The past year has been just as confusing for your pets as it has been for the rest of us. Having the entire family at home has been a big change and probably disrupted their routine of long naps.
Anxiety is just as real for dogs as it is for people and according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, their anxiety can come from a variety of causes. Some of the most common causes of dog anxiety are fear, separation and aging. The AKC also notes that fear-related anxiety can be caused by loud noises, strange people or animals, visual stimuli like hats or umbrellas, and new or strange environments. Specific situations like the vet’s office, car rides, or surfaces like grass or wood floors may also be a factor. Although some dogs may only have brief reactions to these kinds of stimuli, they may affect anxious dogs more.
Animals and people have an endocannabinoid system, ECS, that helps regulate homeostasis or balance. Veterinarians will often prescribe Diazepam (Valium) or Alprazolam (Xanax) to help with anxiety.
Let’s talk about aging and pain. If you’ve lived an active lifestyle, arthritis will more than likely become a factor for you and your pet. Arthritis is one of the most common ailments affecting middle-aged to senior dogs and cats and it can be a source of chronic pain and negatively affect their quality of life. Signs of arthritis can be as obvious as limping, trouble with stairs or trouble getting in and out of the car. The more common signs could be described as “slowing down” and can easily be dismissed as part of the aging process.
As people start finding the benefits of natural alternatives to help with their own health, they are also looking for alternatives for their pets. CBD can be a great natural alternative to anti-anxiety or pain medications. However, quality and potency matter, especially for your dog. Why? Because in an unregulated industry many products tested for quality and potency come up short. Meaning some contain heavy metals, pesticides or too much THC which can be toxic for pets.
Honest Paws is a reputable company for pet CBD. Their goal is to help one million pet owners and their pets create more precious memories and live longer, healthier, happier lives together. All of their products have been laboratory tested for quality and purity and you may have seen them on the Today Show. The Honest Paws line can be found locally at Trek CDB in Holly Springs. The product can be delivered in pet treats, oils, chews and peanut butter.
A quick story before I finish. Several months ago, my English Golden Retriever, Hadley, couldn’t get up off the floor one night and we panicked. She’s only four but we were thinking hip dysplasia or, even worse, something neurological was going on and our hearts dropped. We took her to the vet, and they diagnosed it as a strained CCL and prescribed her anti-inflammatories and pain medication. We didn’t want to medicate her and decided to try CBD oil. After two weeks of taking the oil daily, she was back to her old self taking care of us.
Nick Pione is a local business owner, blog writer and natural wellness expert. He co-founded Trek CBD and contributes to medium.com and trekcbd.com. For more information, please contact him at: nickpione@trekvitality.com
