Legal or illegal? Recreational or medicinal? Edibles or oils?
For the most part, studies on marijuana treatment for pets are in their infancy.
However, that is changing.
Because this is mostly an unregulated industry similar to grocery-store vitamins and supplements, most products containing marijuana or cannabis oil have not been approved by the federal government as a treatment for pets.
Therefore, we caution you to research these products before giving them to your pets and works as our primary reason for publishing this article.
We hope this article will help you in determining the correct treatment for your dog’s condition.
For many, the good news is the cannabis industry has seen exponential growth in the last few years, with more and more states decriminalizing medical or recreational marijuana each year.
Currently, 33 states have voted to legalize a comprehensive medical marijuana/cannabis program.
In the years ahead, nine additional states are predicted to make the jump into legalizing cannabis for adult recreational purposes.
So what does this growing trend mean for treating your pet with cannabis oil?
What Is Cannabis Oil?
Cannabidiol is extracted from the marijuana (or hemp plants), specifically taken from the buds or flowers of the plants.
CBD does not contain the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical in marijuana that produces psychotropic effects.
CBD is non-psychoactive and non-toxic to humans and animals.
How do you legally obtain CBD?
In most states, veterinarians cannot prescribe, and you cannot purchase, cannabidiol oil (CBD) from a veterinarian’s office.
Most likely you will have to obtain the product from a marijuana dispensary.
Depending on your state’s marijuana law, you must either have a medical marijuana license or your state must have legalized recreational marijuana for adult use.
If you’re not sure about the marijuana laws where you live, we encourage you to verify your state’s marijuana law.
The federal government is aware of the American public’s increasing interest in the testing and legalization of hemp- and marijuana-based products, including CBD for humans and pets.
Nonetheless, the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) continues to proceed with caution.
What Do We Know about CBD’s Effect on Dogs?
The FDA has not approved marijuana-based products as an effective or safe drug treatment for any medical condition in humans or dogs.
However, it has approved one product containing CBD for the treatment of seizures in certain diseases including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome, but only for human patients two years of age or older.
There are a limited number of studies on the effects of CBD as a treatment for dogs.
Some of the research does show positive results for dogs in its use for conditions such as cancer, arthritis, inflammation, seizures, and more.
Dr. Gary Richter, the medical director and owner of the Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California, states that cannabis oil does not produce any psychoactive effect on our four-legged friends.
“Depending on the nature of the product, if it contains little or no THC, then the dog is not going to get high,” said Richter.
At the veterinary school at Colorado State University, Dr. Stephanie McGrath has been heading up a long-term study of CBD and its effects in the treatment of certain conditions in dogs.
So far, McGrath’s findings include an “89% reduction in epileptic seizures for dogs treated with CBD.”
She and her team are moving forward with studying CBD as a treatment for certain conditions in dogs including osteoarthritis, and McGrath is looking to do a larger study on CBD treatment and epilepsy in dogs.
How to Protect Your Pets from Marijuana Products Containing THC in Your Home?
Dogs react differently to marijuana intake than humans do.
Responsible pet owners should learn to recognize the signs for when their under-the-influence pet crosses the line from entertaining to life-threatening.
It is also important to recognize that dogs cannot always help themselves.
If your pet is prone to rummaging, then take proactive steps to ensure that your cannabis refuse, as well as your supply, is properly dealt with.
With legalization legislation occurring around the United States, possession has been made much easier in recent years.
With such volume, and without proper containment, dogs have been getting into their owners’ stashes.
While remarkably few deaths have been recorded as a result of marijuana consumption, that hasn’t stopped resultant pet hospitalizations to skyrocket.
Since Colorado’s legalization, incidences have gone from a yearly occurrence to something that happens several times a week.
With the higher rates of occurrence also come higher costs.
In British Columbia, Canada, an average detox costs $290, and up to $1,600 for sequelae conditions.
Typically, marijuana effects in dogs include, but are not restricted to, lethargy, breathing problems, and loss of balance.
The THC turns poisonous in dogs when these symptoms expand to include drunk-style walking, respiratory depression, and dilated pupils.
In rare severe cases, overdoses have resulted in seizures and temporary comas.
Medical risks haven’t stopped the establishment of a cottage industry for pet cannabis therapy.
Even without express certification from the FDA or ASPCA, marijuana-laced toys, as well as oil for dogs, are still used to treat the same conditions as in humans.
While cancer and arthritis are predominant, appetite stimulation and other pain relief are common as well.
Talk with Your Vet First
It’s tempting to just try something on your pet that you may view as a harmless, plant-derived product such as CBD oil.
Should you, as a pet owner, wish to experiment with cannabis for pets, then it is imperative that you consult a veterinary professional.
As with humans, dosage should be proportional to size and weight.
For instance, a Corgi can only handle a smaller dose than, say, a German Shepherd.
It is unlikely, to say the least, that your dog will be able to handle the same dosage as yourself.
We love our furry friends as much as we know you do.
To keep your dog from consuming any marijuana products containing THC in your home, please take the precautionary step of storing the products in a safe place that is out of reach of both your pets and any children in your home.
Keep in mind that adults suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s could be at risk as well.
Another way to protect your pets is to look into pet insurance.
If your dog does consume a THC-based marijuana product and gets sick, then your four-legged friend can be covered under a pet insurance policy.
This is where having pet insurance transitions from being a peace-of-mind luxury to an essential expense.
Additionally, certain breeds of dogs are prone to develop certain chronic diseases such as hip dysplasia, which may require standard medical treatments vis a vis a CBD-based one, which may be unsuccessful in treating the symptoms of the disease.
Most importantly, we highly caution you to avoid the temptation to administer medication to your dog that has been prescribed to you or a family member.
It may sound crazy to purchase pet insurance, but it is growing in popularity because it does bring peace of mind to pet owners.
We recommend you purchase pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy.
That way, you avoid any possible pre-existing conditions that may prevent you from purchasing coverage.
Do not wait until your pet is older or is already suffering from a chronic condition.
We hope this article has shed some light on CBD-based treatments for your dog along with current research findings.
We wish you happy trails to you and your doggie.