Like humans, pets also experience stress in their daily lives. There are a lot of reasons behind it like loud sounds, strangers, or even pangs of hunger. This stress sometimes leads to anxiety, which manifests differently on animals. For dogs, they show it with excessive barking, drooling, and even trembling.
One method of calming anxiety is by giving your pets some cannabis. Some owners who gave their dog some marijuana oil saw an improvement with their companions after a few days. However, other people are still skeptical of whether animals can tolerate the herb. So, how can hemp oil for dogs be of benefit?
What is Hemp Oil?
There are two different kinds of hemp oil: full-spectrum and seed oil. The first one pertains to the oil extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant.
Seed oil, on the other hand, is the kind of hemp oil that comes after pressing the plant’s seed. Although there are no therapeutic benefits for hemp seed oil, it is an excellent source of Omega-3 and Omega-6, also known as essential fatty acids. The oil contains high levels of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, which gave it the moniker as a ‘superfood.’
The kind of hemp oil for dogs is the full-spectrum hemp oil. The psychoactive components, the cannabinoids, which aid anxiety, are abundant in it. If you are unsure about which one to buy, try to look for a product that contains ‘full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) oil.’
What are the Benefits of Using Hemp Oil?
Anxiety Reduction
The cannabinoids help calm a stressed-out dog. Therefore, it makes it easier for them to deal with separation anxiety or other sources of their fears.
Solution for Mobility and Joint Problems
A study by Cornell University shows that canines’ health improves with cannabis. It relieves discomfort for dogs with osteoarthritis, chronic joint pain, and geriatric pain. The research also showed that it did not give the same ‘high’ effect as it would provide humans. Therefore, hemp is deemed safe and harmless for dogs.
Nausea Relief
Dogs cannot say it, but they do experience nausea as well. It manifests in the form of poor appetite and overall weakness. Hemp oil soothes the GI tracts, which aids in relieving nausea while stimulating the appetite.
Shinier Coat and Better Skin Health
Human products also use hemp to promote healthy cellular growth on the skin, and hair follicles. The same thing happens to dogs, which is why when they take cannabis, it improves their coat and skin. It lessens rashes, redness, and gives a shiny coating to your pet.
The essential fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory properties, which alleviate discomfort from common skin issues for dogs like granulomas and atopic dermatitis.
Is Using Hemp Oil Safe?
Associate Professor Joseph Wakshlag, who is the Principal Researcher at Cornell University’s pharmacokinetics study on cannabinoid for dogs, deem that cannabis is generally safe for dogs. It does not present the same symptoms that happen when humans get a high sensation.
Unlike people who experience extreme dryness of the mouth, tremors, or even redness of the eyes, it does not happen with dogs. The most common side effect of hemp oil for dogs is drowsiness and an increase in appetite, which happens to humans, too.
