CBD for Dog Skin and Coat Problems

10/02/2021 Author: Mirka 8 min read

Does your dog have skin and coat problems? In this article, we will bring you information about how CBD and other cannabinoids can help solve these issues.

Canine Dermatological Problems and Cannabis Genetic Material

Coat loss, inflamed patches, or bald spots are conditions most owners notice quickly in their pets, although treating them often becomes a lengthy process. Let's examine how cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids present in collector genetics can offer valuable insight into these dermatological problems.

The Search for the Perfect Coat

Every owner of a four-legged pet wants it to be healthy. Behind this legitimate wish often lies a compulsive need to have an exemplary dog with a dense, glossy coat. This affects not only those who aspire to compete in dog shows, but also people who adopted a dog primarily as an exceptional companion.

Discussion forums show how, even with the best intentions, we often act carelessly. In these spaces, people seriously debate not only brands of dog shampoo, but also perfumes and extravagant fashion creations that have no relation whatsoever to the animal's health or wellbeing.

However well-intentioned they may be, grooming procedures are generally not enjoyable for dogs. Moreover, they can be counterproductive, since instead of achieving a perfect coat, regular irritation of the skin can produce the opposite effect. Stress also contributes significantly to these problems.

Those who do everything they can, according to their own ideas, to give their dog the best possible coat suddenly find themselves wondering where they went wrong. The skin becomes flaky and irritated, the coat dull, and it starts falling out. Sometimes it can be enough to reconsider our approach to the dog's hygiene and bathe it only when absolutely necessary - ideally with clean water. We also shouldn't overdo the brushing. It is important to brush out the old hair, but also to make sure it's pleasant for the dog and not to hurt it during brushing with unsuitably sharp combs.

A special chapter is hardened skin on the elbows, which arises as a result of prolonged pressure from the bone when lying down. A soft surface is offered as a simple solution, but you already know how it goes: some dogs may have several beds available, yet they tend to lie on the hard floor. In such cases you can't expect miracles, but it's still advisable to treat the skin with topical preparations.

Common Care Mistakes

Let's say we don't neglect the dog's care, we don't subject it to disproportionate cosmetic interventions, but its coat still doesn't look healthy. It must be emphasized that the quality of the skin and coat is an indicator of the dog's overall state of health. If it doesn't feel or look right, we should look for the cause, since it may indicate another illness. Neglecting to search for the cause could lead us to overlook a much more serious problem, which is why it is important to discuss this condition with a veterinarian.

An experienced veterinarian will first ask us whether the dog has been dewormed, what it eats, what conditions it lives in, and so on. In the end we may discover that it suffers "only" from our absence, or from an unpleasant atmosphere we convey to it, for example through family tension. Or perhaps it's simply afraid of that adorable three-year-old, from whom it has nowhere to hide, or it doesn't tolerate well the arrival of a new family member, or the departure of another. The dog simply shares our lives and our stress. The state of its skin and coat may just be a reflection of its disturbed world.

The Method of Elimination of Causes

Let's summarize the possible causes of poor skin and coat condition (some are interconnected):

poorly chosen diet plus vitamin and mineral deficiency
allergies
infections
parasitic diseases
hormonal diseases
autoimmune diseases
stress

Incorporating CBD into Treatment

It's not unusual for a dog to go through several unnecessary rounds of antibiotic treatment, with the problems continuing to compound. By this point the dog likely already has an altered gut microbiota and, as a consequence, a weakened immune system as well. What to do now?

Since dogs also possess a cannabinoid system, we can consider preparations containing cannabidiol (CBD), to which they respond very well. However, it's necessary to rule out possible interactions with medications the dog is taking, and in any case to inform the veterinarian about our approach. Honest records of ongoing home treatment and changes in the dog's condition can be beneficial not only to us, but also to other people who discuss CBD use with their veterinarian - our experiences can then help others.

Using CBD for Allergies

The effectiveness of CBD for allergies is likewise nothing new. Allergic skin reactions - from the mildest to severe dermatitis - are usually caused, similarly to humans, by various causes. We recognize these allergies:

food allergies - account for 1-5% of canine skin diseases; they manifest as small rashes especially in the hairless area of the belly and ears
flea allergy - the skin reacts to contact with flea saliva with intense itching, mainly on the back and the base of the tail; it manifests as focal hair loss or skin lesions, and the dog may cause itself infections through constant scratching
contact allergy - arises from contact with fabrics, cleaning products, dog cosmetics, but also products we ourselves use; it manifests as skin inflammation or red bumps, especially in the area of the belly, chest, chin, or tail
inhalant allergy - caused for example by mites or pollen; the dog constantly scratches around its face and causes skin damage that leads to further complications

Research on Canine Atopic Dermatitis

In one study, researchers originally focused on evaluating the distribution of CB1 and CB2 in a small sample of 5 dogs with atopic dermatitis compared to 5 clinically healthy dogs. They discovered that:

CB1 and CB2 immunoreactivity was stronger in the sample of dogs with dermatitis than in the healthy dogs
The endocannabinoid system has potential to help resolve immune-mediated inflammatory diseases
Cannabinoid compounds protect dogs against allergic skin conditions

Pharmacokinetics of CBD in Dogs

Pharmacokinetics deals, in simplified terms, with the "journey" of medications through the body and is fundamental for determining future dosing. In the first study dedicated to CBD pharmacokinetics in dogs, three types of application were used:

capsules with CBD microbeads
oral CBD oil
transdermal CBD ointment

The study involved 30 healthy dogs, who were given CBD in two different doses. The results showed that CBD-rich genetics represent a valuable collector's material for understanding these specific therapeutic profiles. Cannabis varieties with high CBD content offer collectors the opportunity to study these unique compounds and their characteristic aromatic properties.