Our trial with CBD oil

I have to start this blog post being completely honest - I didn't know the difference between "pot" and CBD. All I knew was that I didn't want to make my animals high, sick or harm them in anyway.

With everything that has happened these past few months, one thing I have done numerous times is open my computer and research. So when I found out that Charlotte may have cancer, I did an abundance of research so I was prepared and could follow along with the results when they came in. When my dog was diagnosed with CHF (congestive Heart Failure) and SVT (super ventricular tachycardia ) just a week after Charlotte's diagnoses, I did the same thing...RESEARCH. And then when I met someone that told me they started a new business harvesting and distributing CBD for people, dogs and wanted to start marketing horse cookies I knew I needed to do my research again.

I have been approached by two other individuals about my older dog, Cooper and how CBD oil would benefit his elderly and sore body. Truthfully, I didn't look into it much at the time. To me I thought it was just the new craze, like coconut oil and the benefits of that (which is a whole other blog topic I found out). Just by word of mouth, the CBD oil benefits would hopefully improve pain management. What I found next was much, much more.

Just a little back story on my pup Cooper. He is 10 and a half now and started going through the normal "old man" aches. We continued our long walks and hikes through out the summer but in October he started to slow way down. He would be walking way behind all the other dogs on the way back down the mountains during our hike and he didn't seem as excited to get up and eat breakfast in the morning. Shortly after all of that, we slowed down on the hikes and he seem to have a weird breathing pattern. I had a vet appointment scheduled for him, just a wellness exam and some bloodwork to have a base line in case anything was wrong.

Charlotte got sick around that time and the vet bills were pouring in for her eye problems, and I am ashamed to say that I cancelled the appointment for Cooper. Again we all chalked his behavior up to the normal aches and pains of a 10 year old lab mix. I was calling him my little old man and taking him to the barn with me during Charlotte's appointments. Next in the sequence of events dates back to the week I brought Charlotte to WSU in Pullman. Remember the part toward the end where I mention my "older dog" wasn't eating and his breathing seemed off to me. He was not acting normal and I was scared we would have to stay longer but this time for him??? If you remember that sections ……. well I regretted every second of waiting after I brought him to the vet.

Shortly after we got home from WSU Cooper seemed to get better and I thought maybe it was due to me being stressed about Charlotte that Cooper was acting this way. I scheduled an appointment for him to see a veterinarian and do blood work so I had a base line, I didn't want the same surprise I had with Charlotte. The veterinarian stated that Cooper was nervous which caused his heart to race so she could not listen to his lungs. Everything else was normal, for an older large dog. His bloodwork even came back normal. He continued to have this slight cough and I continued to have a slight un-nervering feeling that something was wrong.

That same night, between work and Charlotte's appointment I called around to different vets. I found my old family vet, we use to use with our other dogs and thankfully she had an appointment available that evening. It just meant that I would not be getting any sleep before

work. When I brought Cooper in he weighed 70 lbs and was so very weak. The first thing she did was listen to his heart and tell me that his poor heart was over working and his pulse was very weak. We did a chest x-ray right away and that showed us his very large heart! It was so large that it was pushing on his esophagus, which was making him cough and the wheezing/croup type breathing. He was diagnosed with CHF (congestive heart failure) along with his enlarged heart was the fact that his heart was unable to pump all the fluid out of his lungs, along with his lungs filling his body was filling as well. First step was to put him on a diuretic and heart med to get the fluid out and help his heart.

We have been back and forth each week to the vet, trying new medications by adding new ones and changing dosages. Some days he eats breakfast, others he wont even touch his treats. One evening he just stared at me, he seemed so sad and I though maybe it was the end. That next morning he was excited to get and he brought me his ball in bed. I told myself as long has he seems happy and is eating I will do everything I can to help him , in the mean time I will make him as comfortable as possible. We were on our next batch of heart medications to try and Cooper didn't seem himself at all. I decided to take him for a small walk to the coffee stand, we were ok'd to do "stop and sniff" walks. However we never made it to the coffee stand, Cooper was so exhausted he could barely walk back. It took us an hour and half to get half way to the stand and back home with how slow he was. The medications were not working and I was starting to break down. The poor lady walking her dog in front of me was probably scared of the emotional lady crying behind her haha!!

So the most recent vet appointment told me that his heart rate was still very elevated (in the 200s and a normal range is 60-120) but the water weight was shed and unfortunately that showed he had lost 10 pounds in a week. Not good! I decided to go back ……. Think about different options that might help? I met a new friend that happened to dispense CBD oil for dogs and people and get this ….. They are starting a new line of horse treats with CBD! GO figure!!

A little bit about CBD --- First off, It does not contain THC so my pets are not getting high. CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound found in cannabis and hemp. It is extracted from the plant. Most CBD oils are the benefits of that without the THC. There maybe relaxation, but without the intoxication. And speaking of relaxation, one of the benefits of CBD oil is for anxiety. CBD has been known to help with anxiety disorders, panic disorders and PTSD. There has also been studies that it helps with seizure disorders and epilepsy in dogs and humans. One of the biggest factors of trying CBD with Cooper is pain relieve. It has shown to decrease chronic pain, inflammation, and even suppress some autoimmune disease.

After digging into more research that has been done with CBD and dogs, I found not only has it helped with pain, but also appetite and nausea! And with even more digging I found new studies linking CBD and heart health. The studies showed it van reduce the damage from damaged blood vessels and irregular heart rates, protect blood vessels from damage and dilate the arteries, and reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Pretty much all the things we are trying to achieve with his medications.

All of this sounded great to me! After talking with my vet, she stated that there is no harm from it, and its legal. Just be aware that it might not change anything. It could do good, but be aware that Cooper may not show any differences.

This is day 3 on the CBD and not only has Cooper's attitude and energy level completely changed, he is eating! Like a vacuum! We went on a walk and he played with Mac. It has been great seeing Cooper back to his normal self! I have still continued on his normal meds and during my next appointment we will come up with a game plan and see how he progresses. I have been shocked by the life changing events in just 3 days! CBD is all natural and legal, and has completely changed my dog's life. Trust me I know this could be the new "fad" but I truly believe in what I am seeing.

SOOOOO..... I did some more research and discovered that some hospitals are prescribing CBD oil and lotions to cancer patients. Why you might ask? First off, it helps with pain and appetite so there is that but a newer study has shown CBD to aid in suppressing tumor cell creations. WHAT!! CBD and other substances found in hemp and cannabis have been found to have an anti-tumor effect. CBD has even been shown to stop cancer cells from growing and increasing tumor cell death!

One study I found was on a Staffordshire terrier, he had a 6cm mammary tumor  and metastasis that disappeared with in 3 months and didn't come back …..
The second study I happen to come across was a jack Russell with a severe heart murmur and painful arthritis. After a month he wanted to go on walks and his murmur was much improved ! …..

Ok that's all great, can it help Charlotte??!!? Of course the first thing I did was consult with my vet and she said the same thing. There is no harm, but be aware you may not see any difference. Right now we don't know what to look for so who knows if anything has changed, but why not try it! So my new friend made up some delicious horse treats with CBD and we will see if anything happens? Charlotte is so very stoic and I feel that she would not tell me if anything hurts to begin with, but maybe this added support will help anyway.

Of course I will continue to keep you all updated on our progress! So far I have had the best jump lesson after just one cookie, but that could have been just that she was so fabulous. I don't think the CBD had time to get into her system by the time I tacked up and started my lesson. If you have any questions or would like to purchase some, I am going through this amazing local couple! There company is called "CBD therapy Shop". The website is almost up and running so make sure to leave your email with the site and you will get an email back when they are open so you can purchase products! check it out ….. https://cbdtherapyshop.com/password

Check out the video of Charlotte eating her cookie! She bit my finger to get it!! The hazards that come along with trying to video at the same time she eats a yummy CBD Cookie!