I adopted Vela when she was just a tiny puppy—a scruffy little mixed-breed with bright eyes and boundless energy. For fifteen years, she was by my side for everything: hikes, road trips, lazy Sundays, hard days, and all the beautiful in-between moments. She was more than just a pet—she was family. Really, she was my first baby.
Around age twelve, Vela started showing signs of aging that were tough to watch. Her joints stiffened, especially in her hips. Her coat grew dry and itchy. Sounds started to bother her, especially when her hearing began to fade, and sometimes she’d seem confused or anxious about things that never used to rattle her. She wasn’t in constant pain, but I could tell she wasn’t as comfortable as she used to be. I knew I had to do something to support her in this chapter of life.
That’s when I turned to CBD.
If you’re new to CBD for dogs, our CBD for Dogs Guide explains the basics, including what to consider before getting started, while our guide to CBD for pets covers broader considerations around safety, dosing, and choosing a pet-specific formula.
Before we ever formulated Pet Drops, Vela was already getting older, and I was watching her slow down in ways that were hard to ignore. She'd hesitate before jumping onto the couch. Stairs took her longer. I'd tried a joint supplement from our vet first, and it helped a little, but not enough that I felt like her old self was really coming back.
I started her on a low dose of a CBD tincture I was already formulating for myself, watching closely for any change in her appetite or behavior over the first week. Within about ten days, I noticed she was getting up from her bed more easily in the morning, and she was willing to take the stairs again without pausing at the bottom first. I didn't change anything else in her routine, so CBD was the clearest variable.
If your dog takes prescription medications, it’s important to talk with your veterinarian before introducing CBD.
→ Learn more CBD and your dog’s medications
From there, dosing became a process of small adjustments. I started low and increased gradually, watching how she responded rather than following a single fixed number, since every dog's size, age, and sensitivity is different. That process is exactly why we built Pet Drops the way we did: a formula designed to be easy to dose gradually for a dog or cat of any size, with clear guidance to start low and adjust based on what you observe.
Vela is the reason Pet Drops exists. If your senior dog is slowing down the way she was, we built this for exactly that. Read more about the formula that came from her story: Pet Drops
We started giving Vela our Proof CBD drops, formulated with MCT oil. She wasn’t a fan of taking medicine of any kind, so we added the drops to her food—one dose in the morning and another dose in the evening. It was a simple adjustment, and the results were meaningful. Her anxiety softened, her coat looked healthier, she was less itchy, and her movements seemed less strained. Most importantly, she seemed more at ease.
CBD didn’t reverse aging, but it gave Vela comfort, peace, and a better quality of life during her final years. I’m so grateful we had that time together—still sharing our days, even as they slowed down.
If you’re caring for an aging pet and looking for gentle ways to support them, I hope Vela’s story gives you some direction and encouragement. Proof Pet CBD Drops were made with animals like Vela in mind: simple, clean ingredients and no THC, just natural support for the pets we love.
Here’s a photo of Vela and me at her favorite place, the beach, in her final days.
Have questions about CBD for your senior pet? Send us a message or explore our blog: CBD for Pets: What Every Pet Owner Should Know