As devoted veterinarians, we are always looking at newer ways to support our patients ailing from debilitating conditions such as Chronic pain, arthritis, anxiety, dementia, and cancer etc. Medicinal cannabis offers a natural avenue of treatment for these conditions.
Medicinal cannabis is already quite popular in human medicine and is growing in popularity in veterinary medicine.
We’re going to explore the basics of CBD oils – how they work and where they can be helpful for our ailing pets.
We hope you find this useful. It will be the first of many articles on CBD oil applications in pets, so stay tuned!
What is CBD or CBD oil?
CBD or CBD oils come from the Cannabis plant. The plant produces approximately 140 natural chemicals known as cannabinoids. One of the best-known cannabinoids is Cannabidiol, or CBD.
The medicinal cannabis prescribed for pets is a liquid, 98% of which is constituted of CBD oil, hence the name ‘CBD oils’.
The remaining 2% is another cannabinoid, like THC and/or terpenes and flavonoids.
Understanding the Endocannabinoid system in mammals
The bodies of mammals, including us, and most of our pets, have a system called the Endo cannabinoid System or ECS for short. Imagine the ECS system like an ‘internet’ within the body. This ‘internet’ has several components
- E-mails: Imagine that the information flow on this internet happens through e-mails. These ‘e-mails’ are special messenger molecules called endocannabinoids ( or cannabinoids that are produced by the body)
- Mailboxes: These e-mails are sent to specific ‘mailboxes’ or receptors within various parts of the body. These are called CB receptors. When the e-mail arrives in an inbox, information is conveyed, and something happens.
- Messengers: These are components that help make and break down the emails. In the ECS system, these are enzymes that help make the cannabinoids and degrade them.
The ECS ‘internet’ helps maintain balance throughout the body, a process known as homeostasis. The ECS plays a crucial role in regulating certain critical physiological processes, such as:
- Mood and anxiety
- Seizure activity
- Cognitive function
- Pain perception and
- Inflammation
The Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant are like a helper for the ECS ‘internet’ that makes it function more efficiently. They help the body’s own ‘messages’ (endocannabinoids) work better, they can help generate more ‘messages’, they can make the ‘messages’ or the endocannabinoids stick around longer and even talk indirectly to some of the ‘mailboxes’.
In summary, the ECS is a natural system in the pet’s body that helps keep things in balance, and CBD oils help that system work better.
Where can CBD oils help my pet?
CBD oils are useful in the following areas of veterinary medicine
- Management of chronic pain and arthritis – There are several studies that have shown that CBD oils help reduce both pain from arthritis and chronic pain in dogs and cats.
- Anxiety and stress – CBD oils can help reduce and manage anxiety in different situations such as separation anxiety, thunder and storm phobias, nervousness in unfamiliar environments and car travel.
- Reduction of Seizure frequency – CBD oils have been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of seizures in dogs with epilepsy when added on as an additional treatment to conventional medications.
- Management of inflammation – CBD oils have anti-inflammatory properties which have been shown to help pets with inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis and arthritis.
- Canine dementia – The neuroprotective effects of CBD oils and their interaction with the ECS receptors result in the management of some symptoms of dementia in dogs.
- Appetite and Nausea – CBD oils can help stimulate appetite and suppress nausea in pets. They are extensively used in palliative care in dogs and cats.
What should I be careful about when using CBD oils for my pet?
- Product quality: The CBD oil industry is currently poorly regulated in Australia. This means that you may be able to source the product online and have it delivered by post. Like any medication, the quality and purity of the product are very important. Make sure that you source your product from a reputable supplier that can guarantee the purity, concentration and quality of the CBD oils. At Lynbrook Vet and Berwick Clyde Vet, we source our oils from PetCann, a subsidiary of Cannatrak. PetCann is a reputable supplier of CBD oils in Australia, so you can rest assured that the product provided to you meets very strict quality standards, as all of our medications do.
- Always use under veterinary guidance: CBD oils should be used under the guidance of a veterinarian. The oils are administered at specific rates, depending on the pet’s weight and condition. The dosages need to be changed over time, and there are certain maximum doses that should not be exceeded. Just like any other medications, they can have side effects, which will need to be explained to you. So, please do not use CBD oils without consulting your veterinarian.
- CBD oils can interact with drugs: This is another reason to not source CBD oils and self prescribe as they can have interactions with existing medications such as Anti-inflammatories, steroids, anti-seizure medications, blood thinners, blood pressure medications, sedatives and anxiety medications, chemotherapy drugs, some heart medications, anti fungal medication and some gastro intestinal medications. Since this list is quite extensive, you should discuss the use of CBD oils with our vets before starting.
How do I start using CBD oils for my pets?
Begin by consulting a veterinarian and discussing that you’re interested in exploring the use of CBD oils for your pet’s condition. Your vet can then advise you of the best type of CBD oils to use, the starting dose, dose changes that may need to be made, and potential drug interactions and side effects. They may want to do some blood tests before starting the CBD oils and then order these oils for you.
At Lynbrook Vet and Berwick Clyde Vet, our vets can order these oils for you within 2-3 business days and can support you and your pet in the use of CBD oils for their well-being.
Do you have more questions or would like recommendations and advice on CBD oil use from a vet? Book an appointment or get in touch with our vets.
