Arthritis is referred to as a series of irregular changes that occur in the joints in both humans and dogs, and cats. There are various types of arthritis, so it is common for our dog or cat to have one of these types for their entire life. It is a progressive disease that is characterized by inflammation of the joints. Over time, due to its stiffness, there is a lack of mobility.
Our joints work like those of our pets. Both ends of each of the bones are covered by cartilage, which prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. The synovial fluid surrounds cartilage and bones and acts as a lubricant for joints to move freely and painlessly. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage and synovial fluid wear out due to trauma or simply due to normal aging. Because the bones are no longer padded when they move, they rub against each other and cause pain.
There are five types of arthritis that exist; we’re going to discuss the three most common types found in dogs.
Osteoarthritis
It is a degenerative joint condition caused by the cartilage between the bones missing. It is very normal for this cartilage deficiency to develop bone spores that increase the intensity of the pain.
This type of arthritis can occur in different parts of the body, such as the elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, or in the back.
It is previously proven that purebred dogs are more prone to osteoarthritis or any other type of arthritis.
Inflammatory Disease of The Joints
It is usually the result of infections, which affect a single joint or several joints at the same time. It can also be caused by an innate immune system failure.
Also known as inflammatory rheumatism, its symptoms conclude inflammation, limitation of movement, and deformity in the affected joints.
Hip Dysplasia
When the ball and socket joint located in the hip is not formed correctly, and then Hip dysplasia happens. By not having the right shape, the cartilage wears out at a faster rate than it needs to regenerate. With no cartilage to cushion, bones rub against each other without protection, causing arthritis and its aches and pains.
Hip dysplasia is detected by different tests, mainly x-rays. With these tests, the vet can accurately diagnose whether the dog has hip dysplasia, another degenerative bone or joint disease and whether it has developed any form of arthritis.
How to Detect Arthritis in Pets?
It is important that we, as those responsible for the welfare of our pet, can detect as soon as possible that our cat or dog suffers from arthritis since, when the symptoms begin to manifest, it is because the disease is already in a more or less advanced state. At this point, the pain is more severe, and the joint degeneration is more rapid.
Some symptoms that can help us detect that our pet has arthritis are:
- Progressive disinterest in walks, games, and exercises.
- General stiffness
- Slow and cautious movements, as if you wanted to avoid jumps or slopes.
- Difficulty getting up.
- Abnormal movements
- Decreased mobility.
- Increased sleep
- Difficulty sitting on the couch or in the car.
- Pain when specific areas are caressed.
- Joint deformity
- Intermittent limp
- Negative mood swings.
- Weight gain
If you ever feel any of the above symptoms in your furry friend, take him to his vet. Carry out the required tests and check-up to determine the ailment that may affect you.
Is CBD Useful for Treating Arthritis?
Thanks to the anti-inflammatory or pain relief properties of cannabidiol, we can easily and safely treat some of the symptoms of the rheumatoid disease such as inflammation, muscle, and joint pain, lack of mobility, and general stiffness of muscles and joints.
Through the endocannabinoid system, CBD communicates with the body. This system helps to regulate communication between neurons with more precision, helping the body to generate an adequate response to pain or dysfunction that occurs in our body, which leads to discomfort and decreased health.
CBD oils and tinctures are not toxic or have side effects, so they can complement the treatments established by the vet. As we always do, we recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you are going to start treatment with CBD.
CBD for dogs: Administration Recommendations
To start, we will point out a few important things:
- It should be noted that if your dog is being treated medically for some other condition, the safe concentration of cannabidiol and the drug in question may be altered by undesirably interacting with each other. This is essential to inform your veterinarian before making the decision to use CBD.
- Since each dog may respond differently, it is important to start with the lowest dose, monitor your dog’s results, and adjust to it. Most products will offer dosage suggestions.
- CBD oil for dogs is generally administered orally.
- The most common format in which we can find CBD oil for dogs is in the form of a dropper.
- Avoid putting the dropper directly into your dog’s mouth to avoid contamination. If it is done carelessly, clean it well afterward.
- You can use a teaspoon or a syringe to give it to her.
- If possible, try to administer it without food for better absorption.
- For proper conservation, store the product refrigerated in the refrigerator and avoid direct exposure to sunlight. And once opened, use in a few months.
- As you must start with a low dose, it is advisable to take a CBD product with a low percentage (Ex 3%).
- In general, young animals are believed to need less CBD than older ones.
CBD for Dogs: Dosage Recommendations
Studies on the use of CBD for dogs with arthritis or seizures have generally used a dose between 2-8 mg/kg, twice a day.
The dose has been proven to be safe and effective only for the conditions studied (arthritis and seizures). But additional research is still needed to evaluate the dosages required for CBD in treating other conditions.
However, American veterinarian Dr. Robert Silver has a degree in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University and is an expert in CBD therapies for dogs and medical cannabis. He has done a lot of research on the effects of medicinal cannabis and CBD on animals; he recommends a maximum dose of 1 mg of CBD per kg of body weight. The maximum dose for a dog weighing 10 kg would be 10 mg of CBD per day.
He recommends starting with a dose of 0.1 mg/kg every 12 hours (twice a day), the lowest dose being for a week, and observing the effects. Many times, a low dose will work well. In the case of no effect, it is recommended to go up to 0.25 mg/kg twice a day or go up as necessary.
Eg dose calculation:
Information that comes to you in the product: CBD 3% with a concentration of 30 mg / ml (1.2 mg / drop).
If your dog weighs 10 kg, starting from the lowest dose of 0.1 mg/kg, it will correspond to 1 mg twice a day, which taking into account the concentration of each drop (1.2 mg/drop) we calculate: 1 / 1.2 = 0.8 drops, that is approximately one drop every 12 hours.
Choosing a good CBD oil for dogs
There are small things to keep in mind when buying CBD oil. Not all oils are the same; a high-quality CBD oil will be more effective and safer.
- Purityandquality: The manufacturer must provide a certificate that tells you how much CBD is in the product. Many CBD products which contain only small amounts of CBD mixed with other ingredients, which lowers the purity of the product.
- Although each product will be accompanied by an indicative dosage from the manufacturer, knowing the exact amount in mg of CBD the product contains per ml will allow us to better adjust the dose adapted to our dog.
- It is also necessary to make sure it contains less than 0.2% THC.
- Make sure it does not contain pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, heavy metals, or solvents.
CBD performs at the level of the endocannabinoid system that all mammals in general have, and therefore your dog. The endocannabinoid system is related to the regulatory centers of behavior, relaxation, appetite, and gastrointestinal and anti-inflammatory functions. It is found throughout your dog’s body; therefore, since no harmful effects or toxicity limits have been found to date, we can use it to improve his overall health.
