CB1 CANNABINOID RECEPTORS
CB1 receptors are found throughout the body but are more concentrated in the spinal cord and the brain than anywhere else. CB1 receptors in the brain are found in regions that control specific behaviors.
For example, CB1 receptors have been found in the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating appetite. There are also CB1 receptors in the amygdala region of the brain; this area relates to emotions and memory. CB1 receptors also reside in the nerve endings which control pain.
The anatomical locations of CB1 receptors in the brains of dogs differ from human brains, which is one of the reasons dogs are much more sensitive to the negative effects of THC than people. CB1 receptors are also found in the skin, salivary glands, digestive system, and immune system of dogs.
CB2 receptors mainly reside in the nervous system, immune system, spleen, and liver. Many of these receptors are concentrated in immune tissues and cells, pointing to the possibility that the ECS plays an immunomodulatory role. This means the ECS may help monitor and regulate the immune responses, such as inflammation or allergies.
HOW DO CANNABINOIDS WORK WITH MY PET’S ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM?
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. There have been 113 cannabinoids identified in the cannabis plant to date. The two most abundant cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid that is responsible for the “high” feeling that marijuana users experience. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that can provide many benefits of marijuana without mental interference.
Endocannabinoids are molecules that the body produces naturally. These molecules bind to cannabinoid receptors to initiate specific actions. The body only creates endocannabinoids when it needs to.
When introduced into the body, plant cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) such as THC and CBD stimulate the cannabinoid receptors in the same way as the body’s own endocannabinoids do. This, in turn, triggers many natural reactions from the ECS.
The endocannabinoid system in dogs and all other animals operates in the same way. Introducing external cannabinoids into the ECS triggers the same effects that endocannabinoids do.
The master regulator behind your dog’s health and wellbeing.
E-n-d-o-c-a-n-n-a-b-i-n-o-i-d. Now that’s a mouthful.
You’ve probably seen this scientific-leaning word tossed around if you’ve been reading up on CBD oil for dogs. The Endocannabinoid system is only a recent revelation, discovered in the early 1990s. Yet, it’s one of the most critical systems possessed by all mammals for maintaining optimum health. “Endo” is short for endogenous meaning something that is produced naturally inside the body. And “cannabinoid” refers to compounds like cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that interact when introduced to the system.
Once cannabis is introduced, whether orally or topically, the Endocannabinoid system processes these compounds; and in turn, has a number of psychological and physical effects for several bodily functions in your dog. That’s why CBD is reported to have many medicinal properties for a variety of ailments; it can target multiple areas, like appetite and mood, at the same time. In fact, your dog’s endocannabinoid system is precisely why CBD’s many benefits are not just a myth. Because that’s just how far and wide the Endocannabinoid system works, and although the medical research is new, it has already backed a lot of its roles.
And as it turns out, dogs aren’t all that different than humans. Dogs, humans, cats – all mammals – are born with an endocannabinoid system (ECS). But what does this actually mean? And how does it work with cannabinoids such as CBD? Let’s unpack it all below.