CBD Oil For Cats with IBD: Can Hemp Help?

Table of Contents

• 1. CBD Oil For Cats With IBD: Can Hemp Help?
• 2. What Is IBD In Cats?
• 3. Symptoms of IBD In Cats
• 4. What Is CBD For Cats?
• 5. How Does CBD Help Cats?
• 6. CBD For IBD In Cats
• 7. CBD For Homeostasis In Cats
• 8. CBD For Inflammation In Cats
• 9. CBD For Cats' Immune System
• 10. CBD For Nausea and Vomiting In Cats
• 11. CBD and Cat Appetite
• 12. CBD For Pain In Cats
• 13. CBD For Anxiety In Cats
• 14. CBG For Cats With IBD
• 15. How To Help Cats With IBD
• 16. Finding The Best CBD For Cats
• 17. How To Use CBD Oil For Cats
• 18. Finding The Best CBD For Cats
• 19. Anxiety In Cats
• 20. Cat Nutrition
• 21. Consistent CBD Doses For Cats

1. CBD Oil For Cats With IBD: Can Hemp Help?

Tummy problems are the worst. It feels like it’s just our upset tummy against the world.

No one likes to be nauseous or have stomach pain, let alone when our cat has a stomachache. Seeing our kitty struggle with appetite, vomiting, and bowel or urinary issues can be heartbreaking. Especially because there are so many possible causes.

How do we know where to start?

2. What Is IBD In Cats?

IBD is a blanket diagnosis for a variety of gastrointestinal issues, stomach pain, and inflammatory diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract.

IBD officially stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It’s often used to describe two conditions: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, but it is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Symptoms of IBD In Cats

Some symptoms of IBD in cats include:

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Fatigue

Sudden weight loss

Lack of appetite

Rectal bleeding or blood in stools

Anxiety or depression

4. What Is CBD For Cats?

CBD is a well-known cannabinoid found in hemp that’s used to promote homeostasis & a healthy immune system and balance inflammation. Many parents use CBD to help support their pet’s health & happiness and help treat various health conditions.

5. How Does CBD Help Cats?

Cannabinoids heavily impact appetite, pain management, inflammation, immune function, and more. Our cat’s body naturally produces endo-cannabinoids, while hemp and other plants contain phyto-cannabinoids like CBD & CBG. These cannabinoids help our cat’s body function in the healthiest, most effective way.

CBD, other cannabinoids, and hemp plant compounds interact with our cat’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

The ECS regulates important physiological functions and the nervous, endocrine, digestive, & immune systems. It helps control sleep, mood, inflammation response, pain, immune health, and much more.

When our cat’s body can’t make enough endo-cannabinoids or the ECS is out of balance, this may cause stomach issues or countless health conditions.

Many give their cats CBD and other phyto-cannabinoids daily to keep their ECS healthy, prevent future problems, and make up for a lack of endo-cannabinoids. Many also use it as needed for stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, appetite, stress, sleep, and other symptoms.

6. How Is IBD In Cats Treated?

In many cases, feline IBD can be successfully managed through a combination of dietary changes, supplements, b12 injections, medications, and in some cases therapies such as acupuncture, or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Many cat parents these days are also turning to CBD products derived from hemp thanks to its all natural, balancing, and healing properties.

7. CBD For IBD In Cats

That’s where CBD for cats comes in. Full-spectrum hemp extract infused CBD oil products are a favorite choice for IBD treatment in cats and other cat stomach issues. Bailey's even specialized in formulating a feline specific CBD oil that comes with Dr. Robert J. Silver DVM's use guide. Cats with IBD everywhere are meowing with joy for their Bailey's CBD.

8. CBD For Homeostasis In Cats

Homeostasis is the body’s most balanced, inner physiological state. It’s when our cat’s body is able to handle stress, changes, and prevent damage. It helps organ function and restores balance.

The ECS regulates homeostasis by helping our cat’s bodily systems communicate with each other and function properly. It also heavily regulates the immune system.

Cannabinoid receptors are found in most organs, including endocrine organs. In order to maintain homeostasis, the endocrine system specifically helps balance hormones that break down tissue & hormones that build up tissue. This means cannabinoids play a big role in that vital process, as well as many others.

9. CBD Inflammation In Cats

Homeostasis disruption is commonly caused by inflammation. It depends on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals from the immune system to function correctly.

Our cat’s immune system controls the balance between inflammation and anti-inflammation. Inflammation eliminates and repairs damaged cells. White blood cells gather at an injury site and fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses, or germs.

When that inflammation is imbalanced or excessive, it causes many health problems. This creates an immune system that’s unable to protect the body against illness and threats, causing conditions such as IBD.

Prolonged inflammation results in damage to the GI tract and CNS. The CNS directly affects the immune system. It also controls most body & brain functions, sensory input, and helps relay important information to the rest of the body.

The ECS regulates both our cat’s immune system and central nervous system (CNS). Parents commonly use CBD oil for cats to reduce their cat’s inflammation due to its interaction with white blood cells, the immune system, and how it activates the TRPV2 protein.

10. CBD For Cats' Immune System

When our cat’s ECS and CNS are functioning, it helps their immune system communicate with the rest of the body. Our cat’s immune system is very intricate, made of many cells and organs working together to protect their body. The main parts of a cat’s immune system are:

White blood cells

Lymph nodes

Tonsils

Stomach and bowels

Spleen

Thymus

Bone marrow

Skin and mucous membranes

Cannabinoid receptors are found in most of these places, and CB2 receptors are heavily linked to immune system modulation.

Over 70% of the immune system is located in the gut. A damaged gut almost always causes or is caused by immune function issues.

Since many cannabinoid receptors are in the gut, studies suggest endocannabinoid deficiency may be one cause of cat intestinal disorders.

11. CBD For Nausea and Vomiting In Cats

Vomiting and nausea affects many cats with IBD. This is painful and stressful for our kitty.

Most of our cat’s serotonin is found in the gut. Studies show CBD can balance serotonin flow, reducing further stimulation of the brain’s vomiting center. Research shows it directly activates the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. Found in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, this receptor is known for regulating appetite, pain perception, vomiting, and nausea.

Research supports that CBDA - the raw, unheated form of CBD - is a potentially very powerful treatment for nausea.

12. CBD and Cat Appetite

Gastrointestinal issues such as inflammation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and more can hurt our cat’s appetite. CBD targets the reasons for appetite loss, helping calm the symptoms causing appetite loss in cats. These reasons can include nausea, stomach pain, anxiety, cognition confusion, inflammation, or more.

The ECS also helps regulate our cat’s endocrine system. The endocrine system controls metabolism, affecting appetite, weight, and nutrient absorption.

13. CBD For Pain In Cats

CBD binds to the TRPV1 receptor, which mediates pain perception, body temperature, and inflammation. When CBD binds to TRPV1, it can influence pain perception and ease pain caused by restricted blood vessels.

Many conditions affecting the GI tract also deal with nerve innervation and nerve pain. Some deal with deep-infiltrating lesions embedded into the intestines, colon, or abdominal wall, like endometriosis or cancer. These deep lesions have an even higher density of nerves. The ECS regulates nerve growth, and CB1 receptors are on nerves innervating lesions. Studies support that CBD interferes with innervation and helps prevent more nerve growth. That can help provide much relief for cats with serious IBD conditions.

CBD has been shown to help relieve muscle spasms, which may be helpful for cats experiencing spasms in the stomach or abdomen.

14. CBD For Anxiety In Cats

Studies support how trauma, stress, anxiety, and depression can all impact our brain and gut.

Research shows that regular CBD use may help improve communication between the hippocampus, amygdala, and other parts of the brain associated with trauma, fear, and stress. CBD directly activates the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, known for reducing anxiety. Serotonin is primarily found in our cat’s gut. This neurotransmitter not only influences anxiety but in the gut, it’s also responsible for the amount of mucus secreted in our intestines and the feeling of abdominal pain or fullness. If our cat has too little or too much serotonin, they can experience constipation or diarrhea.

15. CBG For Cats With IBD

We also have a high-CBG oil. CBG plays a big part in hemp’s benefits and is non-psychoactive. Research explores its possible benefits for neurological diseases, skin disorders & infections, chronic pain, bone repair, high blood pressure, inflammation, gastrointestinal issues, glaucoma, seizures, and so much more.

CBG’s possibilities for lasting pain relief are very exciting, especially for cats with IBD and stomach issues!

16. How To Help Cats With IBD

There are many things to consider when choosing CBD for cats and supporting our cat with IBD. As pet parents, it is our duty to do our research on finding the best solutions for our feline companions in need. In addition to doing your due diligence with exploring treatment options from your veterinarian, from dietary to changes and compound medications, there are all natural and holistic options that can be supplemental in helping our pets find comfort and relief.

17. Finding The Best CBD For Cats

CBD oil for cats and CBD pet treats are everywhere. We recommend looking for CBD pet products with high quality, noninflammatory ingredients and third party lab tests. Lab tests prove that the cat CBD oils contain the advertised potency and do not contain harmful additives or residuals.

Always look for CBD pet companies who are transparent with vetted customer reviews for CBD for pets.

Bailey’s CBD for cats is always lab-tested and veterinarian-formulated with USDA organic single-sourced hemp that is hand harvested from a small family farm in Colorado.

18. How To Use CBD Oil For Cats

Our CBD oil for cats comes with an easy-to-use dosage guide by respected veterinarian Dr. Robert Silver.

To give your cat CBD oil, place the oil on their paw to be licked off, in food or on a treat, or directly in their mouth. Be gentle with your kitty and let them get used to the routine.

The CBD dosage for cats and consumption method will vary depending on what your kitty likes best. But we know they’ll definitely let us know!

19. Anxiety In Cats

Anxiety in cats is a big cause and exacerbator of IBD in cats.

Monitor your cat’s anxiety and make sure they feel safe. Notice what sounds or situations trigger them, and try to let them know they are safe.

For example, if the sound of your keys makes them anxious because they know you’re going to work, maybe try slowly incorporating key sounds throughout the days when you stay home to help diffuse that trigger. Try to avoid loud or aggressive sounds and strong smells you notice they dislike. Give them extra snuggles when they’re in distress if you can.

Knowing they’re in a loving, trusted environment is key to helping our kitty relax. Surround them with their favorite toys and cozy bedding spots for prime cat naps.

Spend quality time playing and cuddling for maximum dual anxiety relief!

20. Cat Nutrition

Many CBD pet treats and cat food on the market contain inflammatory ingredients, which can cause or worsen cat IBD and further disrupt homeostasis. When able, always choose cat food and cat treats with non-inflammatory, quality ingredients from companies who care.

Also make sure your cat is drinking enough fresh water! Cats can be picky when it comes to water, especially still water that’s been sitting in the same bowl for a while. Some kitties prefer water fountains, while others simply prefer their water bowl to be away from their food.

Always make sure your cat’s water is fresh and notice their personal hydration preferences. If needed, add some water to their food or give them foods with high-moisture content. Cat dehydration can lead to constipation, IBD, and other issues with the gut or more.

21. Consistent CBD Doses For Cats

Proactive wellness with CBD for cats is very important.

Proactive wellness for cats is addressing whole-body health before diseases or painful symptoms occur. This means using CBD before symptoms arise as a way to help prevent future health conditions, stomach issues, and help treat chronic IBD in cats.

Proactive use of CBD for pets means the CBD dosage for cats is given daily. Consistent CBD use for cats shows to be more effective for supporting treatments and promoting homeostasis.

The same goes for humans too, so maybe pick a time to take your CBD together!