CBD For Dog Joint Pain: Can It Help? Is It Legal In The UK?

Many people suffering from arthritis and with other types of joint pain say using CBD has greatly relieved their suffering.

The substance hasn’t been approved for general medical use yet, but CBD oil, topicals, and other products have been sold in Britain for several years now. And preliminary research has shown great promise for the use of CBD to ease arthritis and other inflammatory diseases and disorders.

That sounds promising for those who own older dogs, too, since those pets commonly suffer serious joint pain caused by arthritis. The news gets better: both anecdotal reports and preliminary research show that CBD can ease canine joint pain.

Pet owners living in the UK, however, will find that obtaining CBD for their dogs isn’t as easy as they might think. No legal CBD pet products are available in Britain, and it’s also illegal to just stop by a shop, buy some CBD, and give it to your dog.

There’s a way to get around those roadblocks, though. If a vet prescribes “human” CBD for your canine best friend, that makes it legal.

Let’s see why that could be a good idea.

Isn’t CBD Dangerous for Dogs?

No, it’s perfectly safe. You’re probably thinking about THC, so let’s explain the difference.

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are two of the 100+ cannabinoids found in both the hemp and cannabis plants, which are close relatives.

The two plant compounds are quite similar in chemical structure, they each interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in humans and other animals, and they each appear to provide substantial health and wellness benefits. They act differently in the body, though; THC is the cannabinoid that triggers psychoactive effects, while CBD is non-intoxicating.

The cannabis plant is rich in THC but generally contains very little cannabidiol. By contrast, hemp has high CBD levels but contains only small amounts of THC. That explains why the cannabidiol used to produce CBD products is sourced from hemp: it contains so little THC that it doesn’t make users high.

It also explains why THC is dangerous (and occasionally fatal) for dogs to consume, but CBD is perfectly safe. When THC hits the canine endocannabinoid system, dogs lose control over their movements, they usually show tremors and may have seizures, and in some cases, they enter comas and may not recover.

Since CBD acts differently in dogs’ bodies, none of those serious effects occur. Cannabidiol is safe for pets, apparently at any level, and no serious side effects have been seen or reported. In fact, it may even calm them down and make them happier.

CBD’s Effects on Dogs

Readers are undoubtedly most interested in how cannabidiol may ease their dog’s arthritis pain, but that’s only one of the apparent benefits researchers have found.

• CBD is widely believed to have strong anti-inflammatory effects, both in humans and in canines. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease, which would explain why cannabidiol appears to ease the painful joint inflammation that defines the condition common in older dogs.
• One study has shown that CBD is also able to help canines suffering from osteoarthritis as well, which isn’t caused by inflammation but still causes serious joint pain. More than 80% of the dogs given cannabidiol in that project showed lower levels of pain and increased mobility and activity levels.
• Another study investigated CBD’s effect on the canine stress we mentioned earlier. It found that more than four-fifths of the dogs given cannabidiol before going through a stressful event showed fewer signs of anxiety and stress.
• Atopy is a common canine skin allergy that causes serious incidents of itching and scratching. Research has shown that administration of CBD is likely to dramatically reduce those symptoms, and some dogs fully recovered from atopy after being given cannabidiol.
• The only use of CBD fully accepted by the medical community is for the treatment of some forms of childhood epilepsy; studies have shown that giving cannabidiol to epileptic dogs, in conjunction with more traditional treatments, significantly reduces the number of seizures they suffer.

Since research on dogs and CBD is still in its early stages, there’s much more anecdotal evidence to consider.

Veterinarians, clinics, and pet owners have confirmed all of the preliminary findings we’ve listed while saying cannabidiol also appears to boost appetites, ease nausea, and help dogs with sleep difficulties. And the head of the American Kennel Club says CBD may boost cardiovascular health and even help dogs fight cancer.

Those experts say cannabidiol is well-tolerated by dogs. Occasional side effects like tiredness, dry mouth, and a brief drop in blood pressure have been seen, and CBD may have negative interactions with some medications. Dog owners should always consult with their vet before administering CBD to their pets.

In summary, using CBD for dog joint pain and many other issues would seem like an excellent option.

Where can you find CBD for dogs? That’s a sore subject if you live in Britain.

How to Obtain CBD Products for Your Dog

Before we get into the details, one warning: beware of pet CBD products sold by random online websites. Not only are their manufacturers unregulated and the products illegal to use in the UK, but they may contain levels of THC much higher than allowed even for human consumption. Giving them to your dog could be dangerous or even fatal.

Now, let’s talk about buying pet CBD from more reputable sources.

American dog owners are fortunate. They can visit pet stores, grocery stores, or their vet’s office and find a bonanza of CBD oil, treats, topicals, and other products designed specifically for canine use.

In the UK, all of those products are illegal to market or sell — and it’s illegal to give them to your dog. Here’s what the law says.

The Legal Status of CBD Canine Products

UK officials maintain that there’s not enough evidence to prove that CBD products, whether they’re created for humans or canine, are safe for pet use. That’s despite two important facts:

1. By law, “human” CBD products cannot contain more than 0.2% THC, not enough to make users high, and apparently not enough to cause serious problems for dogs.
2. Many canine CBD products sold in the US and elsewhere are made with CBD isolate, which is a highly processed form of cannabidiol that is pure CBD and 100% THC-free.

As a result of the government’s stance, however, the sale or use of CBD products for dogs, and treating dogs with CBD products intended for human use, are all criminal offenses subject to prosecution in Britain.

The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate has left the door slightly ajar, though. The VMD says that manufacturers are free to submit applications to have THC-free CBD products considered for approval as veterinary medicines, as long as the application is accompanied by the results of detailed research proving the products’ safety and effectiveness.

There’s just one problem. That research would be so expensive to conduct that the studies aren’t justified by the revenue the manufacturers might earn from the products. Bottom line: no company has submitted CBD products for dogs for approval in Britain.

We are talking about the United Kingdom, though — which means there has to be a complicated, convoluted way to get CBD to help your dog with joint pain. There is.

Buying CBD for Your Dog

A weird loophole in British law can help you treat your dog suffering from joint pain or other medical conditions. It’s called the Veterinary Prescribing Cascade, and it allows vets to prescribe human medications if all other treatment options have been exhausted.

Here’s how the cascade applies to CBD.

Since no CBD medication for dogs is authorised for sale in Britain, no CBD medication for dogs is authorised in Northern Ireland, no CBD medication for other pets is authorised in either region, and no CBD medication for humans is authorised in either region (the CBD products you can purchase are supplements, not medications) — veterinarians can move to “step 5.”

And “step 5” is prescribing human supplements for dogs and other pets.

What does that mean in easy-to-understand terms?

All you have to do is ask your vet to prescribe CBD oil for your dog, and then go to any shop and purchase it. The shop won’t even ask to see the piece of paper; the prescription is only a necessary step that covers both you and your vet legally.

Want to be even more baffled by British law? Read on.

The Prospect of Legal CBD for Dogs

There may soon be an even easier option available for pet owners who want to help their dogs suffering from joint pain.

The bizarre law we’ve just described has another loophole. When you get to “step 5” in the veterinary cascade, certain manufacturers are allowed to produce what’s known as a “veterinary special,” which is an unauthorised, bespoke medication not otherwise available.

Only “authorised veterinary specials manufacturers” are allowed to create those bespoke products, but here’s the key point. Once a company has been authorised by the government to produce one special product, it has the green light to create as many as it wants.

In other words, existing veterinary specials manufacturers are already legally allowed to produce CBD products for pets — and reportedly, one is already creating a CBD oil that will be sold for oral administration to dogs.

Once that product is available, it will be even easier to help your best friend deal with joint pain. Until then, see your vet. A prescription for ordinary CBD oil should help your dog, and you, feel much better.

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