CBD AND OUR PETS
Of all the supplements that we sell, CBD OIL has the highest repeat purchase rate. The reason is simple. Our customers (well their pets) have and are experiencing remarkable results.
Our Black Lab Oliver started to have issues with doing stairs and jumping on our bed at night (yes, he slept with us). We started to dose him daily with CBD Oil and within about 5 or 6 days we noticed him doing the stairs with ease and a less hesitant motion when jumping on our bed. We experienced excellent results ourselves.
So, we want to share what we have learned and provide you with the ins and outs of giving our pets CBD Oil.
THIS IS WHAT WE WILL COVER
What is CBD Oil?
How does it work?
What can CBD Oil help?
How do you dose?
Are there side effects?
I will also share some customer experiences whose dogs really benefitted from CBD. However, please note that not all pets have had positive results. This could be due to the fact that some pets react differently than others or the proper dosing and length of use was not followed through to completion. Like anything, if you are considering using CBD Oil, you will never know if it works until you try.
WHAT IS CBD OIL?
CBD is cannabidiol and is found in cannabis plants. For the purpose of this blog, the CBD we are referring to is extracted from the hemp plant, which does not contain any significant amount of THC. The cannabidiol is extracted from various parts of the hemp plant and is stored in a liquid, usually fractured coconut oil (found to be one of the best carriers of cannabidiol due to the high absorption rate by our bodies).
Note: Hemp Oil and CBD Oil are not the same thing. Hemp Oil is extracted from the hemp seed and does not contain cannabidiol.
You will find most CBD Oil packaged in 30mil bottles and will vary in strength. As an example, you may see a bottle that is 250mg strength. This means that there is 250mg of CBD in a 30mil bottle or approximately 8.3mg in each mil. You can find CBD strengths ranging from 50mg all the way to 5000mg. We will talk more about what strength to consider using when we discuss dosing.
HOW DOES CBD WORK? WHAT DOES IT DO?
This is where it can get complicated and there is still a lot that scientists and researchers are learning each day about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). I am going to try to simplify it the best I can to try and give you a clear picture of what goes on when using CBD.
Consider the ECS as a gateway and communicator to a series of processes like appetite, digestion, chronic pain, inflammation, mood, learning and memory, motor control, sleep, stress, skin, and nerve function just to name a few. The main objective of our ECS is to maintain homeostasis. When some outside force causes pain or fever and takes the body out of homeostasis, the ECS kicks in to help the body return to its ideal operation. So how does adding CBD to the body help? Adding CBD helps activate and allow the ECS to work at its optimum, giving the ECS the best chance at returning the body back to normal (homeostasis).
WHAT CAN CANNABIDIOL HELP?
Pets with joint problems.
We have many customers (and our own personal experience) who use it to help relieve the inflammation due to joint problems. Pets who have arthritis, dysplasia, sprains, strains, and torn ligaments.
In fact, researchers at Cornell University found that dogs taking CBD for arthritis were more active and showed a decrease in pain.
High Anxiety pets.
Anxiety appears in different forms, including noise, obsessive licking, separation anxiety, aggression, and fear. One of our customers started to dose her adult Bernese Mountain Dog who had always been prone to car sickness. Within several days of dosing, they had their first “puke free” car ride and never looked back.
Dosing for anxiety is the top reason many of our customers use CBD for their pet. When a proper dosing is established and is dosed consistently over time, most of our customers have had tremendous success with CBD.
A 2012 study looked at stress in rats exposed to cats. The rats given repeated doses of CBD had less anxiety than those given a single dose.
Pets with seizures and epilepsy.
Researchers at Colorado State University got excited when they studied CBD as a treatment for epilepsy in dogs. A whopping 89% of dogs that received the CBD had a reduction in seizures.
CBD reduces the frequency and severity of seizures because of how it interacts with the endocannabinoid system. It is believed that abnormal electric charges of the neurons in the nervous system cause seizures. But CBD can bind to receptors in the brain, researchers speculate this can improve the functioning of the nervous system.
We have had several customers experience a significant decrease in epileptic events. We even heard that when an event occurred, they were less severe and did not last as long. One specific customer applied the CBD Oil in the middle of an event and noticed the seizure stopped almost immediately and their dog returned to normal in little time.
Pets with cancer.
Sadly, 50% of adult dogs will get cancer. Cancer is a massive health challenge for dogs, especially if they undergo chemotherapy or radiation.
Cancer researchers are always looking for new ways to treat cancer and release the pain and nausea that can go with it. And CBD has been extensively researched as a cancer-fighting substance.
A study in mice showed that CBD slowed the growth of mammary cancer cells. And in 2018, researchers found that CBD increased survival time in mice with pancreatic cancer. Other animal studies show CBD oil has cancer-fighting abilities and can slow the growth of tumors.
In another study, cancer cells became more sensitive to treatment with CBD. That means CBD can increase the effectiveness of conventional cancer treatments.
CBD also kills cancer cells by blocking their ability to produce energy. And it can stimulate the immune system to produce killer cells that cause death in cancer cells.
Researchers also found that CBD blocks a cannabinoid receptor called GPR55. This is important because GPR55 increased the growth rate of cancer cells in mice.
We have had two customers report back that used CBD Oil in the cancer treatment for their dogs. In both cases, tumour growth had either stopped and/or the tumour decreased in size. Both of these dogs were put on a strict keto diet developed specifically for their pet.
There are so many other ailments and claims that have been made that CBD can help with. Too many to list here. Everything from allergies, skin issues, and more. At the end of the day, it is the immune system that needs help. So many things can negatively affect the immune system so I would not recommend CBD as a magic bullet to cure any ailment. I would consider it a strong partner in helping the immune system do its job.
DOSING AND USING CBD
The research is still occurring to establish dosing by weight and ailment. There is some data available that has helped us establish a range of dosing based on weight of a dog. Here is the thing. All dogs’ systems are different and what might work for one dog weighing 50lb may not work for another. One may need twice as much daily compared to another of the same size.
We recommend starting in a range. The following is just an example of how one might want to start dosing:
20lb Dog Choose Calyx Pet Relief 250mg
Daily Average Dose – ½ dropper or 4.16mg of CBD
Will last for approximately 60 days
50lb Dog Choose Calyx Pet Nurture 500mg
Daily Average Dose – ¾ dropper or 12.5mg of CBD
Will last for approximately 40 days
100lb Dog Choose Calyx Pet Max 1000mg
Daily Average Dose – ¾ dropper or 25mg of CBD
Will last for approximately 40 days
Here are a few important things to try and do as you introduce CBD to your pet.
SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS?
If you give your pet too much CBD at once, you will see a very sleepy and lethargic dog/cat. We do not want that. (I personally take CBD for sleep, and it does not take long when I dose the way I do). If you dose at night and you notice a lethargic pet the next day, you will need to pull back and dose less.
If your dog is taking any other medications or supplements you will want to check with your holistic vet as well. CBD oil has many health benefits, but it can change how your dog metabolizes some medications or supplements.
Researchers have looked at how CBD oil changes metabolism in humans. It can be similar to grapefruit, which causes significant reactions. If your dog is taking any of the following medications, you will need to ask your vet about dose changes:
IN SUMMARY
We have been working with CBD Oil with our customers (and our own dog) for over 8 years. In our view, it has been a game changer for most. CBD Oil is a safe, plant-based supplement that has the potential to help so many ailments and offer a solution to enhance the lives of our fur babies. Unlike steroids and NSAID’s, CBD Oil does not damage vital organs and shorten the lives of our pets. If you have not considered trying CBD, is it time to give it a go? We would love to help anyone who wants to start. Stop by one of our shops and ask.
This information is intended to provide information only. Each animal health situation is unique. This information is not intended for use in diagnosis or treatment of specific health problems or diseases and should never be considered as a substitute for veterinary advice.