CBD for Pets: A Natural Solution for Inflammation, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety

Our pets are more than just animals. Anyone who has pets knows they are special members of our families, and we treat them with great love and care accordingly. Just like us, they can suffer from various physical and mental health issues, including inflammation, chronic pain, and anxiety. While pharmaceutical medications have traditionally been the go-to solution for treating these conditions, an increasing number of pet owners are turning to CBD (cannabidiol) as a natural alternative. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of using CBD instead of pharmaceutical medication for animals suffering from these common ailments.

To get a better professional insight on the topic, we talked to a local veterinarian to see what her experience has been with her clients using CBD oil compared to prescription medication. Doctor Penny Rochelle practices holistic veterinary wellness in New Jersey. Her passion is subtle gait issues, neurological abnormalities, lameness, and sports medicine. She helps animals both big and small in her practice. Over the years she’s noticed that veterinarians using CBD oil for pets has become much more commonplace.

“I’m practicing more holistic medicine, but even more traditional vets are using CBD now too. It’s not as uncommon as it once was,” she said.

Dr. Penny said that she’s found CBD to be an amazing tool that works incredibly well for her clients. When searching for the right brand to prescribe, she looks over the labels carefully, since not all CBD oils are created equally (see our previous blog here). She found one that has both CBD and CBD-a to help animals who suffer from a range of ailments such as back or neck pain and anxiety, and it works to help relax muscles as well.

She highly recommends CBD and prescribes it every day to clients, and it doesn’t have the nasty side effects that pharmaceutical medicine often has. She said that in some cases CBD is used in place of pharmaceutical meds, and in other cases, it’s used alongside them.

She’s seen dogs that have previous spinal issues who have been on pharmaceutical medication like gabapentin for years, but over time it has become less effective for them. For patients like this, she uses a holistic care approach, utilizing a combination of spinal manipulation, cold lasers, and CBD oil to deliver long-term results. She’s seen them go from needing medication 4-5 times a year down to only needing it once every 2 years after incorporating holistic wellness into their care routine.

One of her clients is reHEMP co-founder Karen Horan. Back in late May, Karen noticed that her horse Gigi had injured herself in turnout and suffered from a sprained suspensory ligament, causing inflammation and swelling in her front leg.

Initially the doctor prescribed a topical NSAID and suggested controlled exercise for Gigi along with shockwave therapy once every 4 weeks. However, Karen wasn’t seeing her horse Gigi’s swelling improve after about 5 weeks, so she decided to take an alternate approach. She had an “AHA” moment when she thought to utilize her own reHEMP products, since CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Karen started applying the REVIVE soothing pain rub once a day on Gigi’s swollen leg. She started this new routine on a Monday, and by Friday she was pleasantly surprised at how much the swelling had gone down. She continued to use it for Gigi, and in early August she started administering ingestible CBD prescribed by Dr. Penny along with acupuncture. When they began treatment with Dr. Penny, Gigi had a lot of stiffness in her neck, limiting her range of motion. The CBD oil and acupuncture really seemed to help, Karen said that Gigi’s range of motion is incredible now, and she can move her head and neck without pain or flinching.

CBD is gaining popularity as a natural and effective alternative to pharmaceutical medications for pets suffering from inflammation, chronic pain, and anxiety. With its potential to provide pain relief, reduce inflammation, and alleviate anxiety without significant side effects, it’s no wonder that many pet owners are turning to CBD as a holistic solution for their beloved animals.

Always consult with a veterinarian before starting any CBD regimen to ensure that it’s the right choice for your pet’s specific needs and that you use the correct dosage. If your pet has any upcoming competitions, be sure to check with your officials for any rules regarding CBD use, as some competitions have restrictions regarding the use of CBD or other medications. When used responsibly and under professional guidance, CBD can be a valuable addition to your pet’s wellness routine, helping them lead happier, healthier lives.