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CBD Oil For Degenerative Myelopathy In Dogs – Did You Know

Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM, is a condition that usually affects dogs above the age of 8 years, and is similar to the disease suffered by humans known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Degenerative Myelopathy is a terminal condition in dogs for which there is no cure.

There are many treatments that are meant to care for DM’s needs, such as wobbling, paralysis of the hind legs, and anxiety, to name a few.

CBD is considered to be a means to treat various symptoms of DM to extend that period of time that your pet will have a decent quality of life.

What is the progression of Degenerative Myelopathy?

DM is a degenerative condition which attacks the spinal cord.

More specifically, the disease targets the sheath of the spinal cord, which then interferes with the signals from the brain to the muscles.

Because the signal to the muscle has been stopped or altered, the muscle does not react in the way that it was directed to.

In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms may go unnoticed or be thought to be something minor.

These signs may be any of the following:

Tremors and/or weakness in the hind legs
Wobbly gait, or appear unsure, when walking
Lack of coordination, or difficulty, when moving their hind legs
Difficulty rising up from sitting or laying down
Stumbling when walking
Dragging their feet – you will notice this because their nails are wearing down

When you see these things happening, you must pay attention to these symptoms.

The sooner that you get your dog to the vet for a diagnosis and start treatments, you have a better chance of keeping their quality of life as normal as possible, for as long as possible.

Don’t think that it is just arthritis or “getting older.”

Timely diagnosis is key to getting treatment.

As the disease progresses, the above symptoms will start to get worse.

Additional indications of progression are below:

Getting up to stand, or down to sit, are much more difficult
They will find it very difficult to hold their weight when standing
Toe injuries due to dragging of their feet
Incontinence, both urinary and fecal
Noticeable muscle loss
When walking, they will need support

As the disease advances to its final stages, comfort measures for your pet will become most important.

At this point, the symptoms have become debilitating, and pain will start to manifest.

Symptoms at this stage are below:

The hind legs are paralyzed
Muscle weakness in the front legs
Breathing is strained
Complete immobility – this will be evident by the presence of pressure sores
Anxiety
Exhibiting signs of pain

Keep in mind that many animals will not demonstrate when they are in pain as it is a sign of weakness and can make them a target in the wild.

Only you know your pet and can determine if they are in pain and need to see a veterinarian.

How CBD may help

As it turns out, CBD in many ways affects our dogs in the same way that it affects us.

They have an endocannabinoid system that reacts to CBD much like our endocannabinoid system does.

Therefore, your dog may enjoy many of the same benefits of CBD that you do.

Those possible benefits are listed below:

Reduced inflammation of the joints
Reduction in anxiety and depression
Stress relief
Increased appetite and the absence of nausea
Controls seizure activity
Alleviation of pain
Improved quality and quantity of sleep
Extra energy

CBD cannot cure Degenerative Myelopathy.

Its function is to increase the quality of life for your pet.

When your dog cannot get around, or do the things that she likes to do, such as play in the yard or go for a walk with you, that is very stressful to them.

Increased anxiety has become a part of their life because they do not understand what is happening to their body.

When we are seriously ill, we have a better understanding as to what is happening to us.

And, we too, are very stressed and anxious when we are sick. Imagine not knowing, or understanding, what is happening.

That would be very stressful.

CBD may reduce these feelings of stress and allow them to feel a little better.

When choosing which CBD to use for your furry friend, you must use the same care as if you were choosing it for yourself.

There will probably be some process of trial and error when choosing which CBD to use for your pet’s comfort.

This will be compounded by the many choices that will have to be made.

These include:

Full-spectrum vs. CBD Isolate
Drops vs. capsules
Homemade treats vs. purchased
Quality of the brand

When deciding on CBD for your pet, it is important to do your research.

The CBD landscape is largely unregulated and some of the products are more “snake oil” than holistic remedy.

You will also need to keep in mind the best and easiest way to dispense the treatment to them to deliver relief.

Holistic veterinarians can offer you some advice, as well as your current veterinarian.

Final Thoughts on CBD Oil for Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs

It is never good news when your fur-baby is diagnosed with DM.

In fact, it is often devastating to hear that it is not only progressive, but irreversible.

Instead of giving up, you will likely want to research the best ways to extend their quality of life for as long as possible, which may include such treatments as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and mobility assistive devices.

And in whatever plan you have, CBD should be part of it.