Can CBD Oil Help My Disabled or Senior Dog?
Source: https://www.handicappedpets.com/blog/
CBD oil may play an important role in a vet approved plan for your dog’s health. Especially in canines who suffer from mobility issues, persistent pain and inflammation, or chronic conditions that often come with age such as arthritis.
Pain Management
For many disabled and senior dogs, pain management is a key component of treatment to maintain quality of life. Pain can be caused from injury, surgery, and chronic and progressive disease such as IVDD, hip dysplasia, and arthritis. Reducing pain is important for your special needs dog’s quality of life.
Generally, pain management will include prescription medications such as opioids. Although these medications are very effective, they also come with serious side effects. Side effects include chemical dependence, long term liver damage, and the potential for a lethal overdose. On the other hand, the natural supplement cannabidiol has been demonstrated in multiple studies to be effective in reducing pain.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a significant source of pain for many of our handicapped and older dogs suffering from chronic conditions. Typically, these conditions are treated aggressively with NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Unfortunately, this class of drugs has come under recent controversy concerning the safety of their use, particularly for immune compromised and aging dogs. This is particularly a concern for long term pain management. These drugs are well known to cause various issues in the gastrointestinal tract and the functions of the livers and kidneys. In fact, renal failure and death are risks of the long term use of this class of drugs.
Confirmed by multiple research studies, we now know that cannabidiol exerts powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Occurring when taken either orally and when applied topically to the affected areas of the skin.
One study showed that CBD is so effective against the inflammation caused by Osteoarthritis that it may even slow the progression of this degenerative disease by preventing the nerve damage caused by inflammation! And, its safety profile is strong with fewer and less severe known side effects.
Reduce Pain Medications
In fact, CBD Oil is thought to enhance the activity of opioids and NSAIDS. Making it possible to reduce the dose of these powerful narcotic drugs for some dogs without compromising on quality of life. This is great news for dog owners looking to avoid complications from long term use of either of these drug classes. It certainly warrants a conversation with your veterinarian!
Mobility
As our dogs age, they begin to show less interest in activities they once enjoyed. Daily walks, a jaunt to the dog park, a swim in the pond. It is heartbreaking to watch the process unfold, and of course we all want to prolong our canine companion’s mobility as long as we can.
Because it can address both pain and inflammation, CBD Oil may help to improve your aging dog’s mobility. In fact, one study done on dogs showed that 2mg of CBD administered twice daily improved mobility for dogs affected with Osteoarthritis
Studies referenced:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033984/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968089615000838
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694/ | 
