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CBD for ear infections may be beneficial to dogs. With ear infections being one of the most common reasons we take our dogs to the vet for, it’s important to understand how to prevent them, and how to treat them. That said, dog breeds with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections.
Untreated ear infections in dogs can result in deafness, eye issues, facial paralysis, and severe pain.
A CBD oil expert can follow up with the veterinary diagnosis from your veterinarian and recommend a reputable THC-free CBD hemp oil supplement for your dog.
Before choosing a CBD hemp oil supplement for your dog’s ear infection, consult with your veterinarian for a diagnosis.
You can then discuss which CBD hemp oil supplement would be best for your dog, with the appropriate dosage for his or her health condition.
CBD potency requirements will vary according to the specific health issue.
Yeast ear infections are more common than bacterial ear infections in dogs. Usually, you won’t notice the beginning of an ear infection, and it’s only when your dog is shaking his head and pawing his ear, that you’ll know that something is wrong.
This is a common problem affecting the ear canal in dogs. It takes place when the layer of cells that line the external ear canal becomes inflamed. Identifying the causes will help to control the ear infection, and
Your veterinarian will do a complete examination using an otoscope. Your dog may need to be sedated to allow for this, most especially if his ear is painful, or if there is the discharge or widespread inflammatory tissue. Most dogs with ear infections will be uncooperative with ear examinations.
A tissue sample may also be needed to check for infection-causing microbes. Initially, a smear may diagnose a problem right away like for small microorganisms living in the ear which may cause diseases.
Your veterinarian will check for the following during an ear exam:
When there is ear discharge, your veterinarian will check for larvae, eggs, or adult ear mites that may be present. Allergy testing may also be necessary, and sometimes even biopsies, if the ear infections are long-term, or if there is inflammation of the external ear canal. X-rays are used for eardrums, or to check the middle ear when there are problems with balance.
This can only begin after your veterinarian has made a diagnosis. Sometimes the hair inside the ear canal is removed, so that air can move through easily. This also helps with cleaning, drying the ear canal, and applying medication. A good ear cleaning done under general anesthesia may also be needed.
Treatment will usually last for 2-4 weeks or until the infection has cleared. Cleaning your dog’s ears regularly, and making sure that you use drying agents in dogs that swim a lot helps to prevent ear infections.
Your veterinarian may prescribe the following for an ear infection:
With ear infections, there’s usually a yeasty smell coming from the infected ear that is easy to pick up. You can also use a soft tissue, and gently move your finger into the ear canal. If the tissue comes out brown, you’ll know that there’s a yeast infection present or too much Malassezia present in the ear.
Malassezia is a yeast that grows in a dog’s ears and skin and may be hard to get rid of. It takes a while to grow but is tenacious when it’s present, most especially in wet skin and hair. Your veterinarian may prescribe an ointment for the yeast infection. It’s important to keep up with follow-up veterinary visits for ear infections. Sometimes, there won’t be an immediate improvement, and your dog’s condition may get worse.
Think long, droopy ears! Dog breeds with long droopy ears or non-erect ears may develop more ear infections than dogs with erect ears.
For dogs with ear pain or ear infections, it’s always a priority to first visit your veterinarian for a diagnosis. Cannabidiol oil does not replace veterinary care, but can be combined with veterinary care.
With the CBD market taking off, and CBD THC-free hemp oil supplements for pets proving to be effective in pain relief, as well as for reducing inflammation, it’s not surprising that pet parents are opting for these products, instead of long-term pharmaceuticals that may have side- effects. Consult with an expert at Sit & Stay for facts about CBD dosing, and a product’s transparency.
Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the components of the cannabis plant that does not give your furry best friend a “high” CBD is derived from the hemp plant, and can also come from the marijuana plants.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is what you don’t want in your CBD pet products. Legally, all CBD hemp oil supplements can only have 0.3% or less THC. THC is federally illegal in the US but is available for medical use in several states, and in Canada with a medical marijuana card.
This label embodies both the hemp and marijuana plant, with both plants being different and carrying varying amounts of THC and CBD. Marijuana plants may have up to 20% THC. Cannabis that contains more than 0,3% THC is considered marijuana with medical marijuana having from 5-20% THC. Hemp plants will produce more cannabinoids than THC, while marijuana plants will produce more THC than CBD.
CBD that is free of THC may be beneficial in the treatment of numerous health conditions in dogs and people, without the long-term side-effects of pharmaceuticals. CBD is a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid and provides therapeutic and medicinal purposes for dogs, cats, and horses. To help you understand more about the benefits of CBD oil for dogs dealing with ear pain, let’s look at some research.
Dr. Lascelles from North Carolina State University adds “However, dogs do have the same natural cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system as humans,” (The endocannabinoid system involves physiological processes such as appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory.) These receptors are found in the dog’s brain and peripheral nervous system. In fact, scientific research has confirmed that cannabis receptors exist in many different species, including dogs,” via Animal Wellness.
A 2018 study from the University of McGill added that they had great news for chronic pain sufferers and that they were now able to pinpoint the effective dose of cannabidiol or CBD for safe pain relief, without the “high” from THC.
The researchers added that "We found in animal models of chronic pain that low doses of CBD administered for seven days alleviate both pain and anxiety, two symptoms often associated with neuropathic or chronic pain," via Science Daily.The study goes on to add “Our findings elucidate the mechanism of action of CBD and show that it can be used as medicine without the dangerous side effects of the THC," says Dr. Gobbi, who is also Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University and staff psychiatrist at the MUHC. "This research is a new advancement for an evidence-based application of cannabis in medicine," via Science Daily.
Another study published in the European Journal of Pain demonstrates how CBD gel is effective in reducing inflammation and hypersensitivity.
“Outcomes of this study indicate that topical application of CBD gel is an effective treatment for reduction in inflammation and hypersensitivity associated with the rodent adjuvant-induced monoarthritis model.” The results were in relation to the absence of psychoactive behaviors.
“CBD is a known non-psychoactive cannabinoid, and due to its low affinity for the CB1 receptor, it would be expected that exploratory behavioral activity would be similar among treatment groups compared to negative side-effects associated with THC. These studies demonstrate transdermal administration of CBD has long-lasting therapeutic effects without psychoactive side-effects. Thus, use of topical CBD has potential as an effective treatment of arthritic symptomatology,” via NCBI
According to the National Cancer Institute, “cannabinoids activate specific receptors found throughout the body to produce pharmacologic effects, particularly in the central nervous system and the immune system.” These natural chemicals may be helpful in treating cancer-related symptoms such as pain, via Animal Wellness.
The bottom line on CBD oil for dogs with ear infections is that veterinary consultation needs to come first, with a follow- up recommendation for CBD hemp oil supplements for dogs. That said, always purchase a high-grade,US CBD hemp oil supplement.
Consult with your veterinarian for accurate dosage information. That said, you’ll have all the necessary information on how to purchase the right CBD oil for your dog.
Meet The Author
Canine Specialist & Writer
Claudia Bensimoun is a freelance journalist and author, and specializes in veterinary content, and eBooks. She's a long-time feature writer for Animal Wellness magazine, Fido Friendly magazine, and the United States Dog Agility Association. In addition, Bensimoun has written for numerous pet websites, magazines, newspapers and online publications. Her interests include wildlife conservation, animal welfare, disaster/ humanitarian relief, veterinary research, and veganism.
