Ruff, Ruff, Pass? Apparently Dogs Like Medical Marijuana Too
We already know dolphins like to get high, but do dogs enjoy it too?
Medical marijuana is commonly used by people to alleviate chronic pain, reduce chemotherapy nausea, and calm epileptic convulsions.
As cannabis grows widely accepted across America — it’s legal in 22 states — pet owners and vets are now using it to treat their sick dogs and cats.
Seattle-based Canna-Pet and Canna-Companion, are just two companies that are selling cannabis-based supplements for pets.
According to CNBC, Canna-Companion uses ground up hemp plants to make capsules that contain as little delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, as possible.
THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Instead, Canna-Companion uses cannabidiol, or CBD, which is the ingredient found in cannabis that is more useful in treating pain.
By using CBD instead of THC, pets get relief from the pain they’re feeling without actually getting high.
But why use cannabis on animals? Because it works, apparently.
Dr. Douglas Kramer, a veterinarian from Los Angeles, used cannabis on her dying dog Nikita after she had surgery to remove tumors from her body.
After ingesting it, the dog lived for six more weeks — she even gained weight and showed signs that she wasn’t in pain.
And now Dr. Kramer feels that it’s his duty to speak about the benefits of the drug to animals.
“I grew tired of euthanizing pets when I wasn’t doing everything I could to make their lives better. I felt like I was letting them down,” Dr. Kramer told the Daily Mail.
But don’t just take one doctor’s word for it. Sometimes it’s better to get a second opinion.
Dr. Cynthia Graves in Philadelphia practices alternative veterinary care, and she told NBC that she recommends hemp-based supplements for dogs experiencing pain or anxiety.
“There’s no question that it’s a benefit to some patients,” Dr. Graves said.
What do you think? Should medical marijuana for pets become a more widespread (and legal) veterinary practice?