The medical use of marijuana has long been a “hot-button” issue in human medicine. Now, the subject has become a growing focus of debate in the veterinary field as well. As is all too common in such debates, however, scientific facts get muddled and lost in the tempest of opinion, personal experience, and arguments about values. My attention was drawn to the issue recently when I was asked to look at the web site for a related product, Canna-Pet: Medical Cannabis for Pets.
What Is It?
Canna-Pet is claimed to consist of “100% organic hemp.” Though there are hundreds of chemical compounds in this plant, the web site refers only to general ingredient classes (phytocannabinoids and terpenes), except for claiming a level of THC (the compound primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana) less than 0.2% by weight. The company specifically states that the raw material is minimally processed because they claim processing destroys the value of the compounds:
Nearly every process of extraction will destroy many of these fragile and scarce compounds. Concentrated oils, tinctures, and pharmaceuticals have the natural terpenes absent (destroyed by refinement process), or may have a few supplemental terpenes added back in artificially. Likewise, refinement involving exessive heat, alcohol or harsh chemicals will reduce natural phytocannabinoid diversity and abundance.
Nevertheless, they claim, “we are able to vary the mix of phytocannabinoids and terpenes for each client, completely custom…the correct dosing of the product based upon the animal’s medical history, age and the pathophysiologic process is crucial. Phytocannabinoids and/or terpenes are significantly less effective when they are used in a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
How this is done, and how the particular mixture appropriate for each individual is determined, is not addressed in the materials available on the web site. While it is certainly likely that the particular mixture of chemical compounds which is safest and most beneficial will differ from patient to patient, the problem with such claims of individualized treatment is that they are often based on completely haphazard, unscientific, and unproven methods of determining which therapy is best for which patient. This is the case with homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and many other CAM therapies that claim to individualize treatment. It is unclear if Canna-Pet is any different since no information is provided about how the best mixture for a particular patient is determined.
Does It Work?
The general subject of the medicinal value of marijuana and its constituent compounds is an area of active research. There is good in vitro and animal model research to suggest that many of the compounds found in Cannabis plants have significant biological effects, and that some of these may be beneficial. The clinical research in humans is limited in quantity and quality, but beneficial effects have been demonstrated for some compounds and some conditions. Good overview of the existing research can be found in this Institute of Medicine review from 1998 and on the web site of the National Cancer Institute (though it must be mentioned that this review was put together by an independent board largely composed of CAM proponents and does not represent official NCI or NIH policy).
There is reasonable evidence to support clinical benefit in humans of some compounds from Cannabis for:
- Chronic pain– “Currently available evidence suggests that cannabis treatment is moderately efficacious for treatment of chronic pain, but beneficial effects may be partially (or completely) offset by potentially serious harms. More evidence from larger, well-designed trials is needed to clarify the true balance of benefits to harms.”
- Pain associated with Multiple Sclerosis– “Cannabinoids including the cannabidiol/THC buccal spray are effective in treating neuropathic pain in MS.”
- Chemotherapy-associated nausea– “The superiority of the anti-emetic efficacy of cannabinoids was demonstrated through meta-analysis.” However, this review also showed, “The adverse effects were more intense and occurred more often among patients who used cannabinoids.”
Another review found, “In selected patients, the cannabinoids tested in these trials may be useful as mood enhancing adjuvants for controlling chemotherapy related sickness. Potentially serious adverse effects, even when taken short term orally or intramuscularly, are likely to limit their widespread use.”
For a number of other conditions tested, the evidence has not supported the benefits of cannabis or cannabis-derived treatments:
- Epilepsy– “No reliable conclusions can be drawn at present regarding the efficacy of cannabinoids as a treatment for epilepsy. The dose of 200 to 300 mg daily of cannabidiol was safely administered to small numbers of patients, for generally short periods of time, and so the safety of long term cannabidiol treatment cannot be reliably assessed.”
- Dementia– “This review finds no evidence that cannabinoids are effective in the improvement of disturbed behaviour in dementia or in the treatment of other symptoms of dementia. More randomized double-blind placebo controlled trials are needed to determine whether cannabinoids are clinically effective in the treatment of dementia.”
- Tourette’s Syndrome– “Not enough evidence to support the use of cannabinoids in treating tics and obsessive compulsive behaviour in people with Tourette’s syndrome.”
- Morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS– “…evidence for the efficacy and safety of cannabis and cannabinoids in this setting is lacking. Such studies as have been performed have been of short duration, in small numbers of patients, and have focused on short-term measures of efficacy. Long-term data, showing a sustained effect on AIDS-related morbidity and mortality and safety in patients on effective antiretroviral therapy, has yet to be presented. Whether the available evidence is sufficient to justify a wide-ranging revisiting of medicines regulatory practice remains unclear.”
- Schizophrenia-“At present, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of cannabis/cannabinoid compounds for people suffering with schizophrenia. This review highlights the need for well designed, conducted and reported clinical trials to address the potential effects of cannabis based compounds for people with schizophrenia.”
- Pain– “Cannabinoids are no more effective than codeine in controlling pain and have depressant effects on the central nervous system that limit their use. Their widespread introduction into clinical practice for pain management is therefore undesirable. In acute postoperative pain they should not be used. Before cannabinoids can be considered for treating spasticity and neuropathic pain, further valid randomised controlled studies are needed.”
There is a large amount of clinical research evidence not yet appraised in systematic reviews such as these which suggests other possible benefits, though as always this evidence contains limitations and inconsistencies. Overall, there is reason to believe compounds derived from cannabis may have a clinically meaningful benefit in humans for a number of medical conditions, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty, and the evidence is not strong or definitive for most of the suggested uses.
As usual, I have not been able to find any formal clinical research involving cannabis-derived products and companion animals. Some of the basic science studying these compounds has been done in dogs, so there is some information about the effects of these chemicals on this species, but no formal studies designed to identify safety and efficacy of clinical use of specific compounds or products.
As for the Canna-Pet product, the marketing for this raises many of the red flags of snake oil. Dramatic claims of wide-ranging benefits with absolutely no risk of undesirable effects are made, which is the hallmark of questionable therapies:
We find medical benefits, behavioral benefits, prolonged life, reduced stress, and improved quality of life with our pets.
Improved vitality and overall health. Reduction in aggression, anxiety and behavior problems. Reduction of arthritic pain and digestive issues (IBD, diarrhea and constipation), reduction in nausea and improved appetite, improved quality of life, outstanding for palliative care.
Helps with aggression disorders, noise phobias, anxiety, self-trauma, cognitive disorders and dementia (canine), marking and spraying (feline), sleep disorders, OCD, excessive vocalization and inappropriate urination.
…phytocannabinoids often allow for much lower dosing of drugs that have potential negative side effects. Canna-Pet™ augments other medications…
We recommend Canna-Pet™ supplements as a daily food additive for all pets…
100% Safe. There are ZERO negative side effects and NO medical conflicts.
The evidence provided to support this apparently miraculous therapy appears, at first glance, to be impressive. A long list of links to research on cannabis-derived compounds is provided. However, much of this research is test tube, lab animal, or animal model studies which at best only suggest some compounds in hemp might have potentially useful biological effects. None of the studies linked to are clinical trials of Canna-Pet in companion animals.
The web site does seem to suggest that such studies exist:
Seventeen years in development, five years of clinical trials, now available OTC.
However, after failing to find these clinical trials in databases of published veterinary research or on the Canna-Pet website, I found a statement from one of the developers of Canna-Pet which suggests that this use of the term “clinical trials” is a bit misleading.
Six years ago I started using phytocannabinoids and terpenes with my own pets and the frequent rescues and fosters with which I deal. Finally, I started recommending this adjunctive and palliative therapy for the pets of family, friends and specific clients. The results have been universally positive and this is in part why I helped develop a specific mixing process and dosing regimens for animals.
This statement would appear to suggest that by “clinical trials” the company means uncontrolled individual trial-and-error use. It is not uncommon for promoters of new or unconventional therapies to suggest there is “research” showing that their therapies work when they really mean only that they have used it in their own patients and believe it works. If it were truly that easy to identify effective therapies, clinical trials wouldn’t be necessary, but unfortunately that’s not the case.
As far as I can tell, then, there is no evidence to establish the safety and efficacy of this product beyond pre-clinical research (which is suggestive but never definitive), extrapolation from limited and often conflicting research in humans (which is common in veterinary medicine), and anecdotal experience (which is highly unreliable). The most appropriate interpretation of the evidence, then, is that the product might work or might not, it might be safe or it might not, but no firm conclusion can be made. Use of such a product is risky but can be appropriate in some circumstances. It is simply unfortunate that the company makes claims for the product that go far beyond anything that can be reasonably substantiated by real scientific data.
The company does put a few caveats on its claims. The Quack Miranda Warning required by the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act is present:
FDA Disclosure: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products and statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The web site also appropriately points out that, “these compounds are not a cure-all wonder drug. They are to be used as directed and they are to be used expressly with any and all currently prescribed therapies and medications. As directed by your attending veterinarian.” Still, such warnings seem a bit tepid compared with the much more dramatic, assertive, and prominent claims of safety and benefits for the product.
Is It Safe?
Marijuana intoxication is relatively common in dogs and can be serious, though rarely life-threatening. It is likely that the primary compound responsible for the clinical symptoms is the THC, so a product with low levels of this compound might be safer than ordinary marijuana, but there is little research on the subject. And without direct studies of particular compounds or products, it is impossible to establish long-term safety.
The makers of Canna-Pet assure pet owners of complete and absolute safety, which is unrealistic for any product that has any biological effects at all. They appear to base this on the fact that it is “natural,” which of course is a completely arbitrary and meaningless claim, and that their own uncontrolled anecdotal observations haven’t identified any negative effects. This is certainly not a level of safety assurance that would be accepted for any drug, and it is no more appropriate to accept it for a gemish of chemicals found in an herbal product.
The specific claim is actually made that it is actually an advantage of the product that it is a complex mixture of chemical compounds: “When we apply ALL of these phytocannabinoids and terpenes simultaneously, the cumulative effects are exponential.” This is a common claim for herbal remedies. While it is true that sometimes multiple compounds in a mixture can have synergistic effects (working together to improve efficacy and decrease undesired effects), it is just as true that such compounds can interfere with one another or have additive undesired effects. It is important to determine the actual clinical actions of a particular product through appropriate clinical research. It is not wise or safe to assume that the more complex a mixture is the better and safer it will be.
Bottom Line
Like so many plant-based alternative therapies, there is sufficient pre-clinical basic research to suggest compounds derived from cannabis might be medically useful. And like many medically useful chemicals, these are likely to have risks and benefits, both desirable and undesirable effects. There is nothing about such supposedly “natural” products that makes them inherently safer or better than purified compounds. And there is nothing about cannabis that makes it any more or less likely to be a useful medical therapy or to have both benefits and risks.
The current research evidence supports a couple of uses in humans, including treatment of nausea and poor appetite and possibly pain. Most other uses are poorly supported by clinical research. And there are unquestionably side effects that make marijuana often less useful than isolated cannabinoids or other unrelated treatments.
There is virtually no useful research evidence in companion animals, so any use of cannabis products is based entirely on theory and extrapolation from the limited research results in humans. Canna-Pet as a specific product, is being marketed with very dramatic and aggressive claims about safety and efficacy that do not appear to be supported by specific research on the product but, again, are based entirely on theory and anecdote, both notoriously unreliable sources of evidence.
There are recognized behavioral and medical risks associated with marijuana use in humans. While the behavioral risks do not apply to use in companion animals, and the medical issues associated with THC do not apply to products with negligible amounts of this compound, the risks of cannabis-derived compounds in dogs and cats are largely unknown. Any use of such products, then, should be undertaken with a clear understanding of the high levels of uncertainty about the results, and claims should not be made for these products that go beyond the available evidence.
Finally, the moral and political issues associated with the use and regulation of cannabis are real, but they have little direct relevance to a scientific evaluation of the risks and benefits of any medical use. Even if one supports legal recreational use of marijuana, that doesn’t imply one should support medical use without adequate evidence of safety and efficacy. And if one is opposed to recreational use of marijuana, that doesn’t make it appropriate to deny the possibility of medical benefits or to obstruct appropriate research into this possibility. As is always the case, a rational use of science to determine the facts is necessary to make an informed judgment, independent of any other concerns.
@Sabrina, your “parallel argument” (i think you mean analogy), equating MDMA experiments with cannabinoid based therapies is absolutley ridiculous…. You are comparing a synthetic chemical amphetamine bathtub concoction with a herb…
For the author, VT , et al: if you are arguing against cannabinoids being medicine, YOU NEED TO DO THE RESEARCH! Dont throw out the same canned arguments from the last 50+ years of govt suppression, while demanding we do the research for you. Get off your lazy keyboards and become better informed on the current state of affairs.
Whoever thinks this is a good idea regardless of the arguments studies facts cultural trending interest in having a “pet on cannabis” its all horseshit. Take your animals to the vet who is willing to put their actual name and practice on the line for your pet`s treatment for whatever the illness….
Veterinarians didn’t just wake up one day and become a veterinarian with thousands of clients and pet patients over their years so why the foolish assumption that a fancy website can cure your pet because there is a cannabis movement lets all be honest….. do the research on cultural trending and you`ll see it seems to trump education, face to face medical attention for your pet and accountability that a veterinarian practice puts on the line for the ANIMALS not the CORPORATE INTERESTS in manipulating people who think cannabis is the way to go…
thank you for this article
It IS risky to share our own alt meds with animal companions. I have seen a commenter elsewhere state that after dosing her cat with Canna-pet he had a dangerously adverse response, & was diagnosed with–wait for it–“cannabis poisoning”. Yes, that is a dreadful, vague, & stupid diagnosis, but noteworthy. CBD can legally contain <0.3% thc, I believe. That is fine for you & me, & ime these unaffordable extracts can be powerful alternatives to standard NSAIDs where the latter are contraindicated or ineffective. But, our very small, obligate-carnivore friends are susceptible to poisoning by all sorts of herbs that may be of great benefit to humans. The appeal of Magic Mystery Junk is understandable. Analgesia for pets is overpriced & is scandalously neglected by many allopathic vets. The suffering that results creates stress, which–exacerbated by the language barrier & lack of rest–can cause an ailing animal’s condition to worsen, & takes a toll on human companions. Okay, so we get desperate. I did at least. Still, even when a CBD that arrives with a chemical assay is involved, until veterinary research data becomes available, it seems wisest to confine the stuff to animals suffering pain from cancer or geriatric arthritis.
As a nurse that saw first hand how cannabis helped my human patients with severe wasting during the clinical trials I coordinated for many years, I didn’t hesitate to order when faced with the same in my 11yr old Maltese mix when the tumor was found in her kidney.
There was no medicinal use legal in any state when patients with advanced AIDs came in pre-protease inhibitors (early 90’s) with weight gains of ten lbs or more. They’d whisper in my ear out of fear that they’d started smoking pot on the advice of others afflicted with the disease. I could only smile and tell them to do anything at that point in the disease that helped them.
That was also my thought about my precious pup. Save it until there was no other hope due to not enough safety data such as those I complied in 20 years as a certified clinical research coordinator.
My pup doesn’t have time for this to ever be approved for her. The money is in human medications and then their use trickles down to pets. My dog’s cancer was found early due to an ultrasound performed to check after pseudomonas a.infection wasn’t clearing. My hope was to do surgery as chemo and radiation don’t help kidney carcinoma. Unfortunately, her kidneys were both beginning to fail from both cancer and all the antibiotics used to clear the MDR Pseudomonas. I was given 4wks-6 months max for her evrn though one kidney had beem perfect, and all scans for any spread were negative.
I held on to the canna product. Like the article states, Canna-Pet has so many research claims that seemed false and not enough information about side effects possible. I chose another seller of the hemp compound.
My pup was on a human sized dose of Cipro for the infection and it caused her to be so ill that I finally stopped it’s use, knowing she’d soon die from infection before the cancer or kidney failure. To my surprise, she rallied. I got 4 great weeks of a normal dog back and her bonded sister was no longer hiding and devestated herself. Turns out the infection had become resistant to even Cipro, and the other drugs left would cause her kidneys to cease the little remaining function while requiring hospitization, alone, to adminster.
I was holding on to use of pain meds for the end too. Buprenex caused an life threatning allergic reaction with 2 heart attacks. She survived but I was devestated not to have it now that nausea was so bad Cerenia was no longer helping. Appetite stimulants no longer worked. 3 days passed with only sub q fluids. I could hear her choaking back vomit as she groaned in her sleep.
Left with the choice to euthanize out of compassion, or try the cannabis product, it was an easy choice. She’s laying at my feet, chewing a bone and wagging. One week later and half a pound gained. No bad days as someone mentioned waxing and waning in kidney failure. Just remarkable for now.
This is my experience. Yours may differ, but it’s given me at least one more great week and she’s such a sick pup. One great week was priceless.
Coming from having a SEVERE epileptic dog who takes 18 pills and supplements per day, who does take her dog to the vet, plus a neurologist, as the one person posts that we should do, I have had my dog on this for a month now and we have seen a considerable change in her behavior, for the better! Waiting to see if I think it helps seizure wise, but as far as mood, and behavior she is a much better dog. Discussed with her neurologist before starting it and after her researching it as well thought it was a good idea, so people please don’t take this lightly like animal owners just decide to put their beloved animals on this for no reason. Don’t knock it until her have something you love seem to have a better quality of life on it!!
If you’re interested, you can read the articles below explaining why, unfortunately, this kind of trial and error is very misleading. Over half of people whose pets receive placebo treatments in clinical studies claim to see exactly the same kind of improvement you feel you are seeing. In one study, epileptic dogs on placebo therapy even seemed to have fewer seizures, though it turned out to have nothing to do with the placebo and more to do with changes in the other things owners were doing as part of the study. So while it’s natural to want to try new things when you’re in a tough situation like this, and there is nothing wrong with doing so, unfortunately the results don’t actually tell us anything about whether or not the treatment actually works.
Good luck.
Medical Miracles: Should We Believe?
Testimonials Lie
Alternative medicine and placebo effects in pets
Placebo effects in epileptic dogs
WARNING!!! CBD OIL INACTIVATES CYTOCHROME P450 IN DOG’S LIVER WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR METABOLIZING OVER 90% OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS SUCH AS: ANTIBIOTICS, ANTI-INFLAMATORIES, DE-WORMERS, DE-FLEAER. IF YOU ARE OR HAVE BEEN GIVING YOUR DOG CBD (CANNIBDIOL CANNABIS OIL) YOU MUST NOT GIVE HIM OR HER ANY KIND OF MEDICATION OR YOU WILL OVERDOSE YOUR DOG CAUSING ORGAN FAILURE AND DEATH (sad to say it, but my dog who was in quite good health died from this type of overdose intoxication due to the combined use of CBD OIL and other medications). I hope this forewarns someone who may be contemplating giving their dog CBD OIL, as it is VERY dangerous both for dogs and humans as it block the metabolization of all synthetic drugs as those listed above.
It seems that, the greatest cause of animal suffering is human hope: the hope that we can and we will help our pets; in other words, the greatest cause of animal suffering is our desperation at keeping them alive! The best help we can give our pets is our recognition that we have done all we can — within reason — and that it’s time to let them go. For God’s sake, will one more week really make that much difference when what has gone on before, will lead to more of the same?
We are now faced with exactly this dilemma. Our beloved Trooper, as results of veterinary analysis have found, is a very healthy 14 and a half year old, who, nevertheless, is in pain and is suffering from pain-induced anxiety, and is mostly refusing to eat. Isn’t that what happens in nature? Isn’t that what humans do toward the end? It’s time to let go, but the timing must be right. He’ll let me know — just like my previous dog. In the end, they choose; and, we must be ready to honour their decision.
We don’t extend our pets’ lives for their sake, we extend their lives for our sake and that does them a disservice. If Trooper was battling cancers and liver disfunction on top of growing old, I’d let him go sooner rather than later. Death people, calls on us all. While the pain of loss is tremendous, it’s nowhere near as bad as extending pets’ suffering with hopes of Just One More treatment. In short, extending lives never ends well. Real compassion is knowing when to quit.
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I didn’t read all of these comments, but Skeptvet is missing one huge point here: hemp and marijuana are not the same. Hemp has no medicinal value. There’s no CBD (the part of marijuana that helps with all the problems listed) in hemp. Their claims are false.
If you read the article, you will see that I do make this distinction. However, both are marketed for medical use in one form or another, and both do have some CBD in them, though hemp has much lower levels and different specific chemical compounds. The point is that no products from either plant have established efficacy or safety for medical use.
We have been using canna-pet on our 4yo Golden named Roxie..Roxie developed epilepsy when she was 3…We took her to the vet after her firs one..very sever..It lasted 40 minutes…The testing from the vet was fine..so we elected to do nothing..60 days later it happened again..The vet was less than helpful and hid solutions had sever side effects. I read a artical about a child in Tennessee who had sever epilepsy but was relieved by the use of Cannabis oil….In fact the state changed the law to allow this effective treatment to continue. I found Canna Pet on line..ask my vet and he was doubtful..It has worked very effectively for over a year now..Roxie has had 3 very light seizures that come every other month on the first of the month..No longer sever lasting only a minute or two and she shows no side effects…While it is not a cure..it has been very effective in reducing the number and severity and we are very happy with the results…Much better than the vets traditional methods of treatment..
I’m curious if you ever sought a second opinion, saw a specialist, opted for additional diagnostics, how much you’re paying for canna-pet.
For those who said there’s no CBD in hemp. Do your research. https://www.leafly.com/news/health/industrial-hemp-derived-cbd-whats-there-to-know
I really appreciate all the comments and the tone and clarity of the article.
I am especially grateful to the pet owners who shared their experiences.
My very gracile cat has an aggressive form of intestinal cancer. The Dx is still not known, it is either adenocarcinoma or large cell lymphoma. Both carry horrible prognoses.
I’ve tried both oral and injectable steroids, one month apart from each other. I wasn’t trying to cure her, just buy her time feeling well. Both had immediate adverse effects, that frankly the vet did not believe was caused by the steriods. She developed (or stopped being able to mitigate) pancreatitis and just tanked. This was probably a secondary response to the immuno-suppression, but my vet didn’t even buy that theory. They kept telling me that this was just the cancer, but both times, she recovered when I took her off the steroids.
The vets at my clinic are all in agreement. This did not happen. Their take is, we told you what to do — give her steroids — and if I won’t do it, they say I’ve reached the end of my options. I just can’t in good conscious put her through that again.
Presently she is not taking anything and she’s doing great — for now. I’ve weaned her off of everything unneeded, including antibiotics, fluids, Cerenia and potassium supplements that helped her recover.
Now I’m just waiting of her to have symptoms of the actual tumor. But I thought maybe I could very lightly introduce terpenes into her system either with canniboids or frankincense. That might stimulate her to produce her own steroids.
But I’m glad I came here and read the comments. I also think the overreaching claims of canna-pet are a huge red flag. What kind of person with a medical background lacks a respect for scientific rigor? Or doesn’t research what is required by the FDA (new drug application)??? I do think there may be a benefit, but why bang on about the safety if it is still an unknown? Why not say, we typically recommend a dose of X per kg of cat/dog weight? At least they could say that clients had not reported negative effects at those levels, and then we are all a little more informed.
Again thanks to the people who talked about why they thought their animals had reacted poorly to the CBD oil. I know some oils run the risk of giving cats fatty liver, and it makes perfect sense that delivering other pharma concurrently could over tax an animal’s liver.
If I do this, I’m doing it with a very light touch, like say one one hundredth the “recommended” dose — an “aromatherapy” dose. I say that because I normally can’t get my brain around aroma-therapy making any kind of difference, but I suppose if it were proved to work, it would be in animals that rely on olfactory signals. That is the only way it could actually be benign. I’m just hoping for a little anti inflammatory effect until she starts to show the first signs of decline.
Not sure why the government has made the only cure for cancer illegal in this country. Once again, it all boils down to population control. Call me a conspiracy theorist but, if Big Brother had citizen’s wellbeing in mind, we wouldn’t be in this predicament at all ! They won’t legalize marijuana because they can’t patent a herbal, natural product, and therefore cannot make big money from it. Rather they make chemotherpay, which is a killer, legal and not even effective ! What a shame ! And so many blind individuals go with what Big Brother says, only to die from it. If we could just realize that we have a cure for so many health issues in marijuana, then most of our health care costs/waste can be decreased. Citizens would be healthier, more productive and this will make for a better society overall. Yes, there will still be some people out there that prefer the stoner effects of weed, but there are way more folks our there who just want to be cured of their ailments/disease. And that’s what should be foremost in the government’s mind, not profits.
So far from true or reasonable, there’s not much to say in response. This is pure fantasy.
LoriRNCCRC…. That’s an incredible story! PLEASE tell me exactly which product you used instead of Canna Pet because I need to get it for my cat asap. She has recently been diagnosed with a very aggressive nasal cancer and i need to get this for her before the cancer spreads too far and there’s no hope for her!
PLEASE let me know asap!
Thank you,
Vicki
Hi
I treated my epileptic Cat with CBD oil – after 8 days – no more seizures … also her Twitching Spine Syndrome – she had for 3 years has gone … don’t tell me Cannabis oil doesn’t work – and its not placebo effect as many things can be with humans ///
Also my friend treated her horse for sarcoids – they have gone
And currently treating a Cat with advanced renal failure … end stage …. it may be too late – but its worth a go!!! Nothing to loose
Actually, there’s even a study showing placebo effects in seizure treatment for dogs, so you’re mistaken about that. Despite your emphatic belief, the same kind of anecdotes exist for homeopathy, prayer, Lourdes water, ritual sacrifice, and every medical treatment ever invented. Either everything works or anecdotes don’t, and I think the latter is more likely. I’ll be happy to prescribe CBD for epilepsy in cats once the scientific evidence exists to show it is safe and effective.
Cbd oil has been amazing for My 17 year old Shiba with arthritis. It has a similar effect on him as his acupuncture sessions did. Prescription meds are a last resort due to his age. We’ve had great results. I never comment on anything but I hope this can help someone that is obviously researching this (as I spent many, many months doing)
I HAD a very sick Shepard/Husky mix dog who was suffering badly from renal failure and a possible stroke. We tried CBD as a last resort before putting her down as the vet wanted. The water soluble BioCBDplus we tried, within one day showed significant promise! It has been four months now and Ms. Daisy is a healthy happy dog again. She has stabilized her weight and loves walks and playing in the park again. Most people find it difficult to believe she is 11 years old now! The results are so dramatic she shows no signs of the suspected stroke and renal issues. – Marc
Terpenes and cats don’t mix. Short term use may not be harmful, but pinene, limonene, linalool- are very bad news for kitties as they can’t metabolize these. Neither can the metabolize most essential oils including catnip, yes catnip.
I’m just speaking from memory here so please fact check before assuming I know what I’m talking about.
So I read your article which sounds like you are stating that enough research hasn’t been done at this point to determine if CBD is a viable alternative for seizure. I have a miniature schnauzer that has been on phenobarbital for seizures for 7 years. She is now experiencing having some unacceptable results on her bile acids tests and so there is a concern of liver damage. One neurologist recommended switching to Kepra but the dosing schedule doesn’t seem to be a good option so I was researching to see if there were any reputable vets that have used CBD. I would be willing to try this but only under the care of a doctor. I live in FL but would be willing to do some travel for treatment. Do you know of any reputable ongoing studies that we could participate in?
There are several studies ongoing looking at cannabis-based treatments for various conditions. Ii am not aware of any specifically investigating seizure disorders. A couple of recent studies in humans suggest potential use in children with specific kinds of drug-resistant epilepsy, but we don’t know yet if this translates into cats and dogs. There is a clinical study enrolling at Colorado State University, so you might contact them.
Thank you. I did contact them we will see what happens. Please keep me in mind if you run across any alternatives to pheno that you think might be options.
CBD can be derived from the cannabis plant that’s why it is safe for our pet. There is no substance that can harm them from using it upon reading this https://www.greenmed.io/blog/5-ways-cannabis-can-help-your-pet/ It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. And as a pet owner, I already tried it on my snowie. When he has a Lyme disease it is dangerous for my cat it is a tick-borne illness that is transmitted through deer ticks. And I used CBD as a medicine for him and it works.that’s why its safe.
This is just a statement of faith, not a fact. Herbal compounds harm and kill people all the time.
CBD can be derived from the cannabis plant that’s why it is safe for our pet. There is no substance that can harm them from using it upon reading this https://www.greenmed.io/blog/can-cannabis-help-with-inflammation/ It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. And as a pet owner, I already tried it on my snowie. When he has a Lyme disease it is dangerous for my cat it is a tick-borne illness that is transmitted through deer ticks. And I used CBD as a medicine for him and it works.that’s why its safe.
Sorry, but that’s completely ridiculous. The idea that nothing can possibly be harmful in cannabis is clearly wrong, as evidenced by the thousands of dogs and cats who present to veterinary emergency rooms every year with cannabis toxicosis,. There may well be plenty of useful medicinal potential to cannabis, but that’s not the same thing as saying it’s a magical panacea with no risks.
Cats are Very different from dogs and cannot take many of the same meds… please research cannabis, the, CBS, and especially terpenes with cats!
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