The AKC Canine Health Foundation published a study in March 2024 titled "Evidence for the Use of CBD to Treat Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy."
I am glad to see that CBD, oftentimes hailed as a 'miracle drug,' is getting the much-deserved attention it merits. As many who know me or have read my articles are aware that I have been using CBD on my Wolfhounds for more than a decade to treat seizures in two bitches that we determined were caused by Neospora Caninum with latent, chronic infections resulting in multifocal brain lesions and or inflammation of the CNS (Central Nervous System) Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME). Technically, without an MRI or a post-mortem to confirm, we would still be obligated to classify these as idiopathic in nature.
I won't delve into the details of Neospora here, as I've already published several posts and articles on my website that thoroughly discuss the serious nature of this parasitic disease. You can click here to learn more about Canine Neospora and the subsequent Update on Neospora. However, it's important to note that this disease is more concerning than Lyme Disease, particularly as it cannot be eradicated from the body. This is especially true if the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFA) shows a high titer level in the blood (for instance, 1:200 or 1:800), indicating an active infection. Typically, a titer of 1:50 or above is considered positive for prior exposure.
Antibiotics (such as Clindamycin) can effectively treat the disease. Still, I am convinced that it can go dormant and reactivate later. The same is true for Lyme disease, and I stand firm in this belief. Again, I regard Neospora to be far more serious. Having experienced its symptoms firsthand, I never want to face this disease in my hounds again, as I believe it is a terminal condition.
Let's return to the topic of CBD. My experience with CBD and seizures, though limited to two female hounds, spans well over a decade. Still, I can confidentially state that the CDB had miraculous effects in treating and minimizing their seizures. Cinneide lived to be 11 years old, and though Kellyanne lived to be 10, she ultimately succumbed to her illness as her body could no longer withstand it. It's important to note that the dosage and quality of CBD play a crucial role.
I use R&R Medicinals' Unflavored 5,000 mg Multifunctional CBD Tincture. The necessary amount of CBD corresponds to the hound's weight and severity of the seizures; for instance, Kellyanne weighed 150 pounds, and, towards the end, she was receiving 95mg—about half a dropper—twice a day. I typically administer it around 30 minutes before meals.
If you're introducing CBD to your Irish Wolfhound to help manage seizures, it's advisable to start with a lower dosage tailored to their weight and the severity of the seizures. As a starting point, consider using one-quarter of a dropper, which is approximately 48mg, taken twice daily for about five days. After that, you can increase the dosage to half a dropper, which is about 95mg.
For a larger male Wolfhound weighing around 175 lbs with seizures, I recommend starting with at least 75mg twice daily, then gradually increasing to three-quarters of a dropper, or approximately 142mg each time. If you notice that the seizures occur less frequently and with reduced intensity, you can maintain that dosage. However, if there's no improvement, feel free to raise it to a full dropper twice daily. If you don't see any positive changes after using CBD for at least a month, it would undoubtedly come as a surprise.
In the end, both Kellyanne and Cinneide experienced a remarkable transformation in their seizure patterns. They shifted from having Grand Mal seizures almost daily, often in clusters, to seeing them occur only once every two to three months. Additionally, the severity and intensity of their seizures were significantly reduced; they no longer experienced Grand Mal episodes.
From my experience, I firmly believe that CBD is a life-saving remedy for dogs with seizures. It has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for our beloved pets, offering hope and comfort to dog owners facing this very challenging and demanding condition.