Cannabis for pets:What you should know
Using cannabis for pets has been a controversial topic since many argue that you can’t force your pet to consume cannabis. Of course, you can’t win the argument even if you tell people that you’re not forcing your pet. In fact, they won’t believe you even when you tell them that your pet loves cannabis.
My friend’s Labrador suffered from seizures until she ate a piece of cannabis. This incident wasn’t documented and there’s no way anyone will believe that cannabis can cure pets, but the truth doesn’t change. Like humans, animals suffer from various diseases and it’s up to us to help them as much as we can.
Fortunately, some doctors prescribe marijuana for pets off the record and if you’re lucky enough to find someone like that, here are a few factors you should consider.
Don’t try to treat your pet yourself
As much as you love weed and believe in it, you can’t treat your pet yourself because you don’t know the dosage. Even when treating humans, it’s important to consider the dosage. No, it won’t kill you, but there’s not enough scientific research to come to conclusions. So, the next time your pooch has problems, take her to the vet instead of treating her yourself.
Another important element is that you don’t know anything about overdosing on cannabis. We all hear stories of cocaine or heroin overdose, but there’s nothing about cannabis because it would take a LOT to achieve it. But, animals are different, and can’t be treated like humans. When treating your pet, it’s important to choose the right product that suits your needs.
If your vet gives you the green signal to treat your dog or cat with CBD oil, you can start with minimal doses and slowly increase as your pet adjusts to it. Be very careful and observe how your pet reacts to it. If you see any signs of fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea, take your pet to the doctor again immediately. Just because you haven’t experienced any side effects with marijuana, it doesn’t mean that your pet will enjoy it too.
- Try hemp if cannabis doesn’t suit you
Treating your pet with cannabis can be tricky if you don’t reside in a location that has decriminalized cannabis. Consuming or smoking cannabis when it’s illegal is one thing, but treating your pet with it is completely different. Also, if you aren’t comfortable with cannabis, chances are that it might not work for you. Additionally, pets that are not exposed to cannabis can find it difficult to adjust to it.
Therefore, if you can’t get a hold of cannabis for whatever reasons, you can try hemp instead. Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L) is different from cannabis because it doesn’t contain psychoactive properties. However, it provides some relief and can be easily substituted with cannabis products. Instead of THC, hemp contains CBD that is not psychoactive, which gives you the opportunity to try cannabis medicines without experiencing the “high”.
Please note that dogs have the highest number of THC receptors located in their hindbrain. This makes them more susceptible to the effects of cannabis. Since hemp has minimal amounts of THC, you can rest assured that your beloved pet is not in any kind of danger. This doesn’t mean that cannabis with THC will harm your dog, but it only means that you have the alternative of choosing hemp if you can’t use cannabis.
- Vets cannot prescribe cannabis as it’s illegal
Even if your vet smokes cannabis himself, he won’t be in a position to prescribe marijuana to your pet because it’s illegal to do so. No matter how much they believe in it, cannabis still remains a Schedule I drug and your vet can lose his license if he prescribes cannabis illegally. With so many regulations, vets don’t prescribe cannabis, so don’t expect to your vet to bend the rules for you.
- Try cannabis tincture or CBD oil
If you have no other option other than treating your pet with cannabis, do some research and make the CBD oil yourself. It might sound daunting, but it’s not that difficult either. If you’re lucky to live in a location where marijuana is legal, you can simply ask a friend to get you some cannabis or you can walk into a local dispensary to get your hands on some quality marijuana.
You can also try making cannabis tincture and treating your pet with it. It’s as simple as spreading the tincture on your pet’s tongue because it absorbs instantly. Remember that Fifi can’t puff and pass that joint back to you, so you need to do everything you can to make her comfortable. Additionally, try other methods like using soft chews, biscuits and other cannabis edibles to treat your dog or cat.
Our pets can’t talk but they can communicate effectively. It’s up to you to listen to what tour pet is trying to say. Like humans, they suffer from different diseases and cancer doesn’t spare them either. If anything, you can use cannabis to at least make your pet comfortable and reduce the side effects of deadly diseases. Naysayers will argue that it’s wrong but it’s up to you to treat your pet using the most effective methods possible, and using cannabis for pets is one of them.