01 Jul How Can Senior Dogs Benefit from CBD?

By: Steffan Kasula

As your dog ages, you want to do your best to keep them healthy and happy. And like humans, dogs often require extra care as they get older — you need to ensure they’re getting the right nutrition, getting plenty of exercise, and seeing the vet every six months or so. But even if you do everything right, senior dogs may experience health problems. And while there are medications that can help with most ailments, anecdotal evidence and a few scientific studies have shown that CBD may help with common conditions. So let’s take a look at a few senior dog ailments CBD may help with.

Pain and Inflammation

One of the most common uses of CBD is to alleviate pain and minimize inflammation. This may prove to be especially beneficial for older dogs who suffer from conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and even injuries. CBD has been shown to suppress pain signals, which could even help with long-term conditions. It can also be used to target inflammation, which is often the cause of pain in many cases. Many pain medications can have negative side effects, but there seem to be few side effects in dogs given CBD.

Seizures

Many dogs suffer from seizures or conditions that cause tremors and spasms. Fortunately, CBD has been found to be a natural anticonvulsant — seizures and tremors become more likely as dogs age, especially in those susceptible to conditions like epilepsy. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body. When receptors within this system are targeted using CBD, certain problems, including seizures, can be regulated. Experiencing seizures can become unbearable and CBD may provide the relief needed to allow older dogs to live comfortably.

Anxiety

Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety and stress. They may experience stress or anxiety when they’re left home alone, when they’re around other dogs, or even when they hear loud noises, like fireworks. Signs of stress in dogs include shaking or excessive panting, change in appetite, and even aggression. And anxiety tends to worsen as dogs age, especially if they can’t see or move around as well. While researchers are unsure of the “how”, CBD has been shown to help manage anxiety and stress. It’s possible that it helps manage serotonin levels — but despite not knowing how it helps, CBD can help keep dogs calm and lower their anxiety levels.

Nausea and Vomiting

Dogs may experience more sensitive stomachs as they get older, often resulting in increased nausea and vomiting. Whether it’s due to age or a medical condition, experiencing nausea can lead dogs to lose weight, become dehydrated, and become increasingly tired. Because CBD is an antiemetic, it can help reduce the frequency of vomiting and subdue feelings of nausea. Furthermore, it may encourage an appetite, which is important for overall health.

As you can see, there are many potential benefits of using CBD to help senior dogs. While there is no guarantee that it will work, many pet owners are choosing CBD as a more natural option for medication. So if your dog is reaching a senior age and is experiencing any of these health problems, consider trying CBD to help treat their ailments.