Veterinarians and experts have observed the positive effects of CBD in treating dog's alopecia. As a pet owner, you might have reservations or questions about whether this treatment plan could help your dog. Will CBD oil stop hair loss? And how does it do so?
If you are looking for alternative treatment plans for your dog's excessive shedding, you've come to the right place. Let's take a look at what dog's alopecia is and how CBD oil could help your beloved pet.
What is Dog's Alopecia?
Experts refer to excessive hair loss as alopecia. This disease could also be found in humans and not just in dogs. Dogs of all ages, gender, breed, or size are all susceptible to getting alopecia. Some dogs who have developed this disease show complete hair loss, and some shed partially. Either way, the disease takes a turn for the worse if not prevented. It could further lead to a more deficient immune system and negatively affect your dog's lymphatic system, endocrine system, and skin.
There are many types of dog hair loss and are often categorized depending on the symptoms. Sometimes, a dog might shed at just one spot. It could also sometimes come across as asymmetrical. If your dog is shedding too much, you could check if he has any of the following symptoms:
Types of Hair Loss
Hair Loss at Multiple Spots
If your dog sheds hair in multiple areas, check if your dog also has some mild scaling and redness in its skin. If so, your dog's hair loss could be caused by a bacterial infection or fungi. Sometimes, it could also be excessive development of scar tissues called scleroderma.
Patchy Hair Loss
Does your dog have redness in its skin accompanied by some swelling? Hair loss with skin redness and inflammation could be caused by mange or mites. It could also be a result of bacterial or fungal infection.
Symmetrical Hair Loss
A lot of internal issues might cause hair loss with symmetrical patterns. It could come from a variance of hormone levels, either a drop in the dog's testosterone levels or a surge in its estrogen levels. It could also come from uneven production of lymphatic hormones such as thyroid or steroids.
Possible Causes of Dog Hair Loss
Before we figure out a treatment plan for your dog, we should check the cause of your dog's alopecia. Treatment plans may vary depending on what causes your dog's hair loss. Below are some of the causes of dog hair loss.
Infection or Infestation
Mites, ticks, or fleas might cause hair loss around the chest and face that comes with skin inflammation. If you could also notice some oiliness on the inflamed skin and itching, it might be caused by these tiny insects. If so, it would be best to bring your dog to your veterinarian and ask about antibacterial treatments. It could be oral or topical, depending on the gravity of your pet's symptoms.
If it's an infection caused by bacterial or fungal growth, it could be more contagious to your other pets. A small ringworm lesion could cause inflamed crusts along with irregular hair loss and inflammation of the skin. There are some cases where the infection goes away. But to be sure, it would still be highly recommended to see a vet for oral or topical antifungal medications.
Genetics
Pattern baldness syndrome does not exist in humans alone. Some dog breeds like Dachshund, Shih Tzu, and Chihuahua are more prone than other breeds in hair loss or pattern baldness. As it is a natural tendency, some pet owners of these dog breeds just let it be. Some owners lean towards more organic solutions like CBD oil for dog's alopecia.
Cushing's Disease
Hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing's disease, is a dog's overproduction of cortisol. This disease often shows up in middle-aged to older dogs, but younger pets are prone to developing it, too. Cushing's disease could result from too much use of corticosteroids, which should address the itching and swelling of your pet's skin when used correctly.
CBD for Dog's Alopecia
Cannabidiol or CBD is a pet owner and veterinarian's suggestion when it comes to treatment. CBD is organic, as it is produced from the hemp plant. CBD targets humans' and dogs' endocannabinoid systems to help balance the body's regulatory functions.
In an ideal setting, your dog's endocannabinoid system should be able to regulate itself, including hormone production and many other involuntary functions that keep your dog's body running. When there are some imbalances in the endocannabinoid system, external cannabinoids like CBD could help restore balance in the body.
CBD can help alleviate many symptoms of alopecia in dogs. It can bring quick relief to itching and inflammation by targeting CBD receptors in the body in charge of swelling.
CBD also helps boost your dog's immune system. If a fungal or bacterial infection causes your dog's alopecia, your dog stands to gain enough protection to overcome infections.
Aside from these two benefits, CBD also helps prevent other side effects of alopecia, such as nausea, loss of appetite, or diarrhea. CBD has been known to show positive effects on digestive symptoms, such as these examples, which could bring relief to your dog.
Other Positive Effects of CBD for Dogs
The use of CBD to help in treating a variety of ailments has been getting more popular. While there are experts who would caution owners in CBD, many pet lovers still swear by the anecdotal positive effects of CBD.
Depending on the disease or illness, CBD could help manage a multitude of symptoms. Several studies have shown that CBD could be used as an organic alternative to manage pain, stress, and even cancer symptoms. Even if it couldn't directly help curing the disease, CBD helps manage most medications' side effects, such as nausea and inflammation. So if your dog's treatment comes with adverse side effects, CBD could help address these issues.
And the most potent argument most dog owners have with using CBD is that it has virtually no harmful side effects. If given a larger dose than what should be, the worst symptom your dog will have is minor diarrhea. That's not too bad compared to the more severe symptoms brought by other stronger medications.
There are several reasons why your dog might be shedding hair. Depending on other symptoms, it could be caused by infections, infestations, or even a hormonal problem. If you are looking for a safe plan with considerably fewer adverse side effects for your dogs, CBD is a good choice. It is organic and has virtually no bad side effects. Aside from that, it comes with many benefits, other than just addressing the swelling and irritation in your dog's skin.
If you want to learn more benefits of CBD for dogs, then our article on what forms of CBD are ideal for your dogs is a good read for you.
