training. While CBD is unlikely to directly cure serious anxiety on its own, it should calm dogs down, which increases the effectiveness of proven techniques like crate training and conditioning. CBD may also lessen the neuroses associated with hyper-attachment (when a dog becomes super obsessed with a particular person or other pet in their home).
Stiff joints
Almost all dogs enjoy being active. With more dogs than ever making it to a senior age (thanks to the excellent care of owners), paws, hips, and joints take one hell of a beating over the course of a lifetime.
As a result, rates of osteoarthritis in aging dogs are increasing. Some estimates put the number as high as 80 percent in dogs older than eight years of age. Worsening things is the fact that many larger breeds are also susceptible to hip dysplasia—a misalignment of the hip joints established during puppyhood that causes progressive discomfort as dogs get older.
Luckily, CBD can help. Because joint issues are usually the result of inflammation, CBD is able to manage pain and future joint degradation by working on sites of swelling as well as thickening the synovial membrane, which is the fluid between bones and joints.
Allergies and stomach sensitivities
Anyone who’s had to deal with the aftermath of a canine refrigerator heist knows exactly how sensitive some dog’s digestive systems can be. With many dogs requiring strict diet plans to avoid GI irritation and diarrhea, it’s no wonder that owners are searching for supplements to support stronger, more stable stomachs.
CBD can help fortify and recover sensitive stomachs that have become inflamed or irritated (i.e. gastroenteritis) as well as soothe nausea. However, it’s worth mentioning that some owners have reported CBD oil itself as causing diarrhea in their pups, likely due to an intolerance of the carrier oil which contains the CBD.
Dementia
Even progressive conditions such as dementia can benefit from CBD supplementation. Again, rates of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) are increasing alongside the rising numbers of senior dogs across the country. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, as many as 68 percent of dogs over 15 years old may experience some form of CCD.
CBD for dogs’ dementia isn’t going to cure any neurological condition. But, it may be useful as part of a treatment plan to prevent or slow down mental decline that comes from dementia in dogs. This is because CBD supplementation has been associated with reductions in excessive glutamate production, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation—three key indicators of cognitive decline.
So, can cats benefit from CBD too?
If your cat is experiencing any of the symptoms or conditions above—or any issue related to inflammation or anxiety—then CBD treatment might be a great fit. In fact, you could say that the more dog-like your cat happens to be, the more that CBD may be able to do for them.
Remember, CBD dosage guides usually determine dose by referring to body weight, so your cat is likely to require far less CBD than most dogs. You shouldn’t give your pet more CBD than recommended by retailers or veterinarians, and never give a cat or dog human brands or quantities of CBD products.
