My dogs are getting older and I have to face the reality that they may develop age related conditions like arthritis. Unfortunately some of the common pain medications used to keep our pets feeling well have some pretty awful side effects like ulcers, internal bleeding, kidney and liver damage.
As CBD becomes more popular among treatments for human ailments, many pet owners are exploring whether it is a good idea to use CBD for their pets. Similar to the human medical industry, the veterinarian industry has not caught up with the science of CBD yet.
California seems to be leading the way in the push to make medical cannabis legitimate for pets. Currently there are legislative bills being considered by the California Congress that would allow Veterinarians to oversee medical cannabis for pets. A recent article in the Sacramento Bee reported that Jamie Peyton, a doctor at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, has been working on a first-of-its-kind study for the past few months, a running survey about treating sick pets with cannabis.
So far, the school has collected responses from 1,300 animal owners who are using cannabis – usually non-psychoactive oils – to treat dogs and other small animals for pain, anxiety and nausea, among other things. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article201771129.html#storylink=cpy
If you decide to give your pets CBD, you should research the proper amounts that are appropriate for your pet’s weight by asking your veterinarian. Some owners are confident that CBD helps their pets with anxiety as well as arthritis. There are several CBD edibles on the market which can make administering it to your pet much easier.
Just to be clear, CBD is the component in cannabis that does not contain any THC. THC is the cannabis component that creates the effect of feeling “high” and can be dangerous for your pets. You should always take precautions with your own cannabis to ensure that it cannot be consumed by your pets.
If you are concerned that your pet may have ingested THC some of the signs to watch out for include trouble walking, appearing “spacey”, vomiting and diarrhea. If you see any of these signs you need to get your pet to a veterinarian ASAP.
German shepherd in cap and dark sunglasses on grey background (funny series)