While medical trials are in their early days, anecdotal evidence from communities that have been using CBD to treat dogs for centuries is promising. Studies are beginning to validate that CBD oil may be effective at reducing cell proliferation but more clinical trials are still needed. 

Other studies suggest that CBD can dramatically reduce pain and improve a dog’s quality of life when properly dosed. For dogs suffering from cancer, CBD oil may improve their quality of life.

Read on to discover more about CBD and the possibilities that exist for cancer treatment in dogs.

Related: CBD Success Story: Joint Pain

Like humans, our canine companions are susceptible to cancer, with 1 in 3 dogs developing some form of cancer in their life. 1 in 4 dogs will develop neoplasia, the abnormal growth of cells or tissues within the body. The main cause of deathfor dogs over 2 years old is cancer, and half of the number of dogs over the age of 10 are likely to develop it. Clearly, cancer is common enough that dog owners should familiarize themselves with the main types of dog cancers and how they are treated.

 
There are various signs that your dog might have cancer, but you need to schedule an appointment with the veterinarian in order to get a diagnosis. Some of the signs and symptoms of dog cancer include: 

• Swelling
• Difficulty eating
• Lumps
• Sudden changes in weight

Keep in mind that some of these symptoms are also common in dogs with anxiety problems, or simply characteristics of dogs who are getting older.

Warning Signs for Dogs With Cancer

Some warning signs of cancer in dogs are:

• Lumps or bumps underneath the skin
• New odors coming from their mouth or ears
• Discharge from their mouth, eyes, or ears
• Abdominal swelling
• Wounds or sores that won’t heal
• Sudden weight loss
• Dramatic changes in appetite
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Depression or lethargy
• Bathroom habit changes
• Evidence of pain

If your dog shows any of these cancer warning signs, contact your vet immediately.

After your dog visits with their general veterinarian and the vet suspects cancer, the veterinarian can refer you to a veterinary oncologist who specializes in cancer care for pets. 

They will provide further details about three main areas:

1. How advanced the cancer is
2. What kind of cancer it is
3. What other health factors will affect the cancer

Then, they will help you make a list of possible treatment options.

You will need to consider factors like:

• How treatment will affect quality of life (chemotherapy is often the most effective, but it can be painful)
• How long your dog has left to live
• And any other concerns
  

As you’ll see, CBD is a great auxiliary treatment for dogs undergoing painful treatment regiments, or a way to improve the quality of life for pets whose owners decide extensive and invasive treatment isn’t the right option for an aging dog.

CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the better-known cannabinoids or natural compounds that occur in the Cannabis Sativa plant. CBD oil typically comes from the hemp plant. Once harvested, the CBD is extracted and mixed with an oil to result in the consistency you see in products today.

CBD Oil Vs. Cannabis Oil

Unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t result in thedistinctive ‘high’ that most people associate with marijuana. For thisreason, as well as its ability to provide natural relief from a wholehost of pain and anxiety disorders, CBD is growing in popularity aroundthe world.

Despite growing popularity, CBD still suffers fromsomething of an identity crisis, with some people still people failingto make the distinction between CBD and marijuana. While it’s true thatCBD and marijuana do come from the same plant, the chemical makeup ofthe Cannabis Sativa plant means that the plants harvested for CBD andmarijuana have different properties. To produce CBD oil, a higher CBD concentration of CBD and minimal levels of THC are required, leading producers to favor the hemp plant.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS CBD OIL FOR DOGS WITH CANCER?

Like for humans, CBD and hemp oils have long been used in traditional communities to treat pain in dogs resulting from a range of illnesses including cancer and muscular injuries.

By interacting with the dog’s endocannabinoid system, the CBD can help to effectively manage many different types of pain. For this reason, CBD is growing in popularity as a tool to improve the quality of life in dogs or as a dual treatment method with more traditional therapies.

Supports Anti-Tumor Medication

A study found that mice had a increased survival rate when taking CBD with anti-tumor medication. CBD oil is natural with few side effects that disrupt the anti-tumor treatment, making it a safe supplement for your dog.

Reduced Cell Proliferation

For dogs with cancer, some studies have suggested that CBD can even lead to a process called cancer apoptosis, which is essentially the death of the cancer cells. It’s worth noting that CBD as a complete treatment method for cancer has not been proven and the research is in its very early days.

Natural, Cost Effective Pain Relief

Regardless, more traditional cancer treatment methods for dogs can be prohibitively expensive, costing anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 and can involve many of the same negative side effects as in humans, such as vomiting, and loss of appetite.

While more research is needed in this area to fully explore the potential of CBD to cure disease, it remains highly regarded as a form of pain relief.

May Improve Sleep

A study found that CBD oil is actually a wake agent that will help your dog stay awake during the day, so that it gets more restful sleep at night. But CBD’s mechanism for sleep modulation is still unclear and needs more testing to validate.

May Help with Nausea and Appetite