CBD for Dogs with Seizures

CBD Oil for Dogs with Seizures

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CBD for Dogs with Seizures

 

There’s little that scares a pet parent more than watching their beloved pup tremble and shake from a seizure. You feel helpless and wonder if there’s anything you can do to help. You see the fear and discomfort in your pet’s eyes but can’t explain what’s happening to them. Is it possible to eliminate seizures or at least make them less frequent and less intense? Because so many of the treatments come with side effects or provide little help, CBD oil for dogs with seizures is being examined by researchers, veterinarians, and pet parents alike. 

 

 

 

 

Recognizing Dog Seizures

Depending on the dog, a seizure can range from minor twitching to uncontrollable shaking. It can last mere seconds or go on for several minutes. And the cause can vary. For instance, dog seizures can be caused by: 

  • Physical trauma, such as a head injury
  • Toxic exposure, including to topical flea and tick products as well as other herbicides and pesticides
  • Brain tumors
  • Epilepsy, or uncontrolled bursts of electricity in the brain, which affects 2 to 5% of all dogs
  • Health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease or cancer
  • Genetic abnormalities
  • Blood or organ issues
  • Idiopathic (i.e., unknown) reasons
  • Vaccine reactions
  • Electrolyte problems
  • And more. 

There are three main types of seizures, including:

  • Focal (i.e., partial) seizures, which affect just a small area of the brain and may only affect part of the body, such as one limb, one side of the body, or the face. Unfortunately, if these seizures continue, they’ll likely progress and become grand mal seizures later in life. 
  • Generalized (grand mal) seizures, which affect both sides of the brain and thus the entire body. They typically look like the dog is involuntarily jerking or twitching and can cause the dog to lose consciousness.
  • And focal seizures, which are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and typically only affect one area. While they typically resolve on their own, they can also progress in some instances.

If a dog is about to seize, they may appear worried, stressed, confused, or frightened. Once seizing starts, they may fall over onto their side, get stiff, and chomp or bite at nothing, salivate, bark (or growl), or twitch their limbs. They may even lose control and urinate or defecate. Most dog seizures occur at night or early morning, while the dog is resting. And though they typically only last up to 30 to 90 seconds, they can be followed by:

  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Aimlessly wandering or pacing
  • Compulsive behavior
  • Blindness
  • Increased thirst or appetite

These behaviors can last up to 24 hours before they resolve. Unfortunately, the older the dog and the more frequent the seizures, the more likely it is to lead to damage of the brain neurons and the more likely the dog is to continue seizing.

It’s important to monitor the dog to ensure they’re not likely to get injured or killed during a seizure. For example, avoid taking the dog to swim to avoid accidentally drowning. The one positive is that while seizures can look scary and even violent, your dog is likely not experiencing any pain. Still, it can be confusing and scary for you and your pet.

Treatments for Dogs Seizures

The treatment for dog seizures varies depending on the cause. Drugs like corticosteroids, anti-epileptic, and anti-convulsant medications are commonly given to help reduce the frequency. 

It’s important to speak with your veterinarian about the possible side effects and how to best support your dog, including blood and serum chemistry profiles. Also, many pharmaceutical options can lead to weight gain, so weight should be monitored, and you may need to put the dog on a special low calorie, low salt diet. 

Despite the complications and concerns for dogs with seizures, there is currently no cure. However, there are natural solutions that may help you better manage the condition. One that is gaining attention is CBD.

CBD for Dogs with Seizures

Because of the way CBD is structured, the compound affects the brain, spinal column, nervous system, and the endocannabinoid system throughout the body. And both researchers and pet owners are now talking about how effective CBD oil may be for helping manage dogs with seizures.

It appears that the CB1 Receptors found in the nervous system respond to CBD oil. Some research suggests it can reduce or even stop seizures from happening. For example, one study found dogs given CBD oil experienced a reduction in the frequency of seizures with no reported behavioral side effects. 1 While it is theorized that CBD works to calm neurons to help suppress the effects of the seizure, further studies are underway.

CBD for Dogs with Seizures
Photo by Ruby Schmank on Unsplash

CBD Oil for Dog Seizures Dose

CBD dosage depends on the size of the dog as well as how acute the symptoms are. Smaller dogs need less, and larger dogs will require more to see effects. Dogs that regularly experience seizures or have more active seizures may also require a larger acute dose. How CBD is consumed can also affect the dosage and frequency. For example, CBD oils have the highest bioavailability. Treats can be easier to give to dogs, but they can also act more slowly. For more information on how much CBD oil to give a dog, visit this page. 

Where to Buy CBD Oil for Dogs with Seizures

The best CBD for pets meets a variety of criteria. For example, they are:

  • Free from artificial sweeteners, flavors, and additives
  • Made specifically for dogs
  • Made only from certified hemp CBD 
  • Non-GMO
  • Grown without pesticides or herbicides
  • Provide the correct dosage for their size and condition
  • Appealing to your pet, such as naturally flavored with salmon, chicken, or bacon
  • Third-party tested
  • Reviewed by real customers
  • Transparent (including who’s behind the company)

Ready to see how the best CBD for dogs with seizures—ABSC Organics—can help your pet live a more vibrant, comfortable, healthy life? Get started here. 

Related Information: 

References: 1. McGrath S, Bartner LR, Rao S, Packer RA, Gustafson DL. Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2019 Jun 1;254(11):1301-8. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/254/11/javma.254.11.1301.xml
CBD for Dogs with Arthritis

CBD Oil for Dogs with Arthritis

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Arthritis is one of the most common conditions dogs can develop. In fact, one in four dogs will be diagnosed with this painful, degenerative joint condition at some time in their lives. And up to 60% show signs of pain, decreased flexibility, and joint structure alterations indicating joint issues. 1 Fortunately, CBD oil for dogs with arthritis is now being researched to help give our beloved pets relief.

CBD for Dogs with Arthritis
Photo by Rachel

What Is Arthritis in Dogs? 

Arthritis, short for osteoarthritis, is a degenerative joint disease caused by progressive inflammation. This leads to the breakdown of cartilage, bone, and other changes, which cause pain and stiffness in the joints. The lack of hydration and fluids in the joints, combined with the inflammation, can decrease flexibility and lead to severe pain. 

Dogs tend to suffer from arthritis more than many other mammals due to their genetic predisposition combined with high activity levels—especially if they run or jump a lot, which may also lead to injury. 1 It’s even more common in large dog breeds like German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, and Rottweilers. The ball and socket joints, such as the hip and shoulders, and hinge joints, like the elbow, are the most commonly affected joints in dogs.

How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Arthritis?

Common signs of arthritis include your dog showing signs of pain, like whining, aggression or irritability (such as growling or biting), or trying to move away during physical examinations. They may also appear stiff or in pain with running, walking, jumping, or getting up from a lying or seated position. You may also notice a decreased range of motion in certain joints. If so, you’ll want to visit your vet to see if they show signs of joint inflammation or if the cartilage between the bones is breaking down. 

In addition to a physical exam, vets also use x-rays, bloodwork, imaging tests, gait analysis, and other tools for a correct diagnosis. Once you have a proper diagnosis, you can more appropriately treat your dog.

Common Treatments for Dogs with Arthritis

If you find your dog is struggling with pain and stiffness due to arthritis, there are options to help them feel better. Conventional treatments include: 

  • Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, Rimadyl™, Deramaxx™, Etogesic™, Metacam™, Zubrin™, and Previcox™.
  • Corticosteroids

Unfortunately, though widely used, these types of conventional pharmaceutical therapies have a high risk of toxicity and adverse side effects. Some of the most alarming include ulceration, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain from NSAIDs. They also don’t address the underlying causes and can even decrease the production of collagen, which can lead to further cartilage degradation over time. 

Corticosteroids, which can effectively treat pain and inflammation, also can come with unpleasant side effects, such as suppressing the immune system, weight gain, bone loss, increased risk of diabetes, cataracts, insomnia, fluid retention, ulcers, and more. They are only meant for short-term use (no more than three to four months) before ensuring the organs continue to function well.

Other more experimental options include:

  • Insulin Growth Factor-I
  • Doxycycline
  • Sodium Pentosan Polysulfate

However, there isn’t much research on these options to determine how effective they are and how significant the side effects are.

In addition to the more conventional treatments, some pet parents have seen great results with alternative treatments, like: 

  • Regular, low-impact exercise, such as walking, swimming, or underwater treadmill therapy (if available)
  • Physical therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Stem cell therapy
  • Diet plans to promote weight loss (if overweight) as well as provide enough protein and not too much fat

In addition to medications, there are numerous nutraceutical supplements available to help support a dog with arthritis. Some of these food- or plant-based supplements include:

  • Glucosamine
  • Chondroitin sulfate
  • Omega-3 fatty acids, as found in salmon, other seafood, and fish oil
  • And, of course, CBD oils.
CBD for Dogs with Arthritis
Photo by Helena Lopes

CBD for Dogs with Arthritis

CBD oils are the fastest-growing health supplement for pets. It’s a type of cannabinoid that’s derived from the cannabis plant. However, unlike its cousin, THC, CBD is not psychoactive. Because it is made from hemp, it contains negligible levels of THC, so it doesn’t cause a dog to feel high or stoned. Instead, CBD follows similar metabolic pathways as NSAIDS to help ease inflammation.

Research has confirmed that CBD can help dogs with arthritis relieve pain and improve activity levels when given twice daily. 2 Better yet, unlike some of the other options previously mentioned, CBD oil was well tolerated by the dogs, and owners reported no or minimal side effects. 3

In addition to the research on CBD for dogs with arthritis, CBD has also been shown to help reduce chronic inflammation and improve other mobility issues. 4,5 Other animal research has found CBD oils helped prevent the progression of arthritis. 6 

Some pet owners have also found that CBD oil is a complementary treatment that can be used with other medications to allow them to decrease the dosage while enhancing the level of pain control. 7 However, before combining CBD oil with other medications or supplements, it’s best to work with your vet, as CBD may interfere with the metabolism of other treatments.

CBD for Dogs with Arthritis
Photo: Kevin Noble on Unsplash

Is CBD Oil for Dogs with Arthritis Right for Your Dog? 

Sadly, there is no cure for arthritis. It’s a progressive degenerative disease. Fortunately, there are potential treatments to help slow the progression and help relieve the pain, inflammation, and suffering of those affected. This can help a dog feel more comfortable and enjoy a more active lifestyle. 

CBD appears to be safe, has few side effects, and is legal for dogs in most states. And with so many dogs suffering from joint pain and mobility issues, especially as they get older, CBD oils are another potential tool, especially when combined with: 

  • Regular low-impact exercise
  • Therapies to help maintain range of motion and strength
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • And supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. 

Ready to see how the best CBD for dogs with arthritis—ABSC Organics—can help your pet live a more vibrant, healthy life? Get started here. 

Related Information: 

References: 

1. Bland SD. Canine osteoarthritis and treatments: a review. Veterinary Science Development. 2015 Jul 17;5(2). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281442944_Canine_Osteoarthritis_and_Treatments_A_Review

2. Gamble LJ, Boesch JM, Frye CW, Schwark WS, Mann S, Wolfe L, Brown H, Berthelsen ES, Wakshlag JJ. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and clinical efficacy of cannabidiol treatment in osteoarthritic dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2018:165. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30083539/

3. Vaughn DM, Paulionis LJ, Kulpa JE. Randomized, placebo-controlled, 28-day safety and pharmacokinetics evaluation of repeated oral cannabidiol administration in healthy dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 2021 May 1;82(5):405-16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33904801/

4. Burns TL, Ineck JR. Cannabinoid analgesia as a potential new therapeutic option in the treatment of chronic pain. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2006 Feb;40(2):251-60. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1345/aph.1g217

5. Philpott HT, O’Brien M, McDougall JJ. Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis. Pain. 2017 Dec;158(12):2442. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5690292/

6. Malfait AM, Gallily R, Sumariwalla PF, Malik AS, Andreakos E, Mechoulam R, Feldmann M. The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2000 Aug 15;97(17):9561-6. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.160105897 

7. Vanegas H, Vazquez E, Tortorici V. NSAIDs, opioids, cannabinoids and the control of pain by the central nervous system. Pharmaceuticals. 2010 Apr 29;3(5):1335-47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033984/