Ophelia Chong, founder of Stock Pot Images, recalls that when her 90-year-old staunch Republican in-laws realized their Chihuahua was having seizures, they were desperate to find something to treat him. They ended up finding that treatment in cannabis.
Their Chihuahua used to have seizures every week, but he hasn’t had one since he started being given medical marijuana. As it becomes legalized in more states (currently 29) and is on the table for debate in more, more people in California are turning to cannabis products as an alternative way to treat their pets.
“The dog is everything for them, but he shakes and has seizures,” Chong told me. “He used to have a seizure once every week, but hasn’t had one in three months. They now see the benefit of how cannabis can help something they love so much.”
I’d rather try something that’s plant based first and see if it works. Why should I subject my dog to a chemical?
Chong herself has three dogs whom she treats with cannabis products for anxiety, skin issues and old age. Based in Los Angeles, she herself takes cannabis and thought that treating her dogs with cannabis products would improve their health. A year and a half ago, she turned to TreatWell, which specializes in cannabis products for both people and animals.
One of her dogs, a Chihuahua mix, tends to get anxious during seasons when coyotes are out, so she will occasionally treat him with cannabis. Another dog, a terrier mix, has oily skin and used to get hot spots all the time, but they disappeared after cannabis treatment.
“I don’t want to give my dogs Prozac or Benadryl,” Chong said. “I’d rather try something that’s plant based first and see if it works. Why should I subject my dog to a chemical?”
Cannabis for Pets
In 1996, medical marijuana became legal in California, and last November, recreational marijuana did also. This led me to wonder if intrepid Californians have begun to medicate their pets with the very same pot they’re using. In fact, they have been — and during the past few years, dispensaries and companies specializing in cannabis products for pets have emerged. As pet owners look for alternatives to traditional medicines, they see cannabis as an option.
Before, when dogs had cancer, they were usually put down. Alison Ettel, CEO and cofounder of TreatWell, explained to me that people now come to her company for alternative treatments. Cannabis products for pets can be used to effectively treat cancer, anxiety, pain, neurological conditions, seizures and more. Compared to human cannabis products, animal ones will come in smaller doses. Unlike the way your brother might use his “medical” marijuana, these products do not get animals high but are more focused on reducing pain, nausea and anxiety.
“Our products are formulated specifically for pets by a veterinary doctor,” said Kate Scott, COO of VETCBD, a company that specializes in cannabis products for pets. “When talking about cannabis, you need to know that you’re not actively trying to get your pets high. Definitely consult with a veterinarian.”
Unlike the way your brother might use his “medical” marijuana, these products do not get animals high but are more focused on reducing pain, nausea and anxiety.
Right now, TreatWell is focusing on using THC-A and CBD-A—more acidic and raw types of cannabis. Ettel says these forms are more effective in treating animals, especially for treating pain and hot spots.
“CBD is great, but it’s very 2012,” Ettel said. “We’re seeing an absolute much better response in the cancer rate. It’s working in both humans and animals, but we’re seeing better results in animals than humans.”
When it comes to treating cancer, Ettel also often sees customers use cannabis for palliative or end-of-life care for their pets. At the end of their lives, animals tend to withdraw and quietly pass away, but cannabis products help them regain their appetite and their personality. Research also shows that cannabinoids can induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells.
“We’ve seen months and years extended on life,” Ettel said. “We’ve seen complete removal of tumors and dogs who’ve seen zero signs of cancer.”
In addition to dogs and cats, Ettel has seen pet owners use cannabis to treat horses, goats, alpacas, pigs, chickens and even bearded dragons.
Rachel Martin, a dog trainer and dog-behavior specialist based in Los Angeles, has a rat terrier named Sophie who suffered from terminal cancer in her spleen. But after Martin started treating Sophie with VETCBD products, Sophie’s cancer went into remission.
“It’s finally getting better,” Martin said. “After Sophie’s treatment wasn’t working out really well, the doctor decided she was terminal and to use palliative care. [With cannabis products] there’s been a strong result. Her cancer went into remission, and it cured her.”
In addition to dogs and cats, Ettel has seen pet owners use cannabis to treat horses, goats, alpacas, pigs, chickens and even bearded dragons.
Is It Safe?
Ettel explains to me the risk of giving pets too high of a dose, which makes them tired, sleepy or even a bit high. They may get wobbly or act drunk, so that’s why they should take only the recommended dose.
With the legalization of marijuana in various states across the country, there has been an increase in pets being hospitalized for “getting high.” According to an official at the Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, “We see two to three cases of marijuana ingestion/toxicity per week compared to the two to three per month, which used to be the norm for our hospital.”
However, these cases come from pets consuming their owner’s stash of marijuana or marijuana edibles. So please, please — guard your edibles as if you have kids.
“Most veterinarians have treated patients for marijuana intoxication,” said Ken Pawlowski, former president of the California Veterinary Medical Association. “Since the loosening of laws and regulations surrounding it, there have been increased numbers of those. It’s because the dogs were getting into the stashes and edibles of the owner. In some cases, there have been fatalities.”
Effects of marijuana ingestion include a decrease in blood pressure, uncontrolled urination, changes in heart rate, seizures and more. Pets may experience the neurologic effects associated with becoming high or become skittish and jittery.
However, these cases come from pets consuming their owner’s stash of marijuana or marijuana edibles. So please, please — guard your edibles as if you have kids. We already know San Francisco has more dogs than children. Currently, there is no medical research on the effects of medical-cannabis products for pets because marijuana is not legal on a federal level.
“There’s been very limited research on it,” Pawlowski said. “Because of that, there are no established doses, and there are no established benefits. We don’t know what the correct doses are, so it’s a highly risky proposition.”
What’s more, veterinarians cannot prescribe or recommend cannabis products because those products are not regulated by the DEA. If they were to do that, they would be putting their DEA licenses at risk.
Pawlowski has seen more pet owners ask about these products during the last year or so, but he says it’s risky. In addition, currently there’s no research on how pets may react if they take cannabis products along with other medical prescription drugs.
“I understand they want to help their pets,” Pawlowski said. “If they’re forgoing some of the traditional treatments because they think they can treat it with a cannabis product, we have therapies that have high efficacy of working…We don’t have the answers. We don’t have the studies. We need the studies done and need the DEA to allow studies to be done.”
“A Gateway”
Even though cannabis products for pets are not regulated, pet owners are still increasingly seeking out these types of treatment or preventative care. And on October 3, the FDA hinted that it may examine marijuana health claims.
“They’re looking for an alternative to medicine on the market,” Ettel said. “It’s a gateway. We treat staunch religious Republicans and a lot of those people and their animals. It’s their entry into cannabis. It’s an interesting way to people’s hearts. They’re also realizing that cannabis doesn’t have to be psychoactive. I’m definitely seeing a trend toward that.”
Both TreatWell and VETCBD are allowed to sell their products only in California. However, the customers include not just Millennials but also older empty-nesters. After treating their pets with cannabis products, some customers have even gone back to ask for cannabis products for themselves.
It’s our job as veterinary professionals to be advocates for our patients since they can’t speak for themselves.
“I think the more that people are educated and the more they see that all animals can benefit from cannabis, the more they will become aware of all the medical benefits of CBD,” Scott said. “It’s our job as veterinary professionals to be advocates for our patients since they can’t speak for themselves.”
Chong agrees with Ettel, saying that cannabis products for pets will lead to more widespread acceptance of cannabis in general. She points to the benefits she’s seen in her dogs, her in-laws’ dog and herself.
“Our pets are a gateway for understanding the benefits of cannabis,” Chong said. “That’s how we’re going to show how it’s going to benefit everyone.”
