Health Benefits of Hemp for Dogs (Science Based)*

Hemp is derived from the cannabis plant; however it is not the same as the psychoactive derivative THC. Hemp is not psychoactive and will not get your dog high. One of the most important things to appreciate about industrial hemp (high-growing varieties of the cannabis plant and products like fiber, seeds and oil) is that it is not necessarily designed to create a psychedelic sensation. This makes it one of the finest alternatives for pets experiencing post-surgical pain.

 The World Health Organization reports Hemp oil is safe and anecdotal evidence supports that the beneficial claims are strong. Now that you know a little more about what hemp is, lets talk about some of its common uses and how it can help your furry loved one.  You might have heard about how well hemp works on people, particularly in managing the symptoms of various illness. However, you want to ensure your furry loved ones safety and good health at all times. It's important to keep in mind that hemp oil is not psychoactive. It is safe to use on dogs. This means your best buddy will enjoy the perks brought by the oil without getting high.

An estimated 1-5 % of dogs will suffer from either idiopathic or symptomatic seizures. Hemp can be used to reduce seizure activity in dogs with seizure disorders and epilepsy that does not respond to conventional treatment.(1 2 3)

Cancerous tumors can be reduced in size before surgery with the application of hemp for dogs. There are many studies demonstrating anti-tumor effects of hemp (4 5 6 7)

while we need more studies in canines, there's a large amount of anecdotal evidence from pet owners including my own experience. The American Veterinary Medical Association weighs in on this important topic.

 Hemp can be used to control chronic pain resulting from injury or illness that cannot be treated with traditional methods of pain control in dogs. While this  is confirmed in many human and some animal studies (8 9 10 11), there's a lack of research with canine models. 

In clinical trials,hemp has been shown to have significant impact on pain caused by severe arthritis (12 13 14 15 16). Hemp has a direct effect on arthritis pain by reducing inflammation and mediating pain with it own unique mechanism.

Most dogs that suffer from arthritis are senior dogs, and the use of traditional pain management may be contraindicated due to cardiac weakness.hemp does not have the same type of cardiac effect and is therefore much safer for those canines at risk

Hemp can be used to mediate anxiety in dogs with severe anxiety issues, with some hints that it may even help with depression (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).

Studies have shown how hemp for dogs provides relief from anxiety, and is particularly useful in pets that do not respond to or are unable to take the more traditional psychiatric medications due to side effects or existing health conditions.

The calming effects of hemp are thought to be the result of the action of cannabidiol on serotonin receptors in the brain, and hemp's ability to help the hippocampus regenerate neurons in canines.

Hemp may be used to treat dogs with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)  (30, 31, 32, 33). 

 Because Hemp has anti-inflammatory properties, it can be beneficial for reducing the inflammation associated with this condition. This not only reduces the pain your dog experiences, but it also reduces symptoms of IBS to cut back or potentially eliminate the disease altogether.

Hemp may also be used for joint pain in dogs caused by sprains, strains, and tears, particularly in older canines. This has been confirmed in many studies with animals like rats and human trials, but little evidence is available with its use on dogs (25, 26, 27, 28, 29).

Once again, the Hemp here works to mediate pain without the dangerous side effects associated with narcotic medications.

Unsurprisingly, dogs with glaucoma have also been treated successfully with Hemp according to vets and pet owners, as this is one of the most well-known health effects of the marijuana plant. There's some research on the positive effects of CBD on glaucoma (34, 35, 36).

The ingestion of Hemp sublingually has been shown to reduce the pressure in the eye of patients with glaucoma. Note that this reduction in pressure may or may not be permanent, but it does provide temporary relief.

Studies show how CBD can slow down and even stop cancer growth altogether (37, 38, 39, 40). Veterinarians have been paying especially close attention to this possible health benefit and how to use CBD for dogs on the path of dying from cancer.

Treatment of dogs with CBD doesn’t just kill off tumor tissue as mentioned above, but it can also stop and destroy cancer in its tracks. This is a result of CBD blocking cancer cells from producing energy, prohibiting cell growth, and helping the immune system to more effectively kill cancer cells.

There are several heart health benefits that can be achieved from using products of Hemp for dogs, but of most important note,Hemp can improve cardiac function in dogs with arrhythmia (45, 46, 47, 48, 49).

Hemp has been proven to act as an anti-arrhythmic in animals when it is administered following the use of a CB1 receptor antagonist (AM-251). Reducing the incidence of arrhythmia then lowers the incidence of a cardiac event and improves blood flow to major organs in canines.

*Topdogtips

Compared to prescribed medications, hemp oil produces fewer and milder side effects. These are usually manageable and do not require hospitalization or intensive management. Here's a list of side effects associated with hemp use:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Itchiness
• Low blood pressure
• Loose bowel movements or diarrhea

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, stop giving them hemp right away. Contact your veterinarian and ask about finding a better dose. Then start again with the prescribed amount gradually increasing it as advised.  There are certain drugs that interact with hemp, these interactions typically involve drugs that are metabolized by CYP450 enzymes and could

 possibly interact with hemp.

For the list of medications, click here