CBD and Horses' Digestive Systems
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
By Heid Jarvis DNM, PhD Natural Medicine
CBD (cannabidiol) oil is becoming popular with horses’ owners to help their equines with digestive health. Horses have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) which part is of the digestive system process. Endocannabinoid systems in animals stimulate specific digestive receptors that helps the gastric secretion, digestion, and bowel movement process. CB1 and CB2 receptors are enhanced when CBD Oil is introduced into the horses’ system.
Horses have a foregut and a hindgut. The foregut consists of the stomach and small intestine and the hindgut consists of the large colon, cecum, and small colon. In the foregut, the stomach breaks down the food so the process of absorption can start in the small intestine with proteins, simple carbohydrates, and fats. These then proceed through the endocannabinoid system in the animal and go to the hindgut, which continues fermentation of food in the cecum and large colon for further absorption of complex carbohydrates. Enzymes the body naturally produces help with the process, along with the production of probiotics (Acidophilus) which keep the immune system up to help fight disease, viruses and inflammation.
When the breakdown of food in your animal’s endocannabinoid system is not in proper order, the body does not get the proper nutrients. This means the vitamins and minerals are not being absorbed, which is essential for the rest of the body and its systems to function properly.
1- https://thehorse.com/114205/digestion-in-the-horse/Posted by Bradford G. Bentz, VMD, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, ABVP (equine) | Jan 18, 2014 | Article, Digestive System, Grains, Hay, Ulcers
2- From Article “Arthritis and Horses” by Heidi Jarvis DNM PhD in Natural Medicine
3- The Merck Veterinarian Manual eleventh edition 2016
4- Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Tortora, Grabowski 2003.
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