Have you heard the buzz about CBG for dogs? This ‘molecular cousin’ of CBD is getting a lot of attention lately, and for good reason! But hang on…what is CBG? What are the benefits of CBG for dogs? Where can we find CBG? Lots of questions, all answered here.
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What is CBG?
Cannabigerol (or CBG) is a cannabinoid, like CBD and THC. CBG is in every cannabis plant, but the amounts of CBG can vary to a large degree, depending on factors like age and strain of the plant.
All young cannabis plants start with high amounts of CBGa, the “precursor” form, or “base” of CBG. Once the young plant full of CBGa gets enough sunlight and begins to mature, CBGa transforms into other cannabinoid precursors like THCa and CBDa, among many others. This is why it is known as the “mother” of all cannabinoids; they all originate from CBG.
Only a small amount of CBG remains after the differentiation of cannabinoids that occurs during the maturation process. Thus, adult cannabis plants don’t contain much CBG (usually 1% or less) in their final product. As cannabis hybridization advances, cannabis plants with higher concentrations of CBG in their final product are being produced. As time goes on, and this practice evolves, more specialized plants can be created to achieve specific goals.
Now that we know what CBG is exactly, let’s understand the benefits of CBG for dogs and pets.
What are the Benefits of CBG for Dogs?
CBG could be considered a kind of “stem cell” of cannabis, which is part of the reason it has such amazing benefits. Unlike other cannabinoids like CBD or THC, CBG has a more direct action on the Endocannabinoid System, with a direct binding action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. This direct action results in a more efficient delivery of all the benefits of CBG for dogs.
CBG by itself has very interesting properties that make it unique among cannabinoids. Because it is non-psychoactive, the benefits of CBG for dogs are all medicinal, with no high associated with its consumption. CBG also tends to be more uplifting in its effects, rather than the drowsiness that can sometimes occur with the use of other cannabinoids, like CBD. This makes CBG for dogs a promising therapeutic agent for specific conditions that need a more stimulating effect.
As mentioned previously, it lends a direct action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mainly located in your brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors are found elsewhere in the body, like the immune system. By binding to both receptors, CBG bolsters the role of anandamide. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for mitigating pain, as well as regulating sleep cycles, appetite, motivation, and pleasure responses.
CBG is one of many cannabinoids included in a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. Using it in conjunction with other cannabinoids will only increase the synergistic effects and lead to homeostasis within the body. This is why a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, with all naturally occurring cannabinoids, is best for your pet, like our HEAL: Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, rich in CBD and CBG for dogs.
Research on CBG for Dogs and Pets
Research has already shown very promising results for the benefits of CBG for dogs, such as:
CBG for Nerve and Pain Management
CBG has been shown to be an extremely effective neuroprotectant in a study performed on mice with Huntington’s Disease. Huntington’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease causing the destruction of nerve cells within the brain. CBG was shown to limit the damage caused by the disease by protecting nerve cells within the brain, showing CBG for dogs may act as a neuroprotectant as well.
In another study, CBG was also shown to have neuroprotective qualities in the face of another serious neuroinflammatory disease, Multiple Sclerosis. In this study, CBG was shown to protect brain cells from toxicity and inflammation associated with the disease.
CBG For Mood Disorders
We already know that CBD oil has wonderful anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects, but sometimes these anxiolytic properties come with drowsiness. Using a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, rich in CBD and CBG for dogs, can help not only balance mood disorders but also come with a more energizing effect not normally seen in products with lower/standard amounts of CBG. Promising results are being seen, leading to encouragement for more studies on CBG’s efficacy in dealing with mood disorders ranging from anxiety to ADHD.
CBG For Bladder Health
For those pets suffering from incontinence issues, promising research has been done showing CBG’s ability to balance bladder dysfunctions like incontinence.
CBG For Digestive Health & Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Research has been done pretty extensively on cannabis’ effect on the GI system, and its numerous benefits. However, recent data has found that CBG can provide marked improvement for those suffering from conditions like colitis and IBD.
CBG as an Anti-bacterial
A study was done with the five major cannabinoids, including CBG, to measure their activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA. This study showed astonishing results that encourage even more research to be performed in the future.
Another study used CBG against Streptococcus Mutans and saw that CBG effectively reduced metabolic activity and cellular disruption in S.Mutans.
This research is wonderful, considering that antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major problem in recent years. Due to the overuse of antibiotics, this issue has made its way into the animal world, with MRSP (the animal version of MRSA) becoming a more common and serious problem. Using Full Spectrum Hemp Extract salves can be hugely beneficial to our pets suffering from serious topical infections and gets to the site of the problem. This is much safer than using oral antibiotics that wipe the entire microbiome and set up the body for immune dysfunction.
CBG For Ocular Health (Glaucoma)
A study conducted on cats showed that CBG for cats has the ability to lower intra-ocular pressure associated with glaucoma, to the same degree as THC but without any hypnotic effect. This is promising for managing glaucoma in those who may be sensitive to THC, like our pets.
CBG For Cancer
Perhaps the most promising studies done on CBG are those done studying its effect on cancer cells throughout the body, even within the brain. Given what we already know about cannabis’ cancer-fighting ability, this is not surprising. We already have numerous studies showing cannabis’ ability to disrupt cancer cell growth and regulation.
CBG’s cancer-fighting abilities only continue to support the use of cannabis in the fight against cancer.
Studies have been done using CBG with numerous forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer and even glioblastoma (brain) cancer. These positive results will only encourage more research to be done.
In addition to helping directly attack cancer cells, CBG has also been studied for cancer-related issues like lack of appetite. Once again, promising results were shown in stimulating appetite, due to its “affinity for several molecular targets with known involvement in the regulation of feeding behaviour.”
These studies show the numerous benefits that CBG for dogs with cancer may offer, from its effect on cancer cells, to helping dogs with the side effects of cancer and conventional cancer treatments.
Final Thoughts on CBG for Dogs
The benefits of CBG add to the countless reasons we recommend always using a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract for pets, like our HEAL tincture, which offers a potent full spectrum of cannabinoids, rich in CBD and CBG for dogs.
As more research is done on each cannabinoid contained within a FSHE, more advantages are seen. As we know from research comparing isolate extracts to broad and full spectrum extracts, using just one cannabinoid is not as beneficial as using them in a synergistic full spectrum formulation. Advances in hybridization occurring currently will allow us to retain the full synergy and full spectrum of the cannabis plant, while yielding even more promising therapeutic results for the many diseases and conditions plaguing both ourselves and our pets.
