Pets & Cannabis
Cannabis derived provisions for pet cannabis products continues to grow in the medical and recreational market across the nation. Most marijuana infused pet products are high in CBD or set to certain ratios dependent on your furry friend's reason for relief.
How can pets benefit from cannabis medicine?
Mammalian pets in particular, like dogs, cats and horses are the most common companions that are given cannabinoids for relief. This is because they have the endocannabinoid system present in their anatomy.
Check out the diagram of the endocannabinoid system in a dog for a visual aid.
As you can see, they too have CB1 and CB2 receptors that act as keyholes for cannabinoids found in cannabis pet products. Just like in human interaction, cannabinoids have similar effects for dogs, cats and other mammals. Therefore, if it’s July 4th and panic from fireworks is setting into your pup, perhaps a bit of CBD tincture may calm their nerves.
While it remains a regulated substance, cannabis products cannot be prescribed by veterinarians. However, this does not mean a veterinarian cannot give advice--so always check with a professional before administration and get as much information surrounding the process before taking action. If you can't get your hands on cannabis derived products, try hemp! Especially for CBD infused goods. On a molecular level, cannabidiol is the same whether it's hemp derived or from a high CBD bred cannabis strain like Cannatonic or Harlequin.
Other ailments in pets that cannabis has helped include
Seizures
Nausea
Anxiety/Stress
Arthritis
Pain/Inflammation/Surgery Recovery
Symptoms of Cancer
Gastrointestinal Issues
What products are available for pets?
Cannabis infused pet products include tinctures, capsules/supplements and treats. Tinctures tend to be more easily found and versatile in administration sublingually, or can be added to food or drink for easy digestion. Check out the HERB Pet Products Menu.
Dosing for Pets
Any and all products sold at HERB for your pets benefit will always have the legally required (and sometimes more) amount of information, located on the packaging of the product. This includes ingredients, cannabinoid ratios/dosage measurements and instructions for administration.
Aside from hiding your stash where your pet can't reach--below are some tips in case your friend gets a little too medicated. It should be stated that we at HERB are NOT qualified veterinarians or doctors.
The amount of cannabis ingested and the size of your dog directly influences your decision about whether you should take your dog to a veterinarian. If they are a larger animal and consumed a small dose, a veterinarian visit may not be required. However, if a smaller pet consumes a bit of cannabis, use precaution and consider taking them to the vet!
Some pets (like larger dogs) may be only slightly affected and can be managed at home. A big rule of thumb here is if they can still walk without help. If they can and seem a bit more 'with it' they should be kept in a safe, quiet space where they will not be able to fall and hurt themselves.
If you're caring for a pet at home that consumed cannabis, make sure to check on them frequently to be sure his or her condition is not worsening.
If your pet is severely affected and cannot walk or is comatose, see a veterinarian immediately.
If you're unsure, call the APCC at 888-426-4435, or contact your local veterinarian.
If you are interested in seeking benefits of cannabis use for your pet, feel free to check out the other articles we've written on this subject. You can check out our Pet Products page or give us a call at 844.437.2213 for any questions about the products we provide!
Information referenced from Leafly, The HERB Blog, Canna-Pets, VET CBD and the National Center for Biotechnology Information.