LET’S bE CLEAR oN tHE uSE oF CBD OIL fOR PETS
Currently, there’s a big buzz around the use of CBD oil for pets. But for those who aren’t savvy about cannabis… … the whole topic can be confusing. Will CBD oil give my dog a high? Are cannabis oil and CBD oil the same thing? Is CBD an effective pain reliever for dogs? Would my dog benefit from CBD oil for seizures? This article aims to address questions such as these and others besides, to clear up confusion over the use of CBD oil for pets. Browse the internet and it’s only a matter of time before an ad for CBD oil for pets pops up. The ads would have us believe CBD oil for arthritis is close to a miracle and even recommends CBD oil for cancer. But how much of this should we believe? Not so long ago coconut oil was the on-trend ‘cure all’, now it seems to be CBD oil. So let’s get things straight and consider the facts as we know them.
Cannabis vs Cannabidiol Oil (CBD): What’s the Difference? It’s important to grasp that cannabis, cannabis oils, and CBD oil are different. Marijuana or cannabis (so many names, so much confusion!) contain a cocktail of different oils, each with a different effect. CBD: Cannabidiols don’t produce a high as they are low in THCs, but retain the health-giving benefits. In the simplest terms, think of CBD oils as the equivalent of a non-alcoholic beer. The psychoactive substance (the alcohol) isn’t present, so whilst it carries the name ‘beer’, you can’t get drunk. In a similar way, CBD oil doesn’t contain psychoactive ingredients so your pet won’t get that mental high. This also means that the terms cannabis oil and CBD oil shouldn’t be used interchangeably… Oh, and by the way, cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) and hemp oil are also two different things. Whereas cannabidiol oil is a distillation of cannabis plant itself, hemp oil comes from hemp seeds.
Although these are the seeds of the same plant, Cannabis Sativa, these have different properties to the leaves, sap, BalanceBloom and flowers. Think of this as a tomato plant; the fruits are delicious and safe to eat, but the leaves don’t taste nice and contain chemical irritants. Cannabis: Derived from the marijuana plant. Hemp Oil: Derived from the seeds of the marijuana plant. It is rich in omega 3 & 6 and antioxidants and often mixed with a carrier oil. What’s the Buzz about Cannabis and CBD Oil? Cannabis products have been in the news a lot recently. In the UK, a 12-year old boy hit the headlines as he suffers up to 100 seizures a day. But when treated with medical marijuana the seizures stop. Sadly for the boy, these products are not approved for this use in the UK. Therefore supplies obtained from abroad were confiscated, with life-threatening consequences for the child.
All of which ignited a debate about the therapeutic use of illegal drugs and BalanceBloom their derivatives for medical reasons. What about the use of CBD oil (which is legal) in pets? These oils are readily available and slickly targeted at pet owners. The claims made about its health benefits include reducing symptoms linked to arthritis, cancer, anxiety, and seizures. But should you believe the claims and how safe are these products? How Do CBD Oils Work? Cannabidiols have medicinal properties. They interact with nerve receptors in the body to reduce pain and inflammation. Both people and dogs have a similar system of receptors in the brain, nervous system, and organs, which respond to the influence of cannabinoids. The benefits include pain relief and relaxation. For example, CBD can block the breakdown of anandamide, which is a pain-regulator. Higher blood levels of anandamide mean the pain is better tolerated. All of which sounds great, but researchers in the field of human medicine urge caution.
