The simple answer is both.

In my quest to source supplements to support Fletch’s joint health, I stumbled on hempseed oil a few years ago. It was new to the pet supplementation market, and there was a lot of research on the internet supporting its success in treating joint inflammation in dogs. Bingo.

What I learned is that hempseed oil is of brilliant nutritional value to your dog. It’s an excellent source of essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, because it’s made from the seeds of the plant, it doesn’t contain THC, which means your dog won’t get high!

Hemp products are now widely available in supermarkets and whole food stores. We don’t recommend purchasing hemp products in these stores for your dog; rather, find a product that has been specifically developed for canines by a vet and check that it is well-rated.

Benefits of Hempseed Oil:

• Immune Booster: Supports a reduced inflammatory response, beneficial for senior dogs with arthritis.

• Skin and Coat: Improves skin allergies and coat condition.

• Anxiety Relief: Helps relieve anxiety in dogs.

Hempseed oil definitely helped my little man; his coat was shinier, his tolerance of other dogs improved, and he seemed more mobile. However, arthritis is relentless and continued to break through the barriers I was so frantically trying to build.

Hempseed oil was not the silver bullet I was hoping for. That’s when a vet asked me if I’d be interested in trying CBD oil on Fletch. He told me that clinical trial results coming in from overseas were compelling, and CBD oil was very new to Australia.

Would it help him get off some of his meds I asked? The response was yes. Sold.

Now CBD oil is strictly regulated in Australia, this is a good thing, as an unregulated market means that you don’t actually know what you're paying for. There are A LOT of reports of dodgy CBD oil products on the market overseas, you can literally buy it online.

Our CBD Oil Plan:

The plan we agreed on was that Fletch would stay on his meds and start on a low dose of CBD oil. Over a series of weeks, I would slowly increase his dose, and then after six weeks, we would start to cut back on his meds. I should note here that it does contain less than 3% THC in oils bought in Australia, so it can have a slight sedative effect when they first start taking it.

My vet wrote a script and a compound pharmacy dispensed the CBD oil. I’m not going to lie to you—it’s expensive, but the price has started to come down.

Fletch responded immediately, and in consultation with my vet, I started to wean him off his medication. It was a stunning success. Fletch was enjoying life again and taking fewer drugs.

Today, Fletch is on a decent daily dose of CBD oil and only takes one tablet at night to help manage his comfort levels. He happily goes out with his walking group of much younger dogs and runs around like a goofball. Some days, his walker has to restrain him so that he doesn’t hurt himself physically.

Fletch wouldn’t be this happy if he didn’t feel good. It’s a far cry from the dog that didn’t want to get out of his bed every morning.

Additional Benefits of CBD Oil:

• Joint Problems: Helps with torn ligaments, sprains, hip, and elbow dysplasia.

• Cancer Support: Alleviates nausea from treatments and may slow cancer cell growth.

• Seizure Control: Reduces frequency and severity of seizures in dogs with epilepsy.

• Anxiety Management: Eases noise sensitivities, separation anxiety, fear, and aggression.

• Pain Management: Natural anti-inflammatory properties.

• Allergies: Relieves skin allergies and hot spots.

As with all supplementation, you must speak to your vet before adding anything to your dog's diet and ensure that the dose is appropriate for your dog's age, weight, and health considerations.

Note: Always consult your vet before adding supplements to your senior dog’s diet, and ensure you stick to dosing guidelines.