Boxers have the look of an ancient breed, but actually, they haven’t been around all that long. The first boxers were bred in Germany in the late 19th century and only came to America in the early 20th century. They’re an offshoot of the now-extinct Bullenbeiser: a large, powerful dog that had been used primarily to hunt game. Once the Boxer reached America, their popularity quickly spread for many reasons. People were and are attracted to their playful nature, their loyalty and to the fact that, even though they’re softies at heart, they have a fairly imposing look.
CBD and Boxer Dogs
Like all living things, boxers are not immune to health problems, and there are a number that seem to afflict them more than other breeds. Up to this point, treatment options for these various conditions have been limited to whatever the vet was able to prescribe. Sometimes these medications worked. Other times they were too little or too late. CBD, however, has shown enormous promise as both a preventive therapy and treatment for a host of boxer heath issues. CBD interacts with their endocannabinoid system or ECS; the system whose function is to regulate and balance the interaction of other systems. When the ECS is in proper balance, your Boxer will be more mentally alert, have less anxiety, digest food better, and have a healthier coat. Let’s look at some of the other benefits of CBD for Boxer dogs.
1. Increase The Immune System
By ensuring that your dog’s other systems are all working in harmony, CBD helps ensure a robust immune system response. In order to do its job in the most effective manner possible, the immune system needs to be properly supported by a digestive system that is providing adequate amounts of nutrients and by a cardiovascular system that is distributing those nutrients – along with oxygen and adequate numbers of white blood cells – throughout the body.
Maintaining a strong, well-supported immune system is sometimes an issue for Boxers, who can be susceptible to a number of different digestive and cardiovascular conditions that undermine immune response. CBD oil is a solid foundational tool in a comprehensive approach to your dog’s overall health and well-being.
2. Improves Mood And Lowers Stress
Some people will read that CBD improves their dog’s mood and makes them more relaxed, and interpret that to mean that the dog will get high. Fortunately, this is not the case. CBD for dogs is not gleaned from marijuana, but from hemp. That’s important, because marijuana contains THC and hemp does not. Or the amount of THC it contains is so small as to be virtually undetectable.
THC, of course, is the psychoactive compound in marijuana that produces the high. So, no THC, no high. The exact mechanism by which CBD enhances mood is not completely understood, but research indicates it helps improve oxygen levels in the brain and that it can help prevent the death of brain cells. It is also believed to have antipsychotic properties and to support hippocampal neurogenesis. That promotes the growth of neurons in the brain, which helps alleviate mood disorders.
3. Reduces Anxiety and Separation Anxiety
Besides supporting hippocampal neurogenesis, there are other ways CBD helps reduces all types of anxiety in your Boxer. Particularly separation anxiety. First of all, CBD is a well-known anti-inflammatory. Rampant inflammation – a symptom of a poorly functioning immune system – is known to cause a wide variety of health issues, both in humans and our canine companions.
Inflammation can produce an agitated emotional state and interfere with proper cognitive function. But beyond being anti-inflammatory, CBD is also an underrated sleep aid. And a well-rested dog, just like a well-rested person, is less likely to suffer anxiety or to react to change with worry or fear. And finally, CBD is known to have antidepressant qualities. While this aspect of CBD is not potent enough for it to cure clinical depression in humans, it can help elevate your dog’s mood to a more optimistic and happy state.
4. Calms Your Boxer When It’s Hyper
Most of the qualities we outlined above that help your Boxer deal more effectively with separation anxiety, stress, and moodiness also work to help your pooch stay calmer. Boxers are known for their energetic dispositions. And no one in their right mind would try and undermine that. It’s one of their great charms. However, there’s “energetic” and then there’s “hyperactive,” and they’re not necessarily the same thing.
An energetic dog is one who likes to play and is very active when given a chance to bound around in the great outdoors. A hyperactive dog is one that doesn’t know when to quit. It doesn’t respond to commands, and may wind up damaging things in the home or injuring itself as a result. Certain adrenal gland conditions can cause hyperactivity. And CBD oil can help alleviate those conditions and return your pup to its normal active but in control state.
5. Reduces Risk of picking up illnesses
Boxers are susceptible to a wide range of digestive and other conditions, as we mentioned earlier. They’re also susceptible to certain types of infections. Most notably, ear and eye infections. By bolstering your Boxer’s immune system, CBD oil makes it more likely that your dog will be able to fight off minor conditions when they arise and prevent them from blossoming into existential threats. A stronger immune system is also one that will be able to respond more effectively to infections.
Although you may still need the vet to intervene to get rid of the infection completely, a healthy immune system will ensure the recovery process doesn’t have to be any longer than absolutely necessary. On top of that, a dog with a strong immune system and all its other systems working together in harmonious fashion, is one that won’t get sick very often to begin with.
6. Helps With Arthritis And Joint Pain As They Get Old
Older dogs are susceptible to arthritis and all kinds of joint dysfunction and deterioration. With active dogs like Boxers, watching them be sidelined by joint pain is particularly difficult. They want to play, but are simply unable, and you can see the pain and discomfort in their face. Inflammation is a natural byproduct of the immune system response to arthritis or other joint conditions. But inflammation has the unwelcome side effect of creating stiffness, which leads to even more pain.
CBD is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it is very effective in helping older dogs with arthritis and other joint conditions. As the inflammation subsides, your Boxer will become more mobile and less stressed out. You’ll be able to see the relief in their eyes. Now, this is not to say that CBD can cure arthritis. As of this writing, there is no cure for that debilitating condition. But what it can do is make it much easier for your dog to deal with the pain and stiffness of this and other joint conditions. And in some cases, it can also help bolster the integrity of the joint and encourage the production of healthy cartilage.
7. Helps With Hip Dysplasia Prevalent in Boxers
Dysplasia of the hip is a fancy way to say that the hip joint is not perfectly formed. This can happen in humans, and in dogs and other animals. Dysplasia typically means the ligaments of the hip are not properly developed, and this causes a lack of integrity in the joint and its motion. In some cases, the abnormality may develop in utero and be with the dog from birth. In other cases, it may develop as the result of an injury or illness. In either case, hip dysplasia can be a very painful condition. CBD can help alleviate the pain and allow your Boxer to move about in a more natural, pain-free way.
In many cases of serious dysplasia, owners will eventually opt for surgery to correct the problem. Hip dysplasia surgery actually has an excellent record. But any type of surgery for your pet should be an option of last resort. There are a number of supplements on the market that can help bolster the strength and integrity of canine hip joints. But few deal directly with the pain the condition can cause. CBD, on the other hand, is one of the most effective ways of treating the pain and discomfort associated with this troubling condition.
8. Helps Fight And Reduce The Risk Of Getting Cancer
Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs older than 10 years. But let’s make something clear right off the bat: CBD is not a cure for cancer, in dogs or humans. The best course of action is to treat your dog well and take them to the vet regularly. That way, their chance of developing cancer is minimized, and if they do, it can be caught early when there is still a good chance of making a full recovery.
CBD should be used in concert with radiation, chemo or other treatments to help reduce the growth of tumors. Exactly how much you use in such cases is something you should talk over with your vet. But don’t delay because cancer in dogs tends to metastasize faster than it does in humans. The sooner you initiate a comprehensive treatment plan, the better. CBD can also help your Boxer deal more effectively with the pain involved. Particularly pain associated with inflammation.
9. Reduces Seizures and helps with Epilepsy, prevalent in Dogs
The exact cause of epilepsy in dogs is not fully understood in many cases. Though there is evidence to suggest it may have to do with environmental pollutants, low blood sugar, brain tumors, brain damage caused by an accident, and various other causes. As it is not often clear exactly what is causing the seizures, trying to find an effective treatment or even to cure the dog of their seizure disorder is a tall order and almost never successful. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make it easier on your pooch.
One of the most promising developments in CBD research has been the discovery of its anticonvulsant properties. In fact, research demonstrates CBD can reduce the frequency of seizures in humans by almost half. A remarkable discovery that has also led to breakthroughs in treating canine seizures with CBD.
10. Improves Overall Wellness and Enjoyment of Life
Lastly, we take a step back and look at the big picture health implications of CBD for your Boxer. There can be little debate that if your dog develops a more robust immune system, that if he or she is getting ill less frequently, and if they are able to move about in less pain from arthritis or other joint conditions, that their entire quality of life will improve.
Boxers are upbeat, active dogs, and the benefits of CBD with regard to treating joint pain and stimulating a better mood are qualities that should be of particular interest to Boxer owners. But beyond that, you’ll want to keep CBD in mind as a preventive supplement, one that will allow your pooch to sleep better and one that will alleviate the worst symptoms of some of the ghastly diseases that can befall them.
In Summary
Boxers are a distinctive breed that make excellent pets because they require minimal grooming, are steadfast and loyal, love to romp, and have a somewhat imposing profile that makes them an effective deterrent. However, they are also prone to a number of health conditions, including:
- Various types of cancer.
- Ear infections.
- Ear mites.
- Degenerative spinal conditions.
- Eye diseases.
- Hip and joint problem including Arthritis.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Pyloric stenosis.
- Aortic stenosis.
As we have seen above, CBD oil can play an important role in securing the health of your Boxer dog. So don’t wait. If you have Boxer – whether they are already experiencing health problems or not – make sure you have CBD on hand to deal with conditions as they arise and to prevent some from ever occurring
