Veterinary Use of Cannabis – Can This Help My Dog?

By Heather Smith Thomas

Cannabis is a genus of plants with multiple species and “strains”. Hemp includes varieties cultivated for fiber and non-psychotropic drugs, seeds, and their oils. Other varieties (marijuana) are used for medicinal purposes and as a recreational drug.

Cannabis plants have more than 100 chemicals. The two main ones are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp is bred for abundant fiber and minimal THC, the main psychotropic constituent of cannabis. Marijuana’s THC content is usually 10% or more, but hemp must have a THC content of 0.3% or less, according to U.S. laws. At this low level, cannabis has no intoxicating effect.

Medicinal marijuana is helpful for people with certain disease and pain issues, and pet owners are interested in veterinary use of cannabis. Robin Downing, DVM, MS, American Academy of Pain Management, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Hospital Director, Windsor Veterinary Clinic, Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, Windsor, Colorado) says pets have been receiving products containing CBD for several decades. “Today there’s dramatic increase in number of dogs needing emergency care due to marijuana intoxication — in states with legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana — when pet owners give them products used in humans,” says Downing.

HOW DOES CANNABIS AFFECT DOGS?

Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, FAAMA (President and CEO, CuraCore Integrative Medicine & Education Center, Fort Collins, Colorado) says CBD is non-intoxicating and works through multiple neurotransmitter systems and receptors in the body, resulting in multiple effects. “These include reduction in anxiety and inflammation, possible anti-cancer effects, relief of pain, and, possibly, protective of bone density levels,” says Robinson.

“Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the nervous system in dogs and humans,” says Downing, “That’s why pain and epilepsy are the two conditions that have had the most attention for scientific investigation.”

“Currently, we have limited data from controlled studies in humans about use of CBD for various conditions, and it is important to remember that many humans are using products that contain both CBD and THC. This combination should NOT be used in pets, so that leaves us attempting to compare apples to oranges,” says Downing.

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Posted by Alex on Jun 25 2019. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.