Can CBD help Insulin Resistant (IR) horses?

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Introduction to CBD can help IR horses

One of the reasons why products based on CBD become so popular among pet owners is its health benefits. There are numerous ailments that CBD can deal with. And the best thing about them is the fact that there’s no side effects whatsoever. It is perfectly safe to use. 

As a matter of fact, you can give however much CBD to your pets, and they will be fine. CBD is clearly a compound with so many untapped potential. That’s why more and more ailments are found to be able to utilize CBD as a treatment option. So what we think of as a hopeless condition now may actually prove to be treatable with CBD. 

But what about a specific condition such as Insulin Resistance on horses? Can CBD also help horses who suffer that particular ailment? And if they can, what is the best CBD for IR horses? This article will answer all of those questions for you.

What is IR?

Before we get to the answers, let’s start at the definition first. Insulin Resistance, or more commonly known as IR, is a type of Insulin Dysregulation (ID). There are two kinds of ID, which is Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Resistance. 

The body gets its energy through glucose that comes from the foods. The digestive system will do its job of extracting those glucose out of the food. But it still needs a way to get out of the digestive system and into the rest of the body. The hormone that is tasked to do that job is called insulin. 

The problem happens when there is too much insulin in the body. When the pancreas secrete too much insulin, the body can become resistant to it. And the name for that particular condition is Insulin Resistance. 

What causes IR on horses?

It is important to note that a horse body works in a relatively the same way as humans. Which means the function of the pancreas is also the same between both species. That’s why insulin resistance can happen to both humans and animals. 

The cause is also relatively similar. It mainly comes from genetics, old age, obesity, and lack of movement. But the more common cause is usually obesity. Because when a horse is overweight, the pancreas will need to secrete more insulin in order to provide enough energy to the body. But the more it pumps the insulin, the more the body becomes somewhat resistant to it. Which in turn forces pancreas to secrete even more insulin just to do its regular job. 

It is important to note that at this stage, the pancreas in a human body will wear out. Which causes it to stop producing insulin altogether. This is what is commonly known as type 2 diabetes. But a horse’s pancreas is stronger than that of humans. It will keep on working hard despite the insulin resistance. But if you leave it untreated, it will soon cause laminitis, damage to other organs, and many more serious issues.

How can CBD help IR horses?

CBD works by binding itself into the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that exists within humans and animals. In particular, CBD will bind into the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS. And that is why CBD can display myriads of effects, such as anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, regulating digestive system, etc.

The one effect of CBD that can influence the IR on horses is the regulation of the digestive system. Because as mentioned above, IR horses tend to be obese. So by regulating their digestive system, it can help them eat less food while still feeling full. 

It works because the CB1 that CBD connected to is responsible for numerous things in our body. One of which is regulating food intake in the digestive system and also the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. That’s why using CBD can certainly help with Insulin Resistance. And on that note, it can also help with obesity in general. 

Researches on the effect of CBD to Insulin Resistance

What CBD can do for your IR horses is not just an empty claim. There are numerous studies that will back up that statement. A 2019 study by Tarragon et al. titled “Cannabinoids, Chemicals Sense, and Regulation of Feeding Behavior” found that Cannabinoids can affect the CB1 receptors in regulating insulin sensitivity and also lipid metabolism. This helps control the digestive system.

Another study conducted on this topic in 2018 by Mastinu et al. The title is “Cannabinoids in health and disease: pharmacological potential in metabolic syndrome and neuroinflammation.” The study found that cannabinoids can affect the hypothalamic centers of the brain. This is the area that regulates the sense of satiety and also the peripheral districts. Which in turn helps inducing fat loss. 

Last but not least is a study called “Cannabidiol Promotes Browning In 3T3-L1 Adipocytes”. It was conducted in 2016 by Parray et al. The result of this research is the fact that CBD can induce the brown-like phenotype and it can also promote lipid metabolism. Which means CBD can be used as a way to prevent obesity. 

What is the best CBD for IR horses?

Now that we know that CBD is good for your IR horses, it’s time to pick the best one for them. There are numerous CBD products that you can give to your horses. CBD paste, CBD pellets, CBD cream, so many choices available. 

Normally, you should get the standard CBD paste. This is by far the fastest working CBD for your horses. That is especially true if your horse suffers from anxiety or in need of potent painkillers. But for IR horses, the best option will be the CBD pellets. 

The reason is simply because you need to control their diet. CBD pallets contain more than just CBD. It also has various nutritional value inside it. This means you can help your horse through the CBD, give essential nutrients to them, and make their stomach full. All happens at the same time through the CBD pellets. 

How can you give CBD products to IR horses?

There are other important things that you need to do after you decide which CBD to give to your horses. Which is the dosage and the frequency. In order for CBD to work as effectively as possible, it needs to be given on a regular interval. 

Not only that, you also need to give the right dosage based on the amount that they need. There are multiple variables that will determine the right dosage for them, such as weight, size, etc. Your need to talk to your trusted vets in order to get the most recommended dosage and frequency. 

Usually, you can start by giving the horses a small amount of CBD daily and see how they react. Slowly add the dosage or increase the frequency if you feel the need to do it. And once you see a noticeable improvement on your horses, you can begin following the current schedule without additional changes. 

What other things can you do to help horses with IR?

Other than giving them CBD, there are still other things that you must do if your horse has IR. The first one is certainly concerning their diet. You should pay close attention to what they eat everyday. How much they eat matters a lot too. Even some additional grasses here and there could greatly impact their metabolism. 

The next thing you can do is to let them exercise. Obesity and lack of movement is one of the main causes of IR in horses. That’s why even if you have given them CBD, you still need to make them move. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout session. But you have to at least make them sweat. 

And that’s pretty much all you can do. Of course, you can visit your trusted vets to give you advice and pointers. And they might even give you some medicine for it. Be sure to talk about the CBD if that is the case. And at the end of the day, you will still need to watch their diet and make them exercise. 

Conclusion to how CBD can help IR horses

Insulin Resistance is a condition in which the pancreas produces too much insulin and the body becomes resistant to it. If it is not immediately treated, then it can cause disease such as Laminitis, damage other organs, etc. CBD through its connection with the CB1 receptors can help better regulate the digestive system. But you will still need to watch their diet closely and let