Our pets are living longer lives, thanks to advances in veterinary medicine. However, with old age comes certain chronic issues, such as arthritis. Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Reduced mobility
• Both cats and dogs can develop arthritis.

• Trouble getting up after laying down
• Limping
• Difficulty jumping
• Acting grumpy
• Licking or biting at their legs

Pain in cats is generally more difficult to spot than pain in dogs. When cats have arthritis, they simply become less active than they once were. Pet owners often attribute this decreased activity to old age, but it can be a sign of chronic diseases, such as arthritis.

While there is currently no cure for arthritis, there are different treatment options to relieve your pet’s pain. The most commonly prescribed treatment of arthritis in pets are NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). If your pet is taking these prescription drugs, it is important to closely monitor their liver and kidney function.

• Ulcers of the stomach and intestines
• Liver or kidney damage
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Other drugs that are often prescribed for arthritis are opioids, which are pain relief medications, most commonly tramadol. Some of the side effects that may occur in pets taking opioids include:

• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation

Customizing a pet’s home can also mitigate the pain of arthritis. Making sure your older pet has:

• Plenty of soft, padded places to lay down
• A warm environment
• Access to stairs
• Can help ensure a comfortable journey into old age

Cannabidiol or CBD has an important role in the future of medicine. CBD is a primary component of the cannabis plant. It is non-psychoactive, which means that it doesn’t produce the “high” commonly associated with marijuana.

CBD is currently used by many patients (human and animal) who seek an alternative form of therapy without unwanted side effects. Compelling research “indicate[s] that CBD causes a selective anxiolytic effect” ¹ and “CBD [was] associated with significantly decreased subjective anxiety.” ² Furthermore, studies indicate chronic use of CBD has not been shown to elicit negative side effects and does not induce tolerance. ³

Continue to explore and learn more about cannabinoid therapy right here, as we update you on the latest research and findings.

¹Guimarães, F., Chiaretti, T., Graeff, F., & Zuardi, A. (n.d.). Antianxiety effect of cannabidiol in the elevated plus-maze. Psychopharmacology, 558-559.
²Crippa, J., Derenusson, G., Ferrari, T., Wichert-Ana, L., Duran, F., Martin-Santos, R., . . . Hallak, J. (2010). Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: A preliminary report. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 121-130.
³Malfait, A., Gallily, R., Sumariwalla, P., Malik, A., Andreakos, E., Mechoulam, R., & Feldmann, M. (2000). The non-psychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 9561-9566.