How CBD Can Help Treat Glaucoma in Dogs
Posted by Aaron Argueta on
Witnessing your dog in pain from glaucoma is one of the most heart-wrenching things to watch. It takes an emotional toll on you to see your furry loved one in a state of pain and distress.
You’re a parent and you take your job seriously. You’d do anything to protect your baby. After all, your pet is your world.
We know you love your pets and that’s why you’re committed to keeping them happy and healthy. You want them to know that they are safe and that you will take care of them no matter what.
Although glaucoma in dogs has a history of being difficult to treat, discoveries have scientists leading to one answer:
CBD oil.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects both dogs and humans alike.
It is a condition where fluid builds up in the eye and causes an increase in pressure in the eye. In the United States, 1.7% of dogs get glaucoma.
Blindness can occur if glaucoma is not treated. When excess fluid is in the eye or if too little fluid is drained, the pressure of the eye increases and causes damage to the retina and optic nerve.
There are two different types of glaucoma: primary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma.
Primary glaucoma is when there is an increase in intraocular pressure in an eye that’s considered to be healthy. Secondary glaucoma is when there is an increase in intraocular pressure caused by disease or an injury to the eye.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Inside of the eyes, if there is an improper balance of fluid in the eye due to the eye’s filtration angles or other eye conditions such as eye tumors, injury, or inflammation of the eye tissues, an increase in pressure is usually the result, ultimately leading to glaucoma.
Nearly 40% of dogs become blind in the affected eye regardless of treatment or surgery.
Although glaucoma is common and can affect all dogs, certain dog breeds have a genetic predisposition which makes them more susceptible to developing glaucoma in their lifetime. The most common dog breeds that are associated with glaucoma include:
- Cocker Spaniel
- Chow Chow
- Samoyed
- Poodle
- Beagle
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Siberian Husky
- Dalmatian
- Chihuahua
- Basset Hounds
- Great Dane
Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma
Knowing when your dog is in pain from glaucoma is sometimes difficult to notice as canines do not show pain in the same way that humans do. Here are some of the signs to look for if you think your dog may have glaucoma:
- Watery discharge
- Redness of the eye
- Constant eye rubbing with the paw another object or with the paw
- Cloudy cornea
- Avoidance of light
- Different size pupils
- Excessive squinting
- Swollen eyes that bulge
- Eye fluttering
- Vision problems
- Clumsiness: bumping into objects
- Difficulty finding things
- Loss of appetite
- Blindness
How Is Glaucoma in Dogs Diagnosed?
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, you must visit your veterinarian right away. Failure to get your dog checked out promptly can result in irreversible blindness if glaucoma is left untreated.
To diagnose glaucoma in your dog, your veterinarian will measure the intraocular pressure in your dog's eye with a tonometer. Once your dog is diagnosed, your veterinarian will discuss the quickest and best way to save your dog's vision, given that it's still possible.
If your dog's eye is already damaged beyond repair then your veterinarian will focus on managing your dog's pain, treating the condition, and preventing it from spreading to the other eye.
In worst cases, your dog's eye may have to be surgically removed as a result.
How CBD Oil Can Help Treat Glaucoma in Dogs
Over the last few years, CBD Oil has increased in popularity with an estimate that CBD pet products could increase to a whopping 1.16 billion dollar industry in the United States by 2022.
CBD Oil is used to treat a variety of conditions in dogs including seizures, anxiety, chronic pain, muscle spasms, aggression, and other neurological disorders.
Often, many people are confused about CBD Oil, its use, and treatment because of its association with marijuana. However, CBD Oil is completely safe and can be used effectively to treat your furry little loved ones.
Wondering about CBD and its effect on dogs, be sure to check out our CBD for dog's guide to help you understand how it can help and all of its benefits.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is different from the THC compound, also known as, tetrahydrocannabinol, which is also found in the Cannabis Sativa plant as it does not produce the “marijuana high.”
CBD is a compound that aids in the relaxation of the body and reduces inflammation in the body. CBD oil has been proven to help with pain management.
Glaucoma in dogs can be severe and extremely painful causing a lot of distress for your loved one. Taking CBD Oil as a supplement will allow your dog to continue living a happy and active life while treating the condition.
CBD oil is also known for its anti-inflammatory effect, significantly reducing the inflammation that your dog has in its eye and reducing the pain as well.Keep in mind that inflammation is also what can lead to a loss of vision in your dog if not treated immediately.
It's a great and not to mention a natural supplement that will allow your dog to begin its healing process rather quickly. A study conducted in The American Journal of Pathology discovered that CBD oil could be used to potentially treat glaucoma and has neuroprotective effects.
In Glaucoma, glutamate is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for vision loss and blindness. Studies and experiments show how CBD is used to protect against glutamate and prevent glaucoma from further development.
The main role CBD oil plays in combating glaucoma is protecting the cells in the eyes of neurotoxicity. It halts eye cell deaths and hinders its progression.
Is CBD Oil Safe for Your Pet?
The short answer is yes.
CBD oil is safe for your pet to take and there are a plethora of other great benefits to treating your dog with CBD oil including:
- Reducing anxiety and depression
- Treating epileptic seizures
- Improving mobility
- Treating irritable bowel disease
- Easing fear and paranoia
- Improving heart health
- Easing osteoarthritis symptoms
- Easing nausea and vomiting
So, how much of CBD oil should your dog take?
It is generally recommended that your dog takes the lowest dosage possible starting off and that you gradually increase the dosage as you observe how your dog manages the pain. Some dogs may need higher dosages than others, but it largely depends on how much the dog weighs.
Dogs who generally weigh more and are heavier will require a higher dose while dogs who weigh less and are smaller require only a small dose.
What Are the Side Effects of CBD Oil?
Although there are many benefits in treating glaucoma with a CBD supplement, there are a few side effects to be on the lookout for:
- Tiredness
- Drowsiness
- Changes in appetite
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth (increased thirst)
- Low blood pressure
- Tremors
If your dog experiences any of these side effects, be sure to pay a visit to your local veterinarian as soon as possible to help manage the pain and for treatment.
It's important to keep in mind that glaucoma occurs in most dogs in the ages between 3 and 7 and older. Most puppies or dogs under the age of 2 rarely get the condition.
How to Treat Your Dog with CBD Oil?
Once your veterinarian has prescribed CBD oil for your dog, there are two ways your dog can take in the CBD oil: orally by the mouth under the tongue or by consuming dog treats.
Research shows that the best way to administer the CBD oil is under the tongue. Although it may not be the easiest way, when CBD oil is administered under the tongue, the CBD oil is absorbed much more easily and quickly into your dog's system, offering faster relief and ease from the pain from the symptoms.
Although dog treats are another option, dog treats have been said to take longer in terms of relief and easing your dog's pain from glaucoma.
The dog treats must be chewed and digested first before the CBD oil can enter your dog's system quickly and effectively. However, treats are much easier to administer to your dog in comparison to placing the oil under your dog's tongue.
If your dog is experiencing really bad symptoms of glaucoma or their condition is much more grave, you can use a combination of both dog treats and CBD oil to treat it much more quickly.
So, how can you prevent glaucoma?
How to Prevent Glaucoma?
First, while it's possible to prevent secondary glaucoma, it is impossible to prevent primary glaucoma because primary glaucoma occurs because of genetics.
You can prevent your dog from contracting secondary glaucoma by avoiding accidents and injuries at all costs and treating your dog to regular chronic check-ups to ensure that they are as happy and as healthy as can be.
Eye wellness exams are extremely crucial for your dog to undergo so that their eye pressure can be checked regularly especially if your dog is older and considered to be a high-risk breed for glaucoma.
It's also important to make sure that your dog is treated for any eye-related injury or infection as soon as possible to prevent any chance of glaucoma developing in the eye or progressing if the condition is already present.
Other methods to prevent glaucoma include taking antioxidants and eliminating pressure to your dog's neck and eyes as much as possible. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E can help as well as giving beta-carotene to your dog all work to keep your dog's eye calls strong and reduce damage.
Remember, you must eliminate any extra strain or pressure on your dog's neck. If your dog experiences extra pressure on its neck from a tight collar, leash, or harness, the intra-ocular pressure may increase and can cause glaucoma to develop from the pressure.
Early detection is the best way to prevent the development of glaucoma in your dog and blindness.
Identifying any pressure changes and eye-related conditions in your dog's eye through eye wellness exams and regular check-ups is the best way to avoid permanent blindness from glaucoma and prevent any further damage.
How to Choose The Right CBD Product
Choosing the right CBD product can be a stressful task especially for first-timers.
Often, as pawrents you're anxious about getting it right the first time when treating your pet.
At Bailey's Pet CBD Products, we can help you.
Since 2017, we have provided rich-hemp oil pet products that are free of THC, meaning they will not sedate your pet or give them the "high effect."
Also, our products have been lab-tested extensively to ensure the highest quality and safeness of our products. All of our products are made under the advisory of a respected veterinarian, Dr. Robert J. Silver, DVM.
When choosing the right product, be sure to check the certification of authenticity to make sure that the product has been made and tested in a lab and look for any products that are free of GMOs.
Why Choose Bailey's Pet CBD Products?
Hate seeing your sweet dog in distress from the symptoms and pain of glaucoma? We can help.
At Bailey's Pet CBD Products, "A healthy pet is a happy pet." Consider treating your dog and managing their pain with CBD oil. By treating your dog with CBD oil, you can provide them with quick and easy relief and improve their quality of life overnight.
Our team of experts is ready to chat with you and help you find the right product for your furry loved one.