Seeing your dog suffer from epilepsy, aka dog seizures, is terrifying, but it's much more devastating for their pet parents. Feeling powerless and distressed is the last thing any pet parents wants to feel while worrying about their dogs. There are various reasons for dog epilepsy and seizures, making treatment challenging. In several cases, CBD for dog seizures has shown great promise as a natural treatment for canine epilepsy.
Recent clinical trial epilepsy research shows how CBD helps with epileptic seizures in humans. It's not too far-fetched to assume that it might benefit animals since all mammals have the same endocannabinoid system.
This article will cover how to use CBD for dog seizures or epilepsy and how to dose it accurately.
CBD For Dog Seizures
A seizure is a brief period of abnormal dog's brain electrical activity. It can alter your dog's demeanor, mobility, awareness, and involuntary processes. While episodes might be frightening to see, they typically only last for a few minutes and don't cause permanent harm.
The AKC Health Foundation reports that toxic exposure, disease, injury, triggering stimuli (such as loud noise), and metabolic issues are all potential causes of canine seizures.
Your vet may give you phenobarbital (PB) and potassium bromide (KBr or K-BroVet Potassium Bromide) if your dog has a lot of seizures. But these drugs may have bad side effects and can hurt the liver even more. That's why a lot of pet owners are looking for natural alternatives, like full-spectrum hemp extract CBD for dog seizures.
3 Most Common Categories of Seizures In Dogs
1. Epilepsy of Unknown Cause: Presumed Idiopathic Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy, also called primary epilepsy, means that no underlying medical illness can be identified as the root cause of the seizures, despite extensive diagnostic workups. On the other hand, symptomatic epilepsy is when an animal has seizures that make it easy to figure out what is causing them.
The most prevalent kind of canine seizure activity, especially in canines between six months and six years, is idiopathic epilepsy. Some breeds, such as boxers and other bully types, appear to have a higher prevalence of intractable idiopathic epilepsy than others.
2. Structure-Related Epilepsy:
This injuries or illnesses that cause brain damage—brain injury, stroke, and other neuroinflammatory diseases are all examples. Other behaviors or motor coordination alterations may be evident in many instances, but not all. An MRI of the brain or other diagnostic procedures is sometimes required to determine the root of the seizure disorder.
3. Reactive Seizures: Tonic-clonic convulsions
Tonic-clonic convulsions occur due to ingesting a particular substance or experiencing a toxic reaction. In some instances, the cause of reactive seizures may be determined and treated to prevent further attacks.
Triggers for Seizures in Dogs:
- Cancer, kidney or liver disease, or other underlying health issues
- Topical tick-and-flea products
- Electrolyte problems
- Head injury
- Vaccines
- Herbicides and pesticides
Symptoms of Seizures In Dogs
It might be frightening when your dog has a seizure; however, they usually suffer no discomfort. Here are some of the most typical signs of a dog seizure:
- Intensely foaming at the lips
- Loss of awareness
- Muscle twitching
- Whole-body stiffening
- Their legs make "paddling" movements.
- Drooling
- Collapsing
- Jerking
What is CBD for dog epilepsy?
CBD products are a natural, non-toxic way to help dogs with refractory epileptic seizures. Since CBD is from the cannabis plant but does not contain THC, the psychoactive component, CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate mood, pain, appetite, and inflammation. When given to dogs with epilepsy, CBD will help reduce seizure frequency and drug resistant idiopathic epilepsy. CBD for seizures in dogs has neuroprotective properties, which can help protect the brain from damage caused by seizures.
CBD and Dogs With Epilepsy
At an increasing rate, scientists are discovering many CBD products for human patients and canines to help reduce seizure frequency. Anecdotal evidence shows CBD helps control episodes.
Dogs have two different kinds of endocannabinoid receptors. CB2 receptors are found mainly in the immune system. CB1 receptors are highly concentrated in the brain and neurological system. CB1 receptors are essential in managing your dog's epilepsy. There is evidence that shows how the endocannabinoid system affects epileptic seizure control.
The Benefits Of Using CBD For Epileptic Dogs
The question then becomes: Why do people use CBD for epileptic dogs when there are so many other options? It boils down to the reality that CBD for dogs has several advantages, the first being that it is an all-natural and low-risk solution unlike veterinary medicine.
Hemp is a specific cannabis strain with 0.3% THC and a high amount of CBD which is non-intoxicating and safe to use on your pets. CBD interacts with the dog's endocannabinoid system to help regulate the body and nervous system.
In addition, Fur parents should be aware that a dog's body already has the necessary internal systems to digest these cannabinoids. CBD molecules are broken down by receptors called CB1 in your dog's body.
The brain's receptors come in many forms, each with its own specialization. The CB1 receptor is physiologically occurring. What exactly is a receptor, though? Receptors facilitate the efficient breakdown of chemicals, molecules, and other materials that cross the blood-brain barrier. Simply put, they play a crucial role in how the brain works.
These receptors are a component of the endocannabinoid system, which functions like the nervous system. The endocannabinoid receptor is in charge of degrading CBD, whereas the nervous system exists to maintain homeostasis in your dogs.
Is CBD for epileptic dogs safe?
A study was done on dogs that looked at them for 12 weeks in a double-blind cross-over design. On the randomized controlled canine trials performed, When compared to the placebo group, dog owners whose dogs were in the CBD group said their dogs had 33% fewer seizures on average.
CBD is a popular supplement and serves an alternative natural treatment for human patients, and is now being used to treat several medical concerns in dogs. Although many people report no adverse effects from using CBD treatment, others claim it might cause sleepiness or stomach issues.
While conventional antiepileptic treatment may have dangerous side effects, some believe that CBD for dogs is far safer. Whether or not to use this option for canine seizures depends on the dog and the severity of the episodes.
How does CBD work for seizures in dogs?
CBD is increasingly helping epileptic dogs because of the positive results seen in people. When taken orally, cannabinoids bind to specific brain receptors that mediate the effects of an episode. Dog's seizures are less severe and less frequent when CBD binds to these receptors.
The endocannabinoid system is a crucial player in regulating sleep, mood, and appetite, and CBD will help dogs by interacting with this system. A rise in endocannabinoid levels, which CBD oil aids in producing, is decreasing seizure activity. Dogs may safely consume CBD oil since it is non-psychoactive and has no adverse effects. However, before beginning any new therapy for your dog, it is essential to consult with your veterinarian, even if CBD oil is safe for dogs.
How Do You Give Your Dog CBD Oil for Seizures?
The proper CBD dose for your dog with seizures will be determined by several factors, not only the frequency with which they suffer seizures. In terms of dosing, not all dogs with epilepsy will need the same quantity of CBD. Instead, the dosage for a dog with epilepsy should be tailored to the dog's weight.
The label on the container of CBD should be carefully studied before being given to a dog suffering from seizures. Some packages say to give it to your dog twice a day, while others say it should only be provided once a day.
CBD Oil For Pets by Alive Market
Alive Market CBD for pets is a premium brand that employs the same high-quality CBD extracts as its human collection, guaranteeing the same level of safety and effectiveness.
The whole range of cannabinoids and terpenes included in these CBD pet oils makes them some of the finest CBD oil for dogs, as they make use of the entourage effect in hemp to boost CBD's overall efficiency.
Evidence-Based Dosing Regimens
750mg Dosing:
3000mg Dosing:
How Long Does It Take For CBD Oil For Dogs Seizures To Work?
After you give your pet a CBD oil dose, it could take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour to fully impact the neurological system. If you want to control your seizures, however, you may need to be more patient if CBD is entirely new to your pet's diet.
If you still haven't seen results after five days, try increasing their dose. It's important to try several concentrations of CBD until you discover the one that your dog responds to best.
Side Effects of CBD Oil For Dogs With Epilepsy
Regarding oral cannabidiol administration for dog's seizures, adverse reactions are relatively uncommon. Diarrhea seems to be the most common complaint. Overeating is the only cause of digestive problems in dogs and cats. It will take some time for them to get used to the oil. If diarrhea develops, the dosage should be lowered or skipped altogether for a day or two until the condition normalizes.
You may notice your pet acting more confident after administering cannabidiol for anxiety. CBD, when used in conjunction with conventional anti-seizure medication, may reduce epileptic seizure frequency and the stress that results from each seizure.
What to Do If You Have a Dog With Epilepsy?
The experience of seeing a seizure in your dog may be terrifying. There is a treatment phase or steps you may take to aid your furry pal. In the beginning, try to maintain your composure. During an epileptic seizure, it is crucial to be calm and avoid making abrupt movements or sounds since doing so might exacerbate the condition.
Next, remove anything from your dog's immediate vicinity that might cause injury during a convulsion. After everything is safe and sound, wrap your dog in a blanket or towel to make them feel more at ease.
Furthermore, never attempt to open your dog's mouth or stick anything inside it. Because of this, your dog may bite down too forcefully, hurting its tongue. Let the seizure take its natural course and provide comfort while it lasts. It won't take long for your dog to feel better if you give it some TLC and time.
Also, it is very important that you take your dog to the vet right away if they have cluster seizures, which are seizures that happen within 24 hours of each other. This is still true even if the seizure is focused. When seizures happen so close together, it could mean that the dog's brain is having major structural problems.
Conclusion:
When walking dogs that have generalized seizures, you need to be more careful. Because this type of drug-resistant seizures makes dogs lose consciousness, keep them away from water, slopes, and other places that could be dangerous. During seizures, your dog's temperature will rise, so put cool washcloths on their head, neck, or paws to calm them down.
In conclusion, CBD oil is quickly becoming an increasingly popular therapy for epileptic dogs. Does your dog suffer from epilepsy, and have you tried CBD to help them? Leave a comment below and tell us how things turned out.