Best CBD Oil For Dogs With Liver Disease

Does CBD oil affect the liver in dogs?

As a dog owner who may have been considering using CBD oil to help your pet cope with any number of medical conditions, you may have heard something in the news about CBD oil causing elevated liver enzymes in dogs. This can be concerning for any pet owner who loves their furry friend immensely. So, how exactly does CBD oil affect the liver in dogs, and are the effects a major health concern that you should be worried about? Let us take a closer look at the ways that CBD oil affects the liver in dogs and exactly what those effects mean.

The news media was reporting about a study conducted at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences that was ultimately published in the Molecules medical journal. In the study, researchers were using a CBD isolate called Epidiolex. The researchers were giving significant doses of Epidiolex to mice. These significant amounts ranged from 246-mg per 1-kilo, or 2.2-pounds of body weight, to 2460 mg/kg. A basic dose for a canine is somewhere between 1 and 5 milligrams per 4.53-kilos or 10-pounds. This means that if your dog weighs 50 pounds, a recommended dose of CBD oil could range anywhere from 5-mg to 25-mg.

If you gave your 50-pound dog the dose that was being used in the study, then you would give your dog a dose somewhere between 22.72-mg and 11,181-mg. A dose of 22.72-mgs would be considered within the range of a normal dose for a 50-pound dog, however, it would be considered a high dose that sits near the top of the recommended dosage range. Anything above 25-mg for a 50-pound dog may not be recommended, and anything remotely close to 11,181-mg could be harmful. The study published its results in the Molecules medical journal stating that the mice who were given high doses of CBD showed some liver damage. Aside from the data being skewed due to the incredibly high dosages, only 6 mice were studied which may be considered an extremely small sample size that puts the validity of the study into question. Additionally, some experienced pro-CBD and holistic medicine professionals, as well as other researchers have discredited the study as being purposefully skewed to provide intentionally alarming information to mislead potential consumers. In order to keep your dog or cat safe, it’s important to give proper dosage of any treatments or medications.

Does CBD cause liver damage?

Ultimately, it can be said that research has shown that life-long use of cannabis can have negative effects on the liver. On the contrary, CBD has been found to be much safer for canines than many of the common prescription drugs used to treat many of the ailments that CBD has been found to be a worthy substitute for. Many of the commonly used prescription drugs, like Doxepin, Tramadol, or Prednisone, can potentially have a much more adverse effect on the liver than CBD. CBD oil has been used by many dog owners to treat the symptoms of common conditions like arthritis pain, autoimmune diseases, anxiety, and Sundowning Syndrome as a less potentially harmful alternative.

Does CBD oil help the liver in dogs?

Yes, the best way CBD oil helps the liver in dogs is by acting as an anti-inflammatory. Many liver conditions can be linked to inflammation in the liver. This may be a good reason why CBD oil could be used preemptively to help combat the development of liver disease in dogs.

Does CBD help liver disease in dogs?

If you begin to notice signs of jaundice, skin or fur issues, a distended abdomen, gastrointestinal issues, neurological issues, pale mucous membranes, constant dehydration, loss of coordination, extreme weight loss, and/or lethargy, you may want to visit your veterinarian to get an assessment. Many of these signs can be strong indicators of liver disease. Once diagnosed with liver disease, you and your dog may be presented with many treatment options. Treatment options may include specialized liver medications, extra fluids and electrolytes, SAM-E and/or milk thistle, a dramatic change in diet, more rest, and additional treatment for any other condition that may be the cause of the liver damage. In addition to taking any medications and/or supplements and taking specific actions, CBD oil has been used to help manage liver disease and to alleviate some of its symptoms. The endocannabinoid system is a complex system that possesses cannabinoid receptors all over the body. CBD oil works directly with the cannabinoid receptors in the body of both humans and canines to reduce inflammation that may be damaging the liver. Inflammation is a main cause of damage to the liver, therefore, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may be able to help manage some of the damage that is being done. Additionally, CBD has numerous other benefits that can help your dog’s health in general in addition to fighting liver damaging inflammation. CBD oil may help alleviate pain, improve your dog’s mood, reduce stress, boost energy, improve appetite, help manage digestive issues, provide nutrients, improve sleep, and many other helpful benefits.

Does CBD Elevate Liver Enzymes?

As the long-term effects of CBD oil are still being studied, there is no definitive answer to whether or not liver enzymes are elevated when CBD is consumed regularly and for long periods of time. There have been studies on mice that liver toxicity can occur in mice when CBD is consumed in extremely large quantities. However, those types of quantities are never recommended for the medical consumption of CBD. When CBD consumption was tested with human clinical trials, elevated liver enzymes were found in 5% to 20% of all the patients treated with CBD.

What Kinds of Problems Occur in Dogs Living with Liver Disease?

Dogs living with liver disease can experience many terrible problems. When liver disease is in its earliest stage, you may notice your dog vomiting regularly, persistent diarrhea, loss of appetite, extreme weight loss, and changes in behavior like lethargy and/or irritability. When the disease progresses to the later stages of liver disease, you may begin to notice jaundice, blood clotting, blood in the urine or stool, blindness, seizures, swelling of the abdomen, and in severe cases, coma.

What Causes Liver Disease in Dogs?

There are two main types of liver diseases that can cause liver problems in dogs. First, there is chronic liver disease and then there is acute liver disease. Chronic liver disease develops in a canine’s body slowly over time. It can also be caused by diseases such as cancer or diabetes. Acute liver disease is a sudden medical emergency that can be a liver failure due to ingesting a large amount of a poisonous or toxic substance. Liver disease can be caused by several different conditions within the body. Some of those causes include the following conditions:

• Ingestion of a highly toxic substance.
• Diseases such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and hyperthyroidism.
• Cysts or gallstones.
• Liver cancer,
• A severe viral or bacterial infection.
• Severe trauma from an accident or heatstroke.

In addition to these 6 main causes of liver disease in dogs, there are congenital conditions like copper storage disease and liver shunt that can lead to liver disease. Copper storage disease is a condition that builds up copper in the liver and causes extensive damage over time. A liver shunt is a disease some dogs can be born with that affects and restricts the flow of blood to and within the liver.

Sources:

allthebestpetcare.com/pet-nutrition/cbd-dose-dog-cat/
cbddoghealth.com/does-cbd-elevate-liver-enzymes/
innovetpet.com/blogs/diseases/liver-disease-in-dogs-1
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6539990/
aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/liver-disease-in-dogs/