CBD And Senior Pets: Dosage And Benefits
Considering CBD for your senior pet? Learn about potential benefits like pain relief and proper dosing to help your aging companion thrive.
Cannabidiol (CBD) products aren’t only beneficial for humans, but they may also provide several health benefits to pets. Although research on CBD is still ongoing, some vets recommend the use of CBD because of its therapeutic effects.
At present, CBD products come in various forms, including dog treats, tinctures, oil, balms, and topical sprays. However, you have to remember that not all of them are made equal. If you want the best for your senior pets, it’s an excellent idea to opt for a full spectrum CBD pet tincture from a reliable provider.
To know more information about CBD for senior pets, make sure to read below.
CBD Dosage for Senior Pets
When it comes to CBD dosage for senior pets, there aren’t any formal regulations. Generally, it’s recommended to give 0.2ml of CBD per pound of your pet’s weight.
To stay on the safe side, start with the recommended dosage found in the product’s label and gradually increase it depending on your pets’ unique needs. Unless the weight of your pet changes, stick to the same CBD dosage. If you’re not sure about the dosage, contact your vet to find the right dose of CBD for your dog or cat.
The dosage may also differ depending on your pet’s health condition. If nothing changes after about an hour when you administer the lowest dosage to your pet, it might be a good idea to increase. But always remember to observe your senior pet, especially if it’s your first time using CBD products for pets.
Benefits Of CBD For Senior Pets
Most people may be hesitant to use CBD products for their senior pets because they’re typically associated with marijuana. But, unlike marijuana, these products don’t have any psychoactive effects due to minimal or zero presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
If you have doubts about using CBD products, below are some of the benefits your senior pets can enjoy:
- Help Fight Against Anxiety
The majority of senior pets suffer from anxiety and stress. They go through all the phobias and emotions that humans feel. The most common triggering factors of anxiety among pets include separation from their owner, very loud noise, displacement, and more. When stressed, they often show symptoms like too much barking and aggression.
One of the benefits of CBD is that it may help reduce anxiety and stress in pets and improve their mood at the same time. This is because the endocannabinoids in CBD help soothe your pet’s mind. CBD may also help senior pets to feel calm and restful, even in an intense situation.
- Help Relieve Chronic Pain
CBD may help reduce inflammation in all body parts of your senior pets. The same endocannabinoid receptors that relieve anxiety also target the body parts that experience pain due to injury, inflammation, and damaged nerves.
If your senior pet is suffering from joint pain, it could be helpful to use CBD. While it’s not the perfect solution for all joint problems, it may help ease the inflammation due to worn-down cartilage. It also helps pets stay active and feel better.
- Help Suppress Nausea
Another fantastic benefit of CBD for senior pets is it may help suppress nausea. For senior pets battling with any illness, it’s essential. It’s because nutrients and food are vital for a healthy aging pet as they need strength to fight a disease, which may often cause nausea.
If your pet doesn’t eat well, it may grow weak and be more vulnerable to other illnesses. So, you might want to try CBD for your senior pets as it may help absorb nutrients to keep their bodies healthy and strong.
- Help Senior Pets to Sleep Well
Senior pets may find it challenging to sleep well at night due to injuries, critical illness, or inflammation. Continuous pain also makes senior pets feel agitated, moody, and angry. Moreover, lack of sleep can make your pet prone to cardiovascular diseases or some nerve problems.
CBD may help senior pets enjoy a good night’s sleep regularly. As mentioned, endocannabinoid receptors help eliminate body pain, improving their mood, and promoting better sleep. When your senior pet sleeps well, it can help enhance their immunity and reduce the risk of stroke, infections, and stroke.
- Help Reduce Gastrointestinal Disease and Improve Digestion
Most senior pets experience gastrointestinal problems and indigestion. Such may happen due to mental shock or severe illness, affecting their body’s natural digestive ability. Although there are several medications, you can consider for your pet’s digestion problems, trying CBD products may benefit your senior pets.
CBD may help improve digestion and regulate metabolic health. It may also treat inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis. Other than that, CBD may help lessen stomach swelling, leaky gut, and bloating. With good digestive health, your senior pet will be more energetic and cheerful.
Ways To Administer CBD To Senior Pets
Many pet owners administer CBD orally to their senior pets. You may do so together with the medications they’re currently taking or add them to their food. The best way to administer CBD may depend on your senior pet’s preferences. Typically, adding CBD to your pet’s food is the simplest way.
If you’re a first-timer in administering CBD for pets, consider using oil tinctures, which often come with a dropper that makes it easier to measure the dosage of CBD. Also, tinctures help adjust the dosage accordingly.
If your senior pets are struggling with illnesses like arthritis, you may use CBD balms. You can give your senior pets a good massage as you apply the balm on their skin to provide relief. If you want your senior pets to experience instant relief, a CBD spray may come in handy. Just ensure that your pet is comfortable with spray.
Among pet CBD products, absorption of orally administered CBD tinctures is much faster. Oils and powders pass through the digestive, which may lessen their bioavailability or effectiveness. If you want CBD to take effect quickly, your best bet is CBD tinctures.
Conclusion
CBD may be an excellent solution if your senior pets are struggling with anxiety, nausea, arthritis, inflammation, or insomnia. You can buy both unflavored and flavored CBD products online or in local stores. If you’re confused with the available options in the market, you can ask your vet about the right CBD product suited for your senior pet.
