As a cannabis educator who tackles issues for both people and their pets, I’m used to fielding questions on a wide range of cannabis-related topics. Nevertheless, I was recently asked about a topic that struck me by surprise…that is, the growing concern among some pet owners regarding the question of toxicity of CBD (cannabidiol) and if they need to be worried. This was shocking to me, because those of us in the cannabis industry largely regard CBD as being relatively safe. However, if the concern exists, there must be a reason. So what gives? Do pet owners really need to worry? Is CBD toxicity a thing? While many pet parents are using CBD products in their pets without issue, others are wondering “could CBD cause toxicity in my pet?” Allow me to address this issue and alleviate some of these concerns…
In the past year, the veterinary profession has seen a huge spike in interest, and thus information, about the potential therapeutic use of cannabinoids. This increase in media and institutional attention mirrors the widespread legalization of cannabis as it spreads through the nation, and indeed, the world. A milestone event that propelled this uptick in interest was the passing of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act, aka the Farm Bill.1 This legislative victory was a game changer for this industry.
In today’s busy world, people suffer from a wide array of anxiety and stress-related conditions. From my clinical experience, it’s clear that anxiety and behavioral disorders, unfortunately, plague the pet world as well. In pets, anxiety comes in many different forms; the common fear of thunderstorms and fireworks, the fear of going to the veterinarian’s office, and stress when separated from familiar people or environments, just to name a few. While a complete discussion of behavioral conditions in pets is beyond the scope of this article, one of the most common disorders in this category is separation anxiety.
In today’s busy world, people suffer from a wide array of anxiety and stress-related conditions. From my clinical experience, it’s clear that anxiety and behavioral disorders, unfortunately, plague the pet world as well. In pets, anxiety comes in many different forms; the common fear of thunderstorms and fireworks, the fear of going to the veterinarian’s office, and stress when separated from familiar people or environments, just to name a few. While a complete discussion of behavioral conditions in pets is beyond the scope of this article, one of the most common disorders in this category is separation anxiety.
For decades, veterinarians in clinical practice have known about the abnormal sensitivity of Collies and similar breeds to certain deworming medications. When ivermectin was introduced in the 1980’s, it was hailed as a miracle drug. However, veterinarians soon discovered that the recommended dose would be safe and effective in most breeds, yet deadly in others. As a result, and due to a lack of understanding for the reason behind this scenario, the old adage, ‘white feet, don’t treat’ was used by many practitioners. However, simple appearance alone was not a reliable indicator for predicting adverse reactions.
In the natural world, our senses are constantly stimulated by the sights, sounds, colors, and aromas of the plant and animal species surrounding us. All living things use their senses to interact and communicate with each other and the environment around them. In the plant kingdom, and for many sessile or slowly moving species, a vital method of communication is via pheromones or “aromatics.”This is accomplished by the natural use of terpenes. All living organisms manufacture terpenes for certain essential physiological functions.6
There is rapidly growing interest in the potential therapeutic use of cannabis among veterinarians around the world.
Unfortunately, there is a profound lack of formal veterinary education on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its clinical manipulation, despite its discovery more than 30 years ago. This gap has left practitioners with a lack of knowledge, as well as comfort, in meeting the increasing demands placed on them by clients. One of the biggest concerns for clinicians revolves around dosing strategy: what’s safe, what’s effective, where to start?
