How CBD Oil Interacts with your Pet’s Body

31 Jan How CBD Oil Interacts with your Pet’s Body

Have you wondered how CBD oil interacts with your pet’s body? Interestingly, it interacts the same way in their bodies as it does ours. Mammals have the same endocannabinoid system as humans. Basically, any creature that has a spine has an endogenous cannabinoid system (endocannabinoid system). In this short guide, we’ll touch on how CBD oil interacts with your pet’s body.

The Endogenous Cannabinoid System

The endogenous cannabinoid system, or endocannabinoid system, aids in regulating multiple functions and responses in the body. It works in conjunction with the central and peripheral nervous systems to maintain proper balance within the body. These functions include mood, appetite, response to pain, the immune system, memory and other major functions in the body.

Within this system are cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoid receptors are present in the brain, spine, skin and many major organs. When an imbalance or deficiency of endocannabinoids is produced naturally by the body, it can trigger an improper response or sudden onset of symptoms such as anxiety and pain, as examples.

There are two types of cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are more populated in the brain and spine, but are present in other parts of the body. These receptors control the effects of multiple cannabinoids. CB2 receptors are found throughout the body.

How CBD interacts with your Pet’s Body

Now that we’ve given you a brief explanation of the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid receptors, it’s time to explain how CBD interacts with your pet’s body. CBD doesn’t directly bind with cannabinoid receptors but it does influence them. CBD can also interact directly with some receptors, known as vanilloid receptors. These receptors regulate body temperature, inflammation response and responses to pain.

When the vanilloid receptors are deficient or imbalanced, the experience of pain and/or inflammation is off balance. This can increase how much pain your pet might feel or how inflamed their joints/organs could be. While CBD doesn’t bind directly to this receptor, it does bind to a channel of the receptor known as TRPV1 receptors. This helps regulate pain, temperature and inflammation.

Serotonin is responsible for regulating mood and anxiety. It also has an effect on appetite, sleep, nausea, vomiting and pain perception. CBD activates the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor by counteracting anxiety. When the family of 5-HT receptors is activated, chemical messages are sent throughout the body which can be a positive or negative response, depending on the type of chemical message that is sent.

This might be confusing, but CBD works with the body, instead of against it, to help it naturally regulate itself and maintain balance. Balance in the body is known as homeostasis. Since your pet has an endocannabinoid system, its body is naturally designed to work with cannabinoids.

Closing Thoughts

To put it simply, CBD is non-intoxicating and works with the major systems in your pet’s body to help it regulate itself and fix issues. How CBD interacts with your pet’s body is important to know as it is new to most pet parents. Understanding this process can also be difficult. It’s a cannabinoid that works silently in the body