CBD is making strides in the pet health industry. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a compound in Cannabis Sativa plants. Manufacturers extract it from the plant and add it to pellets, drops, biscuits and creams made specifically for pets. These products come in different flavors and concentrations, making them suitable for a variety of animals. They are easy to find on the internet on sites such as https://cbdfx.com/collections/cbd-for-pets/. Here are some ways that this supplement is changing the livelihood of so many pets and their owners.
1. Anxiety
It’s very common for pets to experience anxiety for different reasons. Some are fearful of loud noises such as fireworks, are afraid of other pets, or hide from everyone in the home. Others don’t do well being left alone. This is especially prevalent in dogs and cats that come from shelters. When these animals experience stress, they often act out by chewing, digging, not eating, urinating in the home and are generally unhappy. In some pets like reptiles, small changes in their environment can cause a stress response that causes poor long-term health.
Fortunately, CBD is helpful in all of these circumstances. It interacts with the brain’s receptors that control stress and anxiety. This interaction produces an increase in serotonin levels, a feel-good hormone. This hormone allows pets to feel calm in these scary situations, which helps both the animal and its owner have a happy home.
2. Pain and Inflammation
Cannabidiol is also showing promise as a treatment for pain. Many large breed dogs experience hip dysplasia, a debilitating problem caused by bone deterioration. Joint pain and arthritis is also a common ailment in farm animals such as older horses, alpacas and llamas. Routine treatment of pain includes using medications that cause side effects to the stomach, liver, heart and kidneys. If the remedy isn’t sufficient, these animals are stuck living in pain, might have to undergo surgery or even get put down. With CBD, these animals get relief from this pain without the side effects of traditional medications. This treatment changes the longevity of their lives and reduces healthcare costs to owners.
3. Bacterial Infections
Cats and dogs are exposed to bacteria all the time through cat litter boxes, stray animal feces, eating raw meat or drinking contaminated water. Other animals such as cattle and chickens that live in crowded conditions are also exposed to high levels of bacteria in their environment. Usually, their immune systems can keep up with this constant barrage of bacteria, but sometimes their bodies are too overwhelmed to fight back. These illnesses lead to vomiting, loss of limbs, sepsis and even death. Regular treatment in these cases includes administering antibiotic medications. Unfortunately, there is an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so the focus is turning to CBD as a better option.
Cannabidiol is successful at killing bacteria in as little as three hours. CBD also helps antibiotic medications work more effectively because it breaks down the bacteria’s outer layer, which allows the meds to get in and do their job. This allows pets to heal quicker and also prevents overuse of antibiotics.
4. Cancer
Pets of all varieties are prone to cancer. It may show up as tumors in the skin, abnormal growths in the abdomen, skin lesions, or cause neurological deterioration if it’s in the brain. One option for cancer treatment is chemotherapy. Unfortunately, it is expensive and has adverse side effects. CBD is an option for animals undergoing chemotherapy because it reduces nausea and vomiting caused by this process. This is helpful because these pets need to retain every nutrient possible for faster healing. For those that don’t go through chemo, CBD helps decrease the animals’ pain response to cancer. New studies also show that CBD may slow the replication of cancer cells, which could change the future of cancer treatments for pets and humans.
CBD is changing the outlook of pet health. It helps calm anxiety, fight pain and inflammation, kills bacteria and negates side effects of cancer. It is easy to find on the internet and is available in various forms suitable for dogs, cats, reptiles, large animals and even livestock. Given that it positively affects so many ailments, it is no wonder why CBD is so popular.
