{"id":3617,"date":"2022-01-12T16:48:14","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T16:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=190610"},"modified":"2022-01-12T16:48:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T16:48:14","slug":"what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=3617","title":{"rendered":"What veterinarians really think about pot and pets"},"content":{"rendered":"
What veterinarians really think about pot and pets | Leafly<\/title> <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. 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You’re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--unavailable hidden\">Sorry, Leafly isn’t available in your location yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.ca\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.ca\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p>Canadian veterinarians can\u2019t prescribe medical cannabis products for any kind of animal, and there aren\u2019t any legal CBD options for sale either. But that isn\u2019t stopping pet parents from giving cannabis to their furry loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>Pet owners are still getting CBD animal items from the illicit market or using legally obtained cannabis products intended for humans. <\/p>\n<p>Celebrity endorsements normalize this wellness trend of pot for pets. Products like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marthastewart.com\/8050818\/martha-stewart-cbd-for-pets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Martha Stewart\u2019s pet line<\/a>, designed with her dogs\u2019 health in mind, are only for sale in the US but it plants an international seed saying \u201cCBD helps pet health\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>As pet owners start experimenting with the potential therapeutic effects of CBD and cannabis themselves, it\u2019s natural to wonder if those benefits could be shared with their animals. Vets in Canada are increasingly being asked about CBD and if it is helpful for treating medical issues in pets. <\/p>\n<p>The short answer is maybe, and the long answer is that medicating animals with cannabis is more complicated than it is for humans, especially legally.<\/p>\n<p>In conversations with several veterinarians and experts, Leafly has found a messy but hopeful space brimming with breakthrough studies, legislative success stories, and a healthy dose of skepticism.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-vets-are-vague-and-cautious-about-cannabis-and-pets\">Vets are vague and cautious about cannabis and pets<\/h2>\n<p>When cannabis was legalized in 2018, pet healthcare was not included in the Cannabis Act. There was a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.ca\/news\/politics\/vets-lobby-canada-pets-cannabis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rallying of support in 2019<\/a> for this to change, but in the interim pet owners and veterinarians are left in a legal grey area. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe problem in Canada is there is no legislative body regulating these products. Many of these companies are marking medical-based claims that are totally unsubstantiated,\u201d says Dr. Ian Sandler, CEO of Grey Wolf Animal Health in Toronto.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-xxl wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-related-articles\">\n<p><h2>Related articles<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>What is also frustrating for Canadian veterinarians is that we can discuss the potential use of CBD to pet owners, Dr. Sandler says, but because we are unable to authorize the use of medical cannabis-based products, pet parents head to dispensaries to purchase human-focused products for their pets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is very difficult to obtain a quality of assurance document on the recreational side unlike the medical vertical,\u201d says Dr. Sandler. <\/p>\n<p>Often, owners are getting unregulated CBD pet products and are unaware that they are not legally sourced. Without the required government testing, illicit cannabis products can have pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants dangerous to pets. <\/p>\n<p>Pet owners should discuss with veterinarians if cannabis is the ideal solution for their furry friend, especially if they never researched how CBD, THC, or other cannabinoids may affect their pet, says Dr. Scott Bainbridge, owner of the Dundas West Animal Hospital in Toronto.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd more often than not, I\u2019ve seen the best effects of cannabis for pets working in concert with other medication, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-tlc-for-your-pets-with-cbd-and-thc\">TLC for your pets with CBD and THC?<\/h2>\n<p>A 2019<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6563876\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> survey<\/a> of Canadian dog owners found that the most common use of canine cannabis products was for pain relief (72.3%), followed by reduction of inflammation (47%) and relief from anxiety (40%). <\/p>\n<p>But what does the science say?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe science is beginning to show that cannabis is safe for your pets,\u201d says Dr. Trina Hazzah, president of the Veterinary Cannabis Society in L.A. and a veterinarian specializing in integrative oncology. <\/p>\n<p>As expected, CBD receives the lion\u2019s share of veterinary attention when pet owners inquire about medical interventions for their pets. Dr. Hazzah says most research has listed common cannabis responsive conditions for pets such as osteoarthritis, anxiety, seizures, inflammatory issues, cancer, and palliative care.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Funny concept photo of a dog smoking a legal medical marijuana cigarette\" class=\"wp-image-190826 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets-1.jpg,compress&w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets-1.jpg,compress&w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets-1.jpg,compress&w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets-1.jpg,compress&w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Doobs for dogs? Absolutely not. Responsible pet owners aren\u2019t trying to get their animals stoned. Just as medical cannabis benefits people, it could potentially help pets. (adogslifephoto\/Adobe Stock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThere have been at least 10 studies on the safety and pharmacological dynamics on the way drug works on the animal body and the safety of CBD products, along with some studies incorporating large amounts of THC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A recent report<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-82439-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> found<\/a> that cannabis may reduce aggressive behaviour in dogs, while another<a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/the-current-state-of-cannabis-research-in-veterinary-medicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> study<\/a> from 2018 revealed how CBD can reduce a dog\u2019s pain sores compared to a placebo. <\/p>\n<p>Also making headlines recently is this 2021 report on dogs with cancer,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.akcchf.org\/educational-resources\/library\/articles\/promising-research-on-the-use.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> concluding<\/a> that \u201cCBD oil caused a significant decrease in cancer cell reproduction in all cell lines studied.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the more popular domestic pets, dogs<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6770351\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> reportedly<\/a> boast a higher density of CB1 receptors in the brain compared to any other species, including humans. That means they can tolerate higher doses of cannabis oil compared to, say, cats. Intoxication is rare if the right product is administered to the pet. <\/p>\n<p>THC can be hazardous to any pet if they ingest too much of the buzzy cannabinoid. One study<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2020.00051\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> noted<\/a> how \u201cCBD-predominant oil formulation was safer and more tolerated in dogs than oil formulations containing higher concentrations of THC,\u201d also bringing up the most common delivery method of giving CBD to pets.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-if-my-pet-gets-too-stoned\">What if my pet gets too stoned?<\/h2>\n<p>A common concern for pet owners is the side effect of dosing their dogs or cats with too much CBD and THC. Dr. Hazzah notes that diarrhea is a more common symptom with hemp-derived CBD, perhaps due to the hemp fibres or oil in the tincture.<\/p>\n<p>The general advice for pet owners, as it is for inexperienced cannabis users, is to start low and go slow, says Dr. Hazzah, which allows pet owners to generally avoid the pitfalls that could come from cannabis intoxication.<\/p>\n<p>Oils are easier for animals to ingest, Dr. Hazzah says, and they allow for pet owners to better manage dosage. Cannacurious pet parents should ensure their human-focused products, especially edibles, are far from a pet\u2019s reach, as several <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyhive.com\/vancouver\/cannabis-toxicity-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">incidents<\/a> have led to dogs falling ill from snacking on weed gummies or cookies. <\/p>\n<p>Despite the challenges blocking an easy path for cannabis access, pet owners should be encouraged to hear what all three health care specialists stressed: the more research is focused on the cannabis-animal relationship, the closer we can get to unlocking new therapeutic benefits for sick pets needing alternative treatments.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/what-veterinarians-really-think-about-pot-and-pets.jpg\" alt=\"David Silverberg's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>David Silverberg<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">David Silverberg is a freelance journalist who writes for The Toronto Star, BBC News, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Cannabis Health, Merry Jane, High Times and many other outlets. He is also a writing coach helping freelance journalists and creatives level up their careers.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.ca\/news\/author\/david-silverberg\">View David Silverberg’s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --> <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2022-01-13 03:26:50 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What veterinarians really think about pot and pets | Leafly Link copied to your clipboard Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? Which part of Canada? Darn! You’re not old enough to use Leafly. Sorry, Leafly isn’t available in your location yet. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Canadian veterinarians can\u2019t prescribe medical cannabis products for any kind of animal, and there aren\u2019t any legal CBD options for sale either. But that isn\u2019t stopping pet parents from giving cannabis to their furry loved ones. 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