Introduction to using CBD to help IR horses
CBD is certainly getting more and more popular by the day. The reason is not only because it could help with the treatment of so many different ailments. But also because it is effective for both humans and animals. This makes CBD one of the most versatile compounds ever found.
Pet owners around the world have relied on CBD to help their cats and dogs. From anxiety to glowing fur, CBD is a reliable solution for your pet’s health problem. And not only limited to cats and dogs, CBD could help your horses as well.
But what about horses that already have a pre-existing condition such as Insulin Resistance? Can you also help your IR horses by giving them CBD? This article will answer those questions for you along with other important information that you should know regarding CBD and IR horses.
What is an IR horse?
Insulin Resistance, also known as IR, is a condition that occurs when the body cells that usually relies on insulin to regulate the metabolism. This regulation applies to the blood glucose becomes somewhat less sensitive to insulin than it should.
While IR in and of itself is already a serious issue, what makes it worse is that it could lead to more major problem later on. Diseases such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), which is marked by the abnormal fat deposition have been seen after IR issues. Equine Cushing’s Disease (ECD) that could make your horses lose their athletic ability. This is not to mention that it can also cause abnormal coat growth, among other things.
According to experts, there are several causes of IR in horses. The most common ones are diets that are high in starch and sugar, overweight, age, inactivity, and also genes. What you need to remember, however, is the fact that IR is not a death sentence. On the contrary, if you catch it early and do the necessary steps to help your horses, then they could fully recover from IR.
What can CBD do for IR horses
Insulin Resistance (IR) is a problem with the horse’s metabolism. And although CBD is mainly known as something that could help with the nervous system, it could also affect the metabolism as well. Most horses with IR are usually overweight and rarely move around. CBD is a great solution for that particular problem.
There has been numerous research conducted to find out the relation between CBD and IR. The following are two of the most influential one. The first one is called “Cannabidiol promotes browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes“ by Parray and Yun. It was published in the journal of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.
The study found that CBD has dual modulatory roles. The first one is in triggering what is known as brown-like phenotype, while the second one is in regards to encouraging lipid metabolism. Which means CBD can be safely used as a way to prevent obesity and help control weight.
The second study was conducted by George W. Booz from University of Mississippi Medical Center. His research is called “Cannabidiol as an Emergent Therapeutic Strategy for Lessening the Impact of Inflammation on Oxidative Stress.”
Through this research, he found that an increase in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is a major condition that causes Insulin Resistance (IR). With its anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to activate PPARγ, CBD is a promising solution to the aforementioned problems regarding IR.
Horses that are suffering from IR are likely to be overweight or on the path to be overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to prevent further complications from IR. CBD has the ability to affect their metabolism and therefore prove to be a valid option to help control their weight.
What is the best CBD for IR horses
There are different types of CBD that you can give to your horses that have insulin resistance issues. All of them come in different packages that will affect the way you give the CBD to your horses. So there are two things that you need to decide, what type of CBD that your horses need and what kind of CBD products would you give to them.
CBD comes in three different types. Full Spectrum CBD has the strongest potency, but it has THC inside, so there’s a health risk involved. Isolate CBD has the lowest potency, but it is also the safest due to it being a pure CBD. And the last one is Broad Spectrum CBD that could offer strong enough effects while still perfectly safe to use. Unless your vet says otherwise, you should use this Broad Spectrum CBD.
The next thing that you should decide is the kind of CBD that you’d give to your horses. There are CBD oil, CBD pellets, CBD salves, CBD sprays, etc. But since you need to focus on their metabolism and eating habits, it is recommended for you to choose the CBD pellets. That way, you could control their calorie intake while giving them beneficial CBD at the same time.
Conclusion
Insulin Resistance (IR) is a condition where the body cells becomes less sensitive and somewhat resistance to insulin. Left alone, IR could lead to numerous serious health condition. The cause of it is an unbalanced diet, inactive lifestyle, genes, and age, among other things.
CBD, with its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to affect the metabolism. This is great as it could act as both a treatment and a prevention for IR. By giving them Broad Spectrum CBD pellets, or other kinds of CBD , you could see an improvement in their overall health.