CBD Oil for Dogs with Cancer You Should Know
They say that the hardest thing
about having a dog is saying goodbye to them far too soon. Most pet owners dote
on their pooches as if they were children, but they are always subconsciously
aware that, on average, a dog will live to be around 12 years old, if they are
in good health.
Sadly, even as loving pet
parents, we cannot protect our loved ones from diseases like cancer or
arthritis and many times, cancer in dogs is usually not detected until it is at
a stage where it is already spreading to other parts of the body and causing
Fido a fair amount of discomfort. Fortunately, thanks to the development of
cannabis-based medicines, such as medical cannabis, hemp seed oil, and
especially CBD oil is becoming popular treatments option for dogs and cats suffering from chronic pain, seizures, and even cancer.
How CBD Oil Works: The Science.
While we have only really become
aware of the proven healing properties of cannabis during the past couple of
years, cannabis, including cannabis oil and hemp oil, has actually been used
for centuries to successfully treat illness. Its oil is incredibly powerful and
as more states are moving to legalize the herb, more research is being
conducted to prove its efficacy as miracle oil that may even be able to fight
cancer cells. When most people think of cannabis, they automatically think of
stoners getting high—and this is where it’s necessary to understand exactly how
CBD oil works.
The first and most important
point to understand is that CBD oil is formulated in a specific way to
eliminate the psychoactive effects of the THC compound. This means that you
won’t have to worry about your precious pooch turning into a zombie. The
cannabinoids in the oil are the all-important component here, as they contain
all of the rich, therapeutic and healing medicinal benefits. While a very small
amount of THC is usually necessary to allow the oil to work to its full
potential, oils that are rich in CBD balance out the THC meaning that it does
not produce a woozy or “stoned” feeling.
CBD Oil as a Cancer Treatment
While there is still a fair
amount of research to be done to pinpoint exactly how CBD works to improve the
symptoms of cancer in the human body, there is already existing research that
proves how it can kill tumors and cancerous cells in animals.
In 2009, Spanish researchers from
a reputable university published a research paper along with results that
demonstrated how THC (one of the two key components found in CBD oil)
successfully eliminated brain cancer in mice. What it actually did was cause
the cancerous cells to essentially destroy themselves resulting in the existing
tumors shrinking substantially. The same was true in human patients—except for
during that particular trial, where only CBD was administered and it was
equally as effective at treating cancer.
CBD can also stop metastasis,
which is when cancer starts spreading into the bloodstream and usually
indicates that the final stages of the disease are near. There is currently no clinical
research that demonstrates exactly how CBD works to treat cancer in dogs, but
there is enough compelling evidence and testimonials from pet owners who have
used the oil to indicate that it could work better and faster than traditional
pharmaceutical treatments.
How Can CBD Oil Help Dogs with Cancer?
Here are some benefits of CBD oil
that you should consider when making the decision to give it a try with your
dog that is suffering from cancer:
- It increases appetite. As our dogs can’t tell us what they are feeling, when they feel low, they usually avoid food like the plague. While this can be normal if it only lasts a day or two, when it comes to cancer most dogs will not feel hungry, which, in turn, weakens their strength and immune system. Giving your dog CBD oil will increase their appetite and help them to maintain a normal eating and drinking routine.
- It offers pain relief. Cancer is, unfortunately, a disease that is accompanied by pain, especially if the tumors are in the legs or stomach. Our pups can’t just reach for a painkiller whenever they need it but instead will show pain by whimpering and whining. One of the greatest benefits of giving your pooch CBD oil is that it can offer a substantial amount of relief from the pain they are experiencing.
- It reduces inflammation. CBD is also used to effectively manage the symptoms of arthritis—aching joints, stiffness, etc. Cancer also manifests the same symptoms when it is found present in dogs, so the oil will allow your pet to live a more comfortable and agile life.
- It inhibits tumor growth. CBD has been known to shrink tumors as per the research we pointed out above. Daily administration of the oil can also stop cancer from spreading to other parts of the body and possibly eliminate it altogether.
- It helps insomnia. Insomnia isn’t just a human ailment; our dogs can suffer from sleepless nights, too! The therapeutic properties of good quality CBD oil can help relax your dog, so he has the strength to participate in normal dog-like activity during the day.
Final Thoughts
Traditional cancer treatments
like chemotherapy can often cause your pooch to experience terrible side
effects that prevent him from living out the rest of his days comfortably.
While there are few vets who would condone CBD oil as a sole method of
treatment this early on in the stages of its research, almost all reputable
veterinary clinics will agree that it can only add complimentary benefits to
existing treatments. Many humans take CBD oil daily even if they are in good
health, as a kind of precursor to any illness that might manifest in the
future. With a good quality product that is organic and pure, you might just
find that CBD oil is the elixir of life that you have been searching for to
extend your time with your beloved pet for as long as possible.
This article by Jennifer is
originally published at FOMO Bones.
Author bio: Jennifer is the voice
behind the FOMO Bones blog. She's pretty sure in her past life, she was a Great
Dane. However, we peg her as more of a labrador. Regardless of her breed, she's
a dog enthusiast who has 15 years experience training dogs and owners.