What to do when a dog’s digestive system goes awry? Suddenly, there is loose stool or vomiting, or both! There is a lack of vitality and a very sad pooch.
Whether a dog suffers from chronic digestive issues like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or has a sudden onset episode of diarrhea and/or vomiting, Resilience CBD can suggest some causes and some solutions, including Resilience CBD’s oil.
Why CBD?
CBD is a known anti-inflammatory. For the digestive system, a hemp-derived CBD supplement brings harmony, alleviates pain and even stimulates appetite.
Hemp, a member of the cannabis family, yields high amounts of CBD, one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids like CBD mimic those found in the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a part of the immune system that all animals with backbones have.
THC is another cannabinoid, but it is found in low quantities in hemp. Unlike CBD, it has psychoactive properties. Resilience CBD’s Full Spectrum CBD oil has less than the legal limit of 0.3% THC, so will not cause a high; and Resilience CBD’s Isolate CBD is 100% THC free.
How Does the Endocannabinoid System Work?
With CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout the body – in the brain, central nervous system, and organs – the ECS maintains equilibrium between the different elements of the body, a balance called homeostasis. This is crucial for a healthy, functioning being, whether it be human, dog, or cat.
When the ECS is not in balance, dogs – and people – may experience nausea and stomach problems; but when the CB1 receptors are stimulated, digestive functions like gastric secretion, gastric emptying, and intestinal motility rebalance.
Studies published by the nih.gov (National Institute of Health) show that cannabinoids beneficially effect intestinal inflammation, helping the ECS adapt and balance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The cannabinoids “- via direct or indirect activation of CB(1) and/or CB(2) receptors – exert protective effects in well-established models of intestinal inflammation.”
Simply put, using a full spectrum CBD oil as a daily supplement, will help the ECS maintain balance and will discourage intestinal and digestive ailments.
The Dreaded Diarrhea
Well-trained dogs wait until they are outside to do their business – unless they cannot wait!
If a dog shows signs of sudden onset diarrhea, has there been a change in diet, or have they been scavenging? Has Uncle Bob been offering some extras under the table?
Or perhaps the dog has gotten into the trash and eaten spoiled food or something toxic. They might have been chewing on a child’s toy or swallowed a rubber band or a piece of plastic bag. None of these? Maybe it’s an infection, either viral, bacterial or parasitic; or they may be stressed.
These types of episodes can last from 24hours to a week, with symptoms gradually diminishing throughout the week. For the very young or old dog, or a dog that battles other ailments, these episodes can be debilitating.
How Can CBD Help Chronic Digestive Problems?
In another scenario, these kinds of accidents may not be a surprise. Diarrhea may be an ongoing condition. Liquid bowel movements that occur often, bouts that are severe and accompanied by vomiting, pain in the abdomen, listlessness, and weight loss, warrant veterinary attention. The cause may be easily diagnosed, but clearly, the dog needs testing: a fecal exam, lab work abdominal x-rays, all come to mind.
The diarrhea may be caused by allergic reactions to something in the diet, or by a bacterial infection. Parasites like Giardia, coccidia, and the worms – hook, round, and whip – may be the cause (which is why dogs should always be current on deworming and vaccinations).
With more serious illnesses – be it IBD, IBS, or colitis; pancreatic, liver, heart or kidney disease; or even cancer – Resilience CBD believes that a hemp-derived CBD oil supplement will be of help, but that this should be discussed with a veterinarian, more and more of whom see the benefit of a CBD supplement.
How New Research Supports the Use of CBD Supplements
With up to 10% of all veterinary visits due to dogs suffering from gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and worse, many veterinarians are looking to the NIH for research about how a CBD supplement can help the ECS right itself.
According to NIH research, inflammatory bowel diseases like leaky gut syndrome, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis are chronic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that are being seen more and more in people in Westernized countries.
Researchers speculate that in some of these illnesses, the immune system is mistakenly attacking gut microbes.
Researchers know that cannabinoids and their CB-1 and CB-2 receptors are found in the gut, as well as in the brain and intestines. They believe that the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) definitely has a role in maintaining homeostasis (remember, that is the scientific way to say balance!) in the gut. In particular, the CB-1 receptor has been found to regulate nausea and vomiting, stomach acid regulation, and protection from stomach acid.
Findings suggest that endocannabinoids may play a role in regulating intestinal permeability and that CBD may have therapeutic potential in conditions associated with abnormally permeable intestinal tissue. In other words, if the thin tissue that lines the alimentary canal – basically, from where food enters to where it exits – is too thin, then that barrier will not work properly and there could be leakage. And a lot of discomfort.
Mice and Motility
Another study focused on using CBD to explore motility issues in mice with gut inflammation and in those without (a control group) was done in-vivo. When the control group was given croton oil – to increased motility or diarrhea – CBD and the CB2 receptor stepped in to balance motility.
The study’s authors found that in “view of its low toxicity in humans, cannabidiol may represent a good candidate to normalize motility in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.”
The laboratory mice used in the study showed decreased inflammation and intestinal motility after a dose of full spectrum CBD. The speed – or, more important, slowness – of motility is significant because when food is eaten and moves through the digestive system, the body absorbs nutrition. If it moves too quickly, what is nutritious will not be absorbed.
How Matching Microbes Suggest CBD Supplement Use
It would not be out of line to speculate that dogs with chronic digestive problems are as susceptible to external and internal environmental changes as humans. In fact, recent research that compared microbes in dog excrement to those found in the human digestive system, suggest that dogs and humans have a strong microbial relationship.
We now can generalize information that suggests that both dogs and humans share digestive similarities – and digestive and stomach issues – and that both will benefit from a CBD supplement.
Color Counts
A dog’s stool can also be revealing. Consistency, one of the four Cs, is the obvious one. But what about color, coating, and contents? Are there worms within? Plastic bits? Everything observed is a clue as to how to deal with the emergency.
Speaking of clues, color can give a great deal of information. Is the stool black and tarry, indicating blood from the stomach or small intestines? Are there red streaks, which indicate bleeding in the lower GI tract? Green is for grass – and no one really knows why dogs eat grass! The last color to look for is yellow, which is a sign of problems in the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.
A CBD Supplement Plus…
It is crucial to hydrate with water; or offer chicken or beef broth. Pedialyte is good to balance and replenish electrolytes. A dose of hemp-derived Resilience CBD oil can be added to any of these.
When food is reintroduced, it should be something simple like a small amount of boiled white meat chicken or white rice. Avoid dairy products and foods that are strongly flavored.
If the dog responds well to food, two hours later offer another small portion. Continue to do this, while increasing the interval between feeding times while also increasing the amount of food if the dog continues to feel better.
Anxiety and/or Stress
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions diagnosed in humans. It should come as no surprise that animals also suffer from anxiety and that sometimes that anxiety manifests in the form of an upset stomach.
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that a full spectrum CBD oil can help with anxiety. Scientific research on the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects of CBD has shown that when CBD interacts with the ECS in the body, it does help to decrease anxiety.
The terpenes and phytocannabinoids found in hemp, including CBD, will work to lessen anxiety, and lead to fewer stomach upsets for pets and their owners!
Resilience CBD is Mindful of Your Dog’s Health
There is no doubt that current research is showing that a full spectrum CBD supplement can help dogs maintain a balanced digestive system. Health and vitality can be restored, with the best result of a happy and once-again frisky dog.
Whether digestive problems are caused by a one-time culprit or a chronic digestive issue, CBD will work together with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system as a corrective.
Research shows that in mice, dogs, and people, a hemp-derived CBD oil supplement can help digestive health in many ways including reduced motility, reduced inflammation, and reduced anxiety.
Resilience CBD works hard to guarantee a CBD oil supplement that can be trusted, using non-GMO cultivars to organically grow high-CBD-yielding hemp that is triple lab tested, with results posted on our web site.
Our goal is a happy dog with a healthy digestive system!
Written by: Michael Tatz | Linkedin
Michael Tatz is the Co-Founder of Resilience CBD, and a passionate leader in the health & fitness world helping others rise to and crush their wildest goals. A former Division 1 college wrestler, Army Officer, and investment manager at Goldman Sachs, he has pushed his body and mind to the limits on the mats, dressed in camo, and in the boardroom.
Today, he spends his time leading Resilience CBD to develop the absolute best recovery products for athletes everywhere. Resilience was founded after CBD personally impacted Michael’s life, and the brand was built to partner with everyday athletes in pursuit of conquering their most difficult challenges, rebounding after their toughest performances, and rising to their goals that once seemed impossible.
