Main photo by:\u00a0Photo by Sneaky Elbow<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Since I have a tendency to talk to everyone I know about their pet\u2019s health, many pet parents have asked about the efficacy of CBDs. Unfortunately, I stopped working in the veterinary industry right as CBD began gaining popularity, so I am lucky to be able to rely on my good friend and Rooney\u2019s veterinary, Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM for insight on the efficacy of CBDs, and how they play a role in veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n There are several terms associated with CBD, therefore, it\u2019s important to understand the differences between them:<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, when I talk about CBDs, to what exactly am I referring? Cannabinoids are chemicals derived from the Cannabis plant (phytocannbinoids). More than 100 unique cannabinoids occur exclusively in Cannabis sativa plants, the most well-known of which is THC. CBD is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol<\/a> a cannabinoid that is extracted from Cannabis. CBD lacks the psychotropic (hallucinogenic) effects typical of THC.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n If you are concerned that your pet has consumed THC, here are some of the common symptoms to look for according to Pet Poison Helpline<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cSigns of toxicity can be seen anywhere from 5 minutes to 12 hours after the animal is exposed to marijuana. The signs can potentially last 30 minutes to several days depending on the dose ingested.\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/em>Pet Poison Helpline<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo far, I have not witnessed any lethargy, vomiting or other negative side effects in my patients. Note that in this article we are only talking about CBDs, not THC. I have seen lethargy on patients taking combination products with THC. Also keep in mind that any vitamin, herbal therapy, holistic product or drug can have side effects in any patient.<\/strong>\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/em>Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNow that\u00a0<\/em>Former Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that allows veterinarians<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to talk about this, I am in the clear to share my experiences with you. I recommend the use of CBDs (Cannabidiol) specifically in my Veterinary practice. I have witnessed CBDs improve quality of life in several common medical conditions.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Paul Thomas on Unsplash<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now that we have established what exactly CBD is, and that is it legal in the state of California, we now have to decipher the facts from the myths:<\/p>\n \u201cCan Cannabinoids, Hemp or Marijuana help my pet?\u201d If you do a Google search (which I did), one would think that Hemp products can do everything from help with arthritis, protect the heart, and even cure cancer. Are these statements true and if they are, how and when should you administer them to your pet? Are these products safe? How do you separate fact from fiction?<\/em><\/p>\n At our practice, Amador Valley Veterinary Center, we use CBDs successfully to treat the following conditions:<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI cannot say that I have seen CBDs reduce or cure cancer. I have not appreciated that it helps with digestion or stomach disorders. I have never witnessed beneficial effects on the heart. I have a variety of patients that take CBDs for arthritis that also have metabolic diseases such as kidney dysfunction. I have not seen CBDs increase appetite or help with functions of organs. Due to the lack of research so far, there is no evidence that CBDs will or will not help these conditions.\u201d \u2013\u00a0<\/em>Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by sarandy westfall on Unsplash<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to a pet parent survey conducted by the Michelson Found Animals Foundation<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cThose who have used CBD oil or hemp products with their pets<\/strong> have done so as part of a general health plan (45%), to care for an older pet (45%), for a specific behavioral condition (39%) or for temporary relief such as following surgery or on a flight (39%).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n When treatments are new, it can be tempting to jump in and try new things, but it\u2019s always a good idea to understand exactly how much research is available before you decide to add a new \u201ctool\u201d to your pet parent \u201ctoolbox\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>CBDs work on serotonin, opioids, glutamate, gaba amino butyric acid, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (Fine et al 2013) as well as ion channels involved in the transmission of pain. Cannabinoids can also influence neurotransmitters of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems (Niaz et al 2017). Stephanie McGrath, a neurologist and assistant professor at\u00a0<\/em>Colorado State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences<\/em><\/a>, has completed two clinical studies since 2016 on the effects of cannabidiol in dogs with osteoarthritis or epilepsy. \u00a0<\/em>Dawn Boothe<\/em><\/a>, director of clinical pharmacology at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, is studying cannabidiol as a treatment for epilepsy in dogs and is also developing an assay to measure cannabinoid toxicity and efficacy.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/p>\n A myriad of companies have approached me about CBD treats and supplements in the last 2 years. In order to really know what\u2019s best for your pet, your best bet is working with your veterinarian, due to lack of consistency and regulation of current products.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a tough question. Much like vitamins, glucosamine and herbal therapies, there is no current CBD product that is FDA approved or monitored. Why is this important? The FDA makes sure that the drug and amount on the label is the exact same amount that is contained in each pill, capsule, liquid or treat. This means that vitamins or CBDs labeled as 3mg capsules could actually have 1 mg or 5 mg. There is no way to verify. Ask your Veterinarian what products have worked for them.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis is another difficult question. There have been no reliable oral absorption studies, so the doses we use are guesses based on experience. An exact dosing is made more difficult by the facts laid out above. It is best to make an appointment with a Veterinarian who has some experience with CBD products for advice.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Summer Godfrey-Orgain DVM, Amador Valley Veterinary Center<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nThere is a lot of information in this article, so to summarize, this is what we will cover today:<\/h2>\n
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What is CBD?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Its very important that pet parents understand the differences in the plant strains if interested in using CBD for their pet\u2019s health because a blend with too much THC can cause problems for pets who consume the plant.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Are CBDs safe for pets?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Is CBD legal to use for pets in the state of California?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Facts versus Myths
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Can CBDs really help cure cancer?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
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Are pet parents really using CBDs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How much research is available to prove that CBDs improve pet health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Which CBD product is right for my pet?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How much CBD should I give my pet?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I want to thank Dr. Godfrey for taking the time to share such valuable insight with us. We are curious, have you tried CBD for your pets? I would love to learn more about your experiences in the comments below.<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n