Preventative Maintenance for Pets - Blood Pressure

Preventative Maintenance Series #2: Blood Pressure

Hemp oil and cannabidiol (CBD) products have the potential to aid the body in preventative maintenance as pets experience the natural aging process. As our beloved pets get older, they are more prone to increased blood pressure due to the aging process (Acierno et al., 2018). Hemp products and CBD have been gaining interest for their cardiovascular medicinal benefits after positive results from preclinical studies (Jadoon et al., 2017). Hypertension in dogs and cats can be caused by a myriad of reasons including environmental or situational stress, created as a secondary response from a separate condition, or as a primary diagnosis unrelated to any other health issues (Acierno et al., 2018). Stress on the body throughout the aging process can cause blood pressure to increase slowly and CBD may decrease resting blood pressure when responding to environmental changes (Jadoon et al., 2017). This is detrimental for animals as they adapt to going to the bathroom and enjoying the outdoors year sound. CBD can be supplemented into an animal’s diet in the form of liquid droplets mixed in the food or a hemp seed meal protein hydrolysate (HMH) supplement can be added in as well as a preventative maintenance tool for pets.

Hemp Seed Meal Protein Hydrolysate

Hemp seed meal protein hydrolysate as a supplement added to a pets diet may be used as a preventative maintenance tool for high blood pressure (Girgih et al., 2014). High blood pressure can be a diagnosis and hemp may be utilized as a treatment option or it can be taken as a preventive measure (Girgih et al., 2014). These results were proven in a rat study where hypertensive rats were given HMH that was broken down in the stomach and converted to hemp seed meal protein hydrolysate (Girgih et al., 2014). On average, HMH lowered systolic blood pressure to 120 mmHg compared to the control of 158 mmHg (Girgih et al., 2014). Administering HMH also demonstrated a decrease in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity from (0.047-0.059 U/mL) compared to (0.123 U/mL) levels that were measured in the control group (Girgih et al., 2014). Plasma renin bodily measurements also decreased from (0.151 μg/mL) compared to (0.040-0.054 μg/mL) when fed HMH compared to the control whose HMH supplement was replaced with casein for this specific study (Girgih et al., 2014). If hypertension goes untreated for lengthened periods of time, it may cause target-organ damage to the kidney and eye leading to the progression of chronic kidney disease, choroidopathy and retinopathy (Acierno et al., 2018).

Hypertension in Dogs and Cats Classified Based on the Risk of Target-Organ Damage (TOD)

Normotensive (minimal TOD risk)SBP <140 mm Hg
Prehypertensive (low TOD risk)SBP 140‐159 mm Hg
Hypertensive (moderate TOD risk)SBP 160‐179 mm Hg
Severely hypertensive (high TOD risk)SBP ≥180 mm Hg

(Data taken from “ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats” by Acierno et al.)

Increase in Blood Pressure in Healthy Dogs and Cats

Blood pressure can rise 1-3 mmHg every year with age in healthy dogs and cats and even higher when animals are obese (Paul et al., 2006). Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is crucial to an animal’s overall health and wellbeing. The mechanism of action behind HMH is demonstrated as decreased plasma ACE activity and renin levels play a direct role in lowering systolic blood pressure measurements (Girgih et al., 2014). Decreased renin levels cause the blood vessels to relax and become less constrictive leading to an increase in blood flow and less pressure build up (Girgih et al., 2014). ACE converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II which will increase blood pressure through constriction of blood vessels (Paul et al., 2006). Decreased levels of ACE in the bloodstream reduces the presence of angiotensin II which also allows blood vessels to stay widened (Paul et al., 2006). These results lead to direct evidence demonstrating how HMH contains significant properties for preventative maintenance or treatment options on lowering systolic blood pressure (Girgih et al., 2014).

The Use of Cannabidiol to Reduce Blood Pressure

CBD may be utilized as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular complications such as high blood pressure or as a preventative maintenance supplement as the aging process occurs in animals (Jadoon et al., 2017). Further research needs to be conducted to evaluate dosing levels of HMH for larger animals such as dogs and cats as well as analyzing blood pressure measurements for longer periods to see if administering HMH may cause hypotension. There are still large gaps in scientific studies and further research is needed on topics such as measuring how often blood pressure can fluctuate from the impact of environmental or lifestyle stressors in domesticated animals and how that affects their body over extended periods of time.

Abbreviations:

Hemp seed meal protein hydrolysate- (HMH)
Target- Organ Damage- (TOD)
angiotensin-converting enzyme- (ACE)
Cannabidiol- (CBD)

References:

  1. Girgih, A. T., Alashi, A., He, R., Malomo, S., & Aluko, R. E. (2014). Preventive and treatment effects of a hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) meal protein hydrolysate against high blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. European journal of nutrition, 53(5), 1237–1246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0625-4
  2. Acierno, M. J., Brown, S., Coleman, A. E., Jepson, R. E., Papich, M., Stepien, R. L., & Syme, H. M. (2018). ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 32(6), 1803–1822. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15331
  3. Paul, M., Poyan Mehr, A., & Kreutz, R. (2006). Physiology of local renin-angiotensin systems. Physiological reviews, 86(3), 747–803. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00036.2005
  4. Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O’Sullivan, S. E. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. JCI insight, 2(12), e93760. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.93760

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No animals are harmed in the manufacturing of our products. 

In the animal rights movement, cruelty–free is a label for products or activities that do not harm or kill animals anywhere in the world. Products tested on animals are not considered cruelty–free, since these tests are often painful and cause the suffering and death of millions of animals every year.

Vegan Dog Products

No animal products or by-products used in any of our oils.

The only non-vegan product we have are the Pumpkin Hemp Dog Biscuits which do contain egg. (The Peanut Butter Banana Hemp Dog Biscuits do not and are also vegan.)


DEFINITION OF VEGAN VS. VEGETARIAN

Getting vegetarianism confused with veganism is a common mistake most people make. So today we are going to closely examine the definition of vegan versus the definition of a vegetarian in this post. Hopefully, this provides a little clarity.

DEFINITION OF A VEGETARIAN

The Oxford dictionary definition of a vegetarian is “a person who does not eat meat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain etc.”

This basically divides vegetarians into two groups; vegetarians who exclude eggs and dairy and vegetarians who include these items in their diets. The latter can then be broken up into a further three groups; ovo- vegetarians (who consume eggs but not milk), lacto-vegetarians (who consume milk but not eggs) and ovo-lacto vegetarians who consume both milk and eggs.

There’s often controversy surrounding “semi-vegetarians”, whose diet consists mainly of vegetarian foods but includes fish or poultry. The main differentiating factor between all of the above-mentioned groups is how much animal products are included in the diet.

DEFINITION OF VEGAN

The above difference is the main distinguishing factor between the definition of vegan and that of a vegetarian because vegans exclude animal products in their entirety. The official definition of veganism is “the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in a diet. As well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals.

A follower of veganism is known as a vegan”. That means veganism extends beyond the diet of a vegan individual. That is the biggest difference between vegans and vegetarians. While vegetarians may not consume animal products, they may use them if they are present in other products, such as items containing silk, honey or leather.

Vegans, on the other hand, avoid the use of animal products in all areas of their lifestyles.

Human Grade Dog Products

All ingredients and manufacturing processes are Human-Grade. We would never make anything for our pets considered not suitable for ourselves. The term human-grade in pet food means the finished product is legally suitable and approved as nourishment for humans. It is “edible.” Human foods are much more rigorously regulated than foods made for animals.

Organic Dog Products

All of our products are made with top quality, Certified Organic carrier oils and Organically-grown ingredients, all sourced responsibly and sustainably. Our products are infused with our own Full-spectrum Hemp extract which is derived from our own Organically-grown Colorado Hemp that was grown at our own facilities.

Cultivar Specific Hemp Oil Dog Products

For consistency. HempMy Pet grows one particular cultivar of hemp, selected specifically for its cannabinoid profile, and uses it every time for our hemp extract, maintaining consistency and eliminating unknowing trial and error.

Cannabis strains including Hemp and Marijuana are either pure or hybrid of the plant genus Cannabis, which encompasses the species Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis.

Varieties are developed to intensify specific characteristics of the plant, or to differentiate the strain for the purposes of marketing or to make it more effective as a natural supplement. Variety names are typically chosen by their growers, and often reflect properties of the plant such as taste, color, smell, or the origin of the variety. These varieties have been cultivated to contain a high percentage of cannabinoids, including CBD, CBG, CBC and more. Several varieties of Cannabis, known as Hemp, have a very low THC content, and are instead grown for their fiber, seed and therapeutic propertiess

Third Party Tested Hemp Oil for Dogs

From Seed-to-Sale all HempMy Pet products are tested by reputable independent laboratories for purity, safety, and quality. The soil, the water, the plants and the finished product are all rigorously tested to ensure no solvents, pesticides, heavy metals or micro-bacterial contanimants are present. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are published online with each product and always available upon request.

Organic Hemp Dog Products

All of our Hemp is organically grown in Colorado at our own greenhouse or farm. We do not import our hemp from overseas or any other state. We strive for perfection in our growing, curing, processing and formulating of our Hemp products.

Veterinarian Recommended Hemp Oil Dog Products

Clinically studied by independent veterinarians and sold in veterinarian clinics nationwide.

Full Spectrum Hemp Oil for Dogs

All the Cannabinoids, CBD, CBG, CBC..plus the terpenes and other minor cannabinoids made from the Whole Plant for the complete entourage effect.

CBD has become quite popular over the last couple of years but despite what you might think it is only one of the 100 compounds that have been identified in the Cannabis Sativa L plant. Full-spectrum CBD oil, unlike CBD isolate products, includes a wide range of cannabinoids present in the cannabis or hemp plant. Depending on the condition and what you are looking to achieve it can provide a greater effect than CBD alone as all the cannabinoids work together in what is known as the entourage effect.

Full-spectrum CBD also contains a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, protein, chlorophyll, terpenes, flavonoids, and fiber. When referring to CBD in the hemp plant, it’s important to understand that Hemp contains a large number of cannabinoids (in trace amounts), but the main compounds are CBD and cannabidiolic acid (CBDa). As CBDa is more abundant in the hemp plant, firms must decarboxylate the oil. This process heats the oil and changes CBDa into CBD.

Just one last thing before we explain the benefits of Full Spectrum CBD oil, its important to understand that CBD from Cannabis is only legal in Medical or recreational states, while CBD hemp oil is legal in all 50 states under the 2014 US Farm Bill. While it may not be able to treat all conditions it has been known to assist with a variety of medical conditions including anxiety, depression and acute pain.

The Benefits of the Whole Plant

One of the most important studies relating to full-spectrum CBD oil took place at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah School in 2015. It compared the performance of a full spectrum extract with one that contained CBD only. The study concluded that full spectrum was more effective when fighting pain and inflammation.

While CBD only is somewhat effective, the whole plant extract not only provided faster and better relief, the effects also lasted longer. This is why an increasing number of companies in the CBD industry are selling full-spectrum CBD oil as a rule.

The aforementioned entourage effect is the main reason behind the efficacy of whole plant extracts. There are over 100 ‘identified’ compounds in the cannabis plant. While most of these compounds have their own therapeutic benefit, they come together in a synergistic way to provide far better performance than any single compound, including CBD.