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Neurological disorders hurt both humans and dogs. We have friends and acquaintances that have or know someone with fibromyalgia, migraines, or who have had back injuries that impact their spinal cord. These are all neurological disorders.
In dogs, the problems are similar but have different names. Things like IVDD or intervertebral disc disease, canine degenerative myelopathy, seizures, and the same sorts of damage to the spinal cord as humans are all neurologic disorders.
You might know that CBD has been studied for neurological disorders in humans. You might even know that it’s been shown to be effective for many neurological disorders. But does CBD oil work for dog neurological disorders? If it does, how do you find the highest quality, best formulated, safest oil for your dog?
This article will tell you how!
Does CBD Oil Work for Dogs With Neurological Disorders?
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to help with neurological disorders in dogs. These include adjunct therapy in treating seizures and neuropathy associated with long-term chronic pain.
CBD works with the endocannabinoid system in a dog’s body. This system is associated with maintaining homeostasis, or the body staying in a healthy, normal balance. The Journal of Innovative Veterinary care states that an imbalanced endocannabinoid system leads to “negative physical signs...in dogs, including digestive issues (vomiting, irregular bowels, diarrhea), poor appetite, sleep issues, stress, anxiety/fear and aggression, lethargy and lack of activity, poor balance and coordination, pain and inflammation.” They go on to say that “Targeting the ECS with Phytocannabinoids has been shown to trigger the same physiological effects similar to endocannabinoids, thereby promoting systemic well-being.”
Neurological disorders can cause pain, inflammation, imbalance, anxiety, fear, lack of activity, poor appetite, and many of the other issues listed above.
While CBD is not always effective as a single treatment for neurological disorders, it can help support and relieve the symptoms they cause, making your dog more comfortable and able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What Neurological Disorders Can CBD Be Used For?
Under the guidance of a veterinarian, CBD can be used to support overall health and relieve symptoms from many neurological disorders, including:
IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) is a condition where the discs of your dog’s spine break down and cause ruptured or herniated discs, much like many back injuries or diseases in humans. It leads to chronic pain and inflammation.
Canine Degenerative Myelopathy occurs when tissue in the spinal cord itself starts to break down, leading to pain and ultimately paralysis.
Other degenerative disorders leading to nerve pain. Dogs experience degenerative disorders like humans. If a dog’s nervous system starts breaking down, it can cause chronic nerve pain.
Nerve pain from injuries . Humans and dogs can both experience pain from injuries to their spine or directly to nerves. Nerves usually do not heal well, and this can lead to lifelong pain.
CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving) properties in humans and in dogs. It has been studied used by itself and as an adjunct (used with) prescription medications to control nerve pain and joint pain.
At Relievet, many dog owners have reported that CBD helps their dog’s chronic pain and the fear, anxiety, and lack of activity associated with that discomfort. We use it in our own dogs and believe that when used as part of a holistic approach guided by a veterinarian it serves a useful, unique role in pet care.
There simply isn’t enough room in our blog posts for all the feedback we get from happy customers – one of the fun things to do is share one of the reviews we get while we are writing. This one came in while we were writing this article!
“We inherited Abby, an overweight 11 year old black lab with hip dysplasia...She also has severe arthritis. These treats have helped her mobility and allowed her to go on longer walks. Customer service for Relievet is excellent as well.”
Is CBD Oil Right For My Dog’s Neurological Disorder?
Whether CBD oil is right for your dog is a question that only you and your veterinarian can ultimately decide. In making that decision, it’s good to rely on data and there are studies available to help you and your veterinarian know whether or not CBD is safe, as long as you choose a well-formulated product.
The next few sections cover how and why Relievet formulated our products to follow the evidence currently available in the largest studies conducted to date.
Choosing the Best CBD Oil For Dogs with Neurological Disorders
In choosing any product for your pet you want to ensure that it takes advantage of all the information available to ensure the least risk and the best chance of success with your pet. Relievet has worked hard to ensure their formulation follows the science. Here are the studies we’ve used to ensure our products are the best.
THC Or No THC?
The very first question to ask is if the CBD oil you’re giving your dog contains THC or not. THC is the part of the hemp plant that makes users feel a “high.” While humans might enjoy this effect, studies show that dogs do not. CBD extracts containing THC are associated with more negative effects than those that contain CBD by itself.
THC-containing products are associated with toxicity and poisoning in dogs. This article from the the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine does a great job outlining how toxic THC can be for pets. If your dog is already suffering, the last thing you want to do is add to that discomfort and pain.
Full Spectrum CBD extracts contain THC. Relievet does not use full spectrum extracts to avoid the toxicity associated with THC content.
Instead, we use broad-spectrum extracts. Broad spectrum extracts contain CBD and the other parts of the hemp plant that are not THC. These are the components thought to have the most benefit with the least risk to your dog’s health.
Every one of our products is backed by a certificate of analysis from a third party lab proving that it has the CBD we say it does and no detectable THC content. Relievet is committed to transparency and quality!
Best Carrier Oil for CBD Oil
After CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and the THC is removed, it has to be put in an oil to be used by humans or pets. The extract is potent and would be too strong to use without being diluted to the right concentration for larger or smaller patients.
The oil also helps keep the extract stable, and makes it easier for the extract to go right through the tissues in the mouth to get into the bloodstream. This means more of the dose makes it into the bloodstream where it can work rather than being wasted in poop or broken down by the liver after digestion.
You may see products that use hemp oil or seed oils as the carrier oil for CBD. Based on stability studies and looking at the health benefits of each oil available, Relievet chose MCT oil as our carrier.
It is non-toxic to dogs and has health benefits of its own. Based on its molecular makeup, we believe it is more effective at helping CBD move through the tissues of the mouth into the bloodstream than either hemp or seed oils. You can read more about the benefits of MCT oil here.
Dosing CBD Oil for Dogs With Neurological Disorders
Lastly, Relievet uses evidence-based dosing with all of our products. This means we use weight based dosing. The dose most studied for anxiety, pain control, or other conditions is 2mg/kg.
We recommend that you discuss with your vet using either 2mg/kg or even starting with 1mg/kg and working your way up, watching to make sure that your dog’s symptoms are getting better and that there are no negative side effects.
CBD Oil is measured in a dropper and given under the tongue whenever possible. If a dog simply will not take the oil, then treats can be used or the oil can be put on a treat or in food, although a higher dose may be required as some of the dose will be wasted in poop and broken down by the liver during digestion.
Conclusion
Neurological disorders can cause chronic pain and discomfort in dogs. Relievet CBD oils, when used according to the directions and in cooperation with your veterinarian represent are the most cost-effective, evidence-backed products available to help you help your dog.
