CBD for Spot goes mainstream

The truth about CBD

As many of you know, our pets are highly sensitive to the principal psychoactive component of marijuana, the THC molecule (tetrahydrocannabinol). (This evidence is incontrovertible in dogs but less available for cats.) This sensitivity, however, does not apply to the nonpsychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) molecule this plant also contains.

CBD is a component of both the marijuana plant and its close cousin, the hemp plant. Almost all of the CBD oil used in medicine is sourced from hemp.

CBD’s safety profile has been studied in dogs at Colorado State University (conclusion: safe) and research into its efficacy in seizure disorders is currently underway there. A mountain of anecdotal reports also identifies osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, allergic skin disease, appetite stimulation, and nausea relief (among others) as other potential areas of study.

High-level evidence on efficacy is scant, to be sure, but CBD oil is considered safe and effective by a growing number of veterinary practitioners who aren’t your typical devotees of alternative medicine. I fall squarely into that camp. Count me among the converted.

With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Trump Hemp and Hemp products became legal in the US.

So what’s a veterinarian to do?

All this brings me back to us, the veterinarians who believe that CBD is a safe and effective addition to our current treatment protocols. How are we to approach and manage the situation?

For my part, most of the patients I’ve medicated with CBD oil have thrived. After recommending it to hundreds of patients (I carry it in-house now), I’ve not yet observed an adverse reaction. Sure, some patients have balked at its delivery, but that’s about it for negatives.

Still, not all CBD oils are created equal. Do your research. Chat with veterinarians on Veterinary Information Network and in your vicinity. Talk to the pharmacist in charge at the company whose products you choose to recommend to be sure there’s no THC at all in the product. Follow all these recommendations and you can rest easy knowing that you’re offering a product that meets a high standard of care.

Article by Dr. Patty Khuly Veterinarian