Humans and dogs have a lot more in common than we think. We’re not talking about the obvious things such as playfulness, loyalty, a need for companionship and more, but rather what you can’t see or feel – the Endocannabinoid system. This is the internal mechanism that both of us species have, that keep things functioning optimally.
It is the internal working of the mind and body that affects your stomach, brain, skin, heart and of course the mood as well. Our dogs have the same mechanisms in their bodies too. Related to this are the cannabis plant and all its 100+ cannabinoids. What do we mean? When cannabis was first used almost 5000 years ago, people knew something that most of the world did not.
They knew that the cannabinoids present in the extract of the hemp plant are like the ones present in our endocannabinoid system which is a complex cell signaling network. Learn more about this here. Who knew? Well, scientists and researchers now know. Turns out the similarities are uncanny! Both have the same effects on the human and animal body. One of the main ones, however, that has shown promising results is cannabidiol or what you know as CBD.
What We Now Know
A few of the facts that we now know are that:
- The endocannabinoid system is present in both dogs and humans.
- It is responsible for many bodily functions as mentioned above – skin, brain, mood, heart and more.
- It is affected by these cannabinoids which are found in the hemp plant and act as a catalyst once introduced to the body.
- CBD is the most prevalent one that has been the topic of research and conversation worldwide and is not being sold for consumption in health stores and all sorts of formats such as oils, capsules, topicals, gummy jelly sweets and more.
Tried and Tested Benefits To Dogs
All the research and clinical trials that have taken place so far have had some astounding positive effects on canines. It has shown to minimise symptoms of health conditions such as reducing seizures, anxiety, inflammation, and pain, to name a few. It has also been seen to improve skin conditions.
When taking CBD however, it is a good reminder to know that when taken alone, it can treat the lesser serious conditions, however, when your dog is suffering from something like cancer, it is recommended to take it as part of existing cancer treatment.
Other benefits include:
In Treating Cancers
It has been seen to support anti-tumour medications and when tested on various human cancers the results on the below have been favourable:
- Lung cancer
- Brain and Spine tumours
- Colon cancer
- Leukaemia
- Breast cancer
CBD has its tumour shrinking properties and is used to reduce the impact that various cancer treatments such as radiation therapy has on individuals. When tested on animals such as mice, it showed that when coupled with a type of chemotherapy i.e. gemcitabine, it increased the survival rate of the rodent threefold as compared to only using the chemotherapy: https://thebark.com/content/cbd-oil-dogs-cancer-possible-benefits-and-more, this is mainly due to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) which makes up parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Boosting The Immune System
As we now already know the two, the immune system and the ECS are linked closely together and work hand in hand, researchers can’t miss the relationship when studying them and have coined a term for it as the “immunocannabinoid system”.
Results in dogs have found that it reduces oxidative stress and helps ward off pathogens that are responsible for damaging healthy tissues in the body and making our canines sick. They help to regulate a healthy gut function which in turn helps keep the immune system strong and healthy enough to fight viruses, bacteria, and harmful substances.
Improves Sleep
Two of the most prevalent components found in cannabinoids is THC and CBD. The former helps in enhancing sleep and giving your pooch (and you) a better night’s sleep. This is often the case when taken at nighttime, however, when CBD was taken during the day it helped calm them down and give them more focus.
Helping with Appetite and Suppressing Nausea
When dogs get treated for more serious health conditions such as cancer, the unfortunate side-effect is often nausea and a loss of appetite. This has diverse effects such as anorexia and can give them a metabolic disorder. When CBD oil is introduced into his diet, it plays a part in stimulating their appetite and helping to reduce feelings of dizziness or nausea and helps them to feel a lot better during the process, and after the treatment plan is completed.
Because the internal system contains endocannabinoid enzymes, receptors and transmitters, it helps to maintain a favourable environment for good things such as the good gut flora that helps with the biology of the body, and
CBD oil for dogs helps act as a catalyst to stimulate this good gut flora which helps to make the pet feel hungry, and when they eat, they get more energy and feel better.
Always make sure you choose the closest to a natural and organic product when trying to improve your dog’s health or treating any condition in him or her. Many brands have unnecessary and harmful fillers and additives that can do more harm than good to your pooch – we do not want that do we?