CBD oil isn’t a treatment for kidney disease in dogs. But that doesn’t mean it can’t play a beneficial role in therapy.

CBD oil has long been proven to reduce pain, inflammation, loss of appetite, and anxiousness in dogs—all symptoms that can accompany acute and chronic canine kidney disease.

How common is kidney disease in dogs?

There are two categories of kidney disease in pups. Acute kidney disease or injury (AKD) occurs when a dog consumes a poisonous substance such as harmful foods, unprescribed medications, and antifreeze, as well as lesser-known toxins such as grapes and the lily plant.

AKD can be highly serious, with a mortality rate of up to 45 percent according to a 2018 review by science nonprofit PLOS One. Rates of acute kidney disease in dogs may be increasing with the advent of legal weed across many states and Canada—the ASPCA’s poison control hotline has seen a dramatic uptick in cases related to accidental cannabis consumption by pets.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), on the other hand, is a long term degenerating condition otherwise known as renal failure. CKD is defined by VCA hospitals as the “inability of the kidneys to efficiently filter the blood of waste products.” Despite common misconceptions, failure does not mean the inability to produce urine.

Washington State University notes that CKD can have a variety of causes in dogs, such as high blood pressure or birth defects, but thanks to the disease’s long and slow progression, the cause may no longer be detectable at the point of diagnosis.

As for rates of chronic kidney disease in dogs, a 2013 UK review puts prevalence at anywhere between 0.37 and 3.4 percent of the pup population. Clarity on rates of CKD can be difficult because of the progressive nature of the disease, as well as the often long periods in which CKD goes undiagnosed.

What does kidney disease look like in dogs?

In humans and dogs alike, kidney disease emerges as the organs become less efficient. As efficiency decreases, the body attempts to compensate, by increasing the amount of blood flowing through the kidneys. This causes a greater need to urinate, putting patients at risk of dehydration.

As a result, one of the key early signs of kidney failure in dogs is increased, sometimes frantic drinking habits. Urination will also be noticeably frequent. As the disease progresses, and the kidneys become less able to remove waste products from the bloodstream, dogs can deteriorate very suddenly and require immediate veterinary care.

Clinical signs of advanced kidney failure include depression, halitosis (bad breath), appetite suppression, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Read: Is a dog in pain when it has kidney failure?

Does CBD have any direct effect on the kidneys?

Right now, there is little to no research published on CBD as a treatment or therapy for kidney disease—in dogs or other animals. As a result, we don’t know much about the direct effects of CBD or other cannabis products on canine kidneys. We do know that the kidneys play a role in eliminating CBD from the body. This 1990 study, for example, identifies the results of cannabinoid absorption in the urine of dogs who ingested CBD.

So, while CBD definitely interacts with the kidneys, there are no firm conclusions on whether CBD has a positive impact on kidney disease or kidney disorders. On the other hand, CBD has been shown to have very few side effects and a high toxicity threshold in dogs. In terms of the kidneys specifically, a seven-year study on human participants found that cannabis products have no identifiable negative effect on kidney function among adults under 60 years old (with relatively light cannabis usage.)

Orally ingested CBD is also likely to reduce inflammation across the whole body—kidneys included—thanks to its interactions with the far-reaching endocannabinoid system.

Important: the first stage of treatment for many dogs with AKD and CKD includes a ‘flushing’ of toxins from the kidneys and body with the use of IVs, in the hope of supporting still functioning kidney cells as they recover. Due to the nature of this treatment, plus the fact that the kidneys play a role in the elimination of substances from the body, it’s critical that you discuss possible CBD supplementation with your vet before introducing CBD to your dog.

How else can CBD help?

As mentioned above, both AKD and CKD can cause a slew of nasty symptoms in dogs, from vomiting, nausea, and gastrointestinal distress, to depression, anxiety, and loss of appetite.

A cursory look at popular use cases of CBD will tell you that all of these symptoms fall well within CBD’s umbrella of benefits. Because CBD bolsters the endocannabinoid system, which is largely responsible for reducing inflammation in the body, CBD can act as an efficient pain killer, stress-manager, and mood booster.

So, while CBD is not an advised treatment for kidney failure, it’s well worth having a conversation with your vet about CBD’s therapeutic role in combatting symptoms and boosting your dog’s quality of life.

Summary

  • Dogs are at risk of sudden acute kidney disease from ingesting toxic substances. Chronic kidney disease, of a symptom of old age, can persist in dogs for years before symptoms emerge.

  • Right now, CBD is not considered a viable treatment for kidney diseases of any kind.

  • CBD can play a highly beneficial role in easing the symptoms of kidney disease: increasing appetite, lowering stress, and decreasing inflammation.

  • The general health of dogs with kidney disease is likely to be fragile, which means that any changes to their treatment should be carefully considered and discussed with a vet.

  • So far, CBD has shown a good ability to interact with other drugs and to not put pressure on the kidneys. Nevertheless, consultation before beginning CBD treatment is still a must.