When it comes to giving the proper care to your horses, using CBD oil should not be When it comes to giving your horses proper care, using CBD oil should not be missed. This has been discovered to be an effective treatment for various medical conditions, not only to humans but also to animals. Pet owners have seen a big impact of CBD products, specifically, CBD oil on their beloved dogs and cats. With continuous studies and claims from patients and medical experts, it is expected that CBD oil will create more wonders in the future.

 

Common Health Issues on Horses

Prevention is always better than cure. The same goes when taking care of your horses. It is vital that you should learn first about the different common diseases they can be experiencing. This is to easily find the best treatment to keep them active and healthy.

The Government of Canada-National Farm and Facility Level Biosecurity User Guide for the Equine Sector presented its Annex 2: Important Infectious Diseases of Horses in Canada, a table of various health conditions. The article stated:

"Many of the disease pathogens are already present in Canada, while others pose a risk through the importation of horses, semen, embryos, contaminated equipment or through international travel to equestrian events."

The following are the common health issues on horses every pet owner should be aware of:

#1 Arthritis

Various kinds of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, also known as the degenerative joint disease, can affect your horse's ability to move. This is one of the leading reasons why horses retire. Commonly, the affected joints become inflamed or swollen, appearing larger than usual. Unfortunately, once a horse gets arthritis, there is no cure for this. However, there are treatments that can reduce its effects, such as pain and inflammation.

#2 Colic

Colic refers to a horse's condition wherein the horse suffers from severe abdominal pain. This can happen on horses regardless of their sex, breed, or age. Various types of colic include obstructive colic, gas colic, and various others.

#3 Back pain

Back pain and other back issues are also included in the list of most common health problems on horses. Since a horse's back is a complex interconnection of muscles, bones, tendons, and nerves, an accident or a sudden wrong move can lead to pain or damage to their body parts.

#4 Anemia

Adult horses and young foals can both have anemia. This condition is often due to low blood volume. Some of the symptoms of anemia on horses may include hair loss, weakness, loss of appetite, poor performance, lethargy, depression, pale mucous membrane, and hair lustre loss.

#5 Kidney Inflammation

Kidney inflammation, also named "nephritis in horses," is a rare condition in the equine population. This is commonly characterized by a severely infected kidney as well as a high body temperature. When not given adequate medical attention, this can cause kidneys' failure to filter and remove toxins in the body. Some kidney inflammation symptoms include pain in the kidney area, fever, pus in the urine, increased serum protein level in the blood, and swelling of the kidneys.

#6 Muscle Tremor Disorder in Horses

Muscle tremor disorder affects the horse's muscles, showing stiffness and muscle tremors. This disease can worsen and may even show symptoms such as flaccid muscles, stumbling, contraction of muscles, and frequent standing.

#7 Skin Infections

Skin infection in horses can certainly cause discomfort to the animals. One of the common skin infections that horses experience is a boil. It is actually a result of an infection that becomes bigger over time until it collects pus. The usual signs of a boil and other skin infections may include but are not limited to a break in the skin, a lesion, a bump on the skin, and edema.

#8 Laminitis

Laminitis is said to be an extremely painful condition in horses. It can happen on the pedal bone rotation or sinking on the hoof of the horse. In worst cases, this can result to the penetration of the sole of the foot by the pedal bone.

PetMD also shared a list of A-Z diseases on horses. Visit here to learn more about each one.

 

Benefits of CBD on Horses

If you're one of those pet owners asking if it is safe to give CBD oil to your horse, then the answer is 'YES.' Of course, you still need to make sure that it is given in the right dosage and for high-quality CBD products.

Although there are still on-going discoveries, research studies have shown that CBD oil has positive and potential benefits for animals, specifically dogs, cats, and horses.

Horses also have an endocannabinoid system that has functions that are related to digestion, temperature, immune system, sleep, mood, appetite, inflammation, motor control, and memory.

"If you are interested in including CBD in your horse's diet, be careful about which products you use. Some cannabis-derived CBD products contain small amounts of THC, and the FDA has found much variance in the products they have tested. In dogs and cats, it is believed that CBD-to-THC ratios of 20:1 and 18:1 are likely safe due to the low amount of THC, but the equine response to THC remains unknown", a part of an article from The Naturx stated.

The following are the advantages of using CBD and its products on horses:

#1 It aids in treating digestive issues on horses.

CBD can help reduce GI-based inflammation in the digestive system of horses. It also helps in combating irritation and inflammation in the stomach. In addition, CBD can also prevent intestinal problems that are usually causing other dangerous diseases.

#2 It aids horses that are suffering from inflammation.

Extreme actions and activities can cause horses to acquire inflammation in some areas of their body. When CBD gets in contact with endocannabinoid receptors, the neurotransmitters will give a response to subdue the infection. It also reduces inflammation.

#3 It helps with arthritis.

CBD serves as a wonderful elixir as it keeps the horse pain-free and unsedated. When CBD links the neurons and pain receptors, the "pain message" no longer signals the body to feel it.

#4 It aids the horse that is experiencing emotional discomfort.

Animals, like horses, can be emotional, too. A stressed horse is described to have an increased level of cortisol in the body. With the help of CBD oil, horses can be calmed and reduce their stress.

Other benefits of CBD oil on horses include:

Boosting the immune system.

Improving cardiovascular health.

Managing blood circulation.

Increasing energy for better performance.

Make sure to consult a veterinarian to ensure that you will be using the right method and dosage on administering CBD oil.

 

Possible Side Effects of Using CBD Oil on Horses

Just like some of today's medications, CBD oil, when given in too much amount, may also pose the following side effects:

Fatigue

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Diarrhea

A decrease in blood pressure

This is why it is important to start slow in giving dosage to your horse. Make sure also to refer to a veterinarian before using any CBD product on your horse.