Pain and Inflammation in Pets

In a perfect world our pets would be pain free all the time with little to no inflammatory issues. Unfortunately that is not their reality. Our pets will likely need some form of pain management within their lifetimes and pet parents have varied options.  Unchecked inflammation which is a likely cause of much of your pet’s discomfort may happen for varied reasons and we would only be ignorant as pet owners if we dismissed this.

Causes of Pain and Inflammation

Below are some of the common reasons and options for pet owners to consider when addressing pain and inflammation in Pets.

Walking and running might cause minor pain

Each tug against their neck from any collar, flat buckle, prong, choke, even some harness’.  Consider using a Balance Harness for the best fit. have the potential to induce un-needed discomfort.  Repeated pulling and lunging on leash during outings will add up and likely cause some distress.

Many dogs won’t tell you or display any behavior that signals pain while other dogs will.  It is common to see signs of pain in the middle to later years of most pets.  However, in some cases the leash causes immediate damage to the trachea/esophagus.  This can even lead what is called a “collapsing trachea” in some pets which inhibits proper breathing. This is not to be confused with laryngeal paralysis.

Jumping causes jarring of the the joints in the neck and limbs

Eventually jumping and jarring of the joints impacts add up and mobility declines. Many people only start treating their pets for pain once they see their pets behavior change for the worse. What I am saying is your Cat or Dog might be in mild discomfort far before you notice.

Poor diet may cause inflammation

Our pets don’t have a choice in what they eat and as pet owners we strive to feed them the best we can.  There is a huge trend right now to feed our pets a more appropriate diet which are more digestible, less processed, and comprised of less fillers and preservatives. As a result, there are more dehydrated, organic, raw, and lightly cooked options than ever before.

This a change from the typical dry kibble or wet food that is regulated as a feed product and not a food. Commercial pet food is susceptible to high heat and adulterated nutrients with fillers, added colors, and preservatives. Additionally, these options often contain allergens and contaminants like fungus and mold as well as rancid fats from improper storage.

I am not suggesting any particular diet here but the more digestible and recognizable the food the better. Too much or too many proteins to digest, excessive starchy fillers (sugars), or food your pet is sensitive to can cause mild to severe GI upset. While not thoroughly tested, daily dosing of Pet CBD  may reduce your pets inflammatory response and help with certain digestive issues.

Medication post surgery (spay and neuter) could have side effects

Most Pets will go through this mostly minor surgery and many pets will recover from it quickly. However, there is still a high population of pets that are more sensitive to this procedure who need special care. Almost every pet rescued from a shelter experiences this procedure along with the pain after.

Other considerations for pain management include:

• Tooth extractions,
• After injury,
• Through conflict with other animals requiring further treatment

In such events, you will likely receive traditional pain killers with a list of detrimental side effects.  I will list and address the concerns of these options a bit later.

Nerve Pain

Nerve pain is challenging to diagnose because it’s not possible to ask our pets about the type pain are experiencing.  Over-activity involving running, jumping, turning quickly, or even sleeping in a crate too long eventually leads to pain and discomfort. Nerves run through every part of our pets body with the majority coming from the spine which bears the brunt of running, jumping and turning. These mystery pains come and go and are hard to diagnose since there isn’t always physical evidence. Doctors often diagnose nerve pain through a CT scan or MRI.

Infections

Ear infections and UTI’s are unfortunately also common in many pets.  These may be chronic in some pets, coming and going seasonally as the weather heats or seasons change.   There also might be something in their diet that disagrees with your pet.  This type of pain is often overlooked but should be a consideration for why our pets’ behavior can changed.

CBD alone isn’t usually successful at treating infections but may help with the underlying pain and inflammation. Products that include other ingredients like our Topical Healing Formula can successfully treat skin infections like hot spots.

Skin conditions can drive your pet crazy

Skin allergies are a big cause of pain and inflammation in pets.  Often, even with vets and specialists involved, the cause and treatment for them is guesswork.  Pruritus, or itchy skin, can range from mild and unpleasant to very bothersome.

Imagine your self with the sensation of itchiness and no hands or tools to scratch with. Now imagine it goes on for days and days and you don’t know what to do.

This can be very hard on our pets, leading to a host of unwanted behaviors from the discomfort and subsequent anxiety.  Itchy pets can take our Pet CBD orally or topically (i.e., the skin has a high concentration of CB (cannabinoid) receptors. Additionally,  our MCT oil base is naturally anti-microbial as it is primarily capric and capryllic acids from coconut oil.

Other Pain Management Options

Typical Veterinary medicine you might take home for pain in your pets include:

Carprophen(Rimadyl): This drug most resembles your typical human NSAID (NSAID stands for Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are the most prescribed medications for treating conditions such as arthritis).  Carprophen has a list of side effects that range from mild to severe, including stomach bleeding and liver disease.  If you were to click here and scroll down to the “post approval experience section” you will notice the concerning list of negative responses.

Galiprant: Another NSAID. The most commonly reported side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and lethargy.

Adiquan: This medicine seems to have less of the side effects than the NSAID’s previously mentioned.  Adiquan does require you veterinarian to inject your pet in several locations over several days.  The FDA has approved the use of Adiquan in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Tramadol: This is a synthetic opioid used to treat pain when NSAID’s wont work.  In humans this medication binds to M1 opioid receptor and relieves pain. Unfortunately dogs do not have M1 receptors, leading many to find Tramadol ineffective alone.  While cats do have M1 receptors, Tramadol is only mildly helpful and generally only so while also giving additional NSAID’s.   Some pets don’t tolerate this type of medication because of side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, and constipation. Tramadol is also habit forming like other opiates.

Gabapentin: This medicine is often prescribed for varied reasons from nerve pain to anxiety, and even seizures. It works on the brain by limiting electrical activity and influencing neurotransmitters. While considered an anticonvulsant, Gabapentin effects the body and brain in different ways. Known side effects of Gabapentin include deficiencies of Calcium, Vitamins D and B1 as well as lethargy and wobbliness.

Why Pet CBD for Pain and Inflammation?

All of the previously mentioned pain management options come with a likelihood of negative side effects.  This is one reason high quality, lab tested, CBD for pets has become so popular in recent years.

It’s unlikely that a pet will have an adverse reaction to CBD (cannabidiol), especially the more severe issues like stomach bleeding and liver failure. The University of Cornell recently completed a study on the effects of very high doses of CBD for the treatment of osteoarthritic symptoms.  The study clearly showed the reduction of pain in the majority of the dogs tested.  Even when administering higher than typical dosages, the dogs’ owners reported few negative side effects other than lethargy and minor diarrhea.

Pet CBD, while still not approved by the FDA to treat pain and inflammation in pets, remains in high demand. Eventually, it is expected that safe sources of CBD products will be available through your veterinarian once regulations are in place. Pet parent must do their due diligence in the meantime.

Until then, you can trust All Paws Essentials to provide the highest quality Pet CBD products for cats and dogs.

Local veterinarians we work with use and recommend our products for various reasons.  All Paws Essentials has a pleasant, not bitter flavor in all of our CBD oils for dogs and cats too.