Are There Medications and Foods That Could Interact With CBD in Pets?

Every dog owner wishes that their pet would live forever. Every human also wishes they could live for as long as possible. That is why we take supplements, work out, and drink a lot of water. Supplements have become increasingly popular over the last few years. This includes supplements, even for our furry friends.

One of the most common supplements is CBD oil for dogs, which is also used as a human supplement. Cannabidiol (CBD) is commonly used to relieve pain, anxiety, and to control seizures.

As dogs become older, they become more and more susceptible to conditions such as arthritis and seizures. Arthritis is a painful condition and is almost disabling for dogs. CBD oil is well known for reducing the pain that comes with arthritis.

Since it is common for older dogs to have numerous illnesses, they may be put on multiple drugs. Consequently, CBD is a drug that many dog parents introduce at this age. However, since it’s a drug, it can interact with other substances if administered together. To understand this interaction, we must first look at how CBD oil works.

Mechanism Action of CBD

The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolization of drugs. It contains a particular enzyme pathway known as the cytochrome P450 system. This is the pathway responsible for the breakdown and activation of drugs in the body.

Once Cannabidiol is ingested, it inhibits the functioning of specific cytochrome P450 enzymes. Eventually, the whole pathway is inhibited altogether. This means that drugs that are usually inactivated in the liver stay active for longer. Those that are activated by the Cytochrome P450 system, however, remain inactive.

CBD also works with other drugs and foods as either an agonist or antagonist. Thus, it either enhances the effect of a drug or reduces its impact, respectively.

Drugs That Interact with Cannabidiol

1. Chemotherapeutic Drugs

For a while now, Cannabidiol has been used to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is particularly harsh on animals. It often leaves them feeling sick, nauseous, and even anemic. CBD is a drug that enhances the action of chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus healing comes sooner than it would have without the CBD. CBD has also been proven to have anti-tumor properties

2. Pain Killers

Pain and inflammation is a common part of the aging process. It is hard to watch a dog in pain. Unfortunately, many pain relievers for dogs have terrible side effects. This is mainly if they’re used for a long time, which is usually the case.

CBD oil interacts with anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers positively. Thus, fewer doses of a painkiller are required when CBD is added into the mix. When administering painkillers and CBD, it’s essential to reduce the painkiller dose to avoid an overdose.

3. Anti-seizure Drugs

Older dogs are increasingly suffering from seizures. CBD oil is a great supplement to prevent and control that. Anti-seizure medications keep our furry friends alive, but they don’t come without effects. A drug like phenobarbital causes drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. It leaves the dog feeling weak and even sicker.

With CBD oil, it is possible to use a weaker drug with fewer side effects. This is because CBD enhances the action of anti-seizure medication, even at low doses. Cannabidiol is also an anti-seizure drug on its own. Thus when being administered with other anti-seizure medications, doses should be well regulated.

4. CBD Dog Treats

CBD treats are commonly used as a quick relaxant for dogs with anxiety. They can be given on days like the 4th of July when fireworks are everywhere. However, CBD oil should not be given to dogs who eat CBD treats and vice versa. This would lead to an overdose of CBD, which may make your dog feel sedated or drowsy in over excessive amounts. This can be distressing because they don’t understand what’s going on.

Conclusion

CBD is a beneficial drug for our furry friends when it’s used correctly. It is always important to practice caution when administering new medications. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog CBD. This also applies to dogs that are presumably healthy or young. Just like any other drug, the interaction of CBD with other medicines may be detrimental.

Dogs are essential pets for a lot of people. In our bid to keep them happy and healthy, we should be careful.

Author Bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.