Can Medical Cannabis Treat Pets?

Cannabis has been proven to be a viable medicine for individuals suffering from a variety of ailments, and now it appears it can help our pets with some of the same problems.

Cannabis for dogs and cats is gaining traction in the veterinarian community. Vets are turning to the same holistic healing approach that has been so effective on humans to treat our four legged friends.

Christopher Cano, a Tampa Bay cannabis advocate, recently relayed the story of his Dachshund, Sadie. Sadie had been suffering from seizures, and Cano could see that a member of his family was suffering through tremendous pain.

“I saw her there helpless and suffering. I knew I had to do something,” he said. “A lot of us have animals that we care about very much, and we want to see them better. We want to see them live better quality lives.”

He gave Sadie cannabis oil at the onset of a seizure and within moments the seizure had stopped.

Dr. Anne Lampru, a vet in Tampa, has been working with animals for over 37 years. She uses a number of cannabis-infused products to treat her patients. “In Chinese medicine they say, ‘you can lop off the branches, or you can try to get to the root of the problem,’” Lampru said.

Because these products are derived from hemp, they are legal to use in the United States. The oils and edibles use CBD, a cannabis extract that does not contain a high dose of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Lampru has found the oils to be incredibly effective at treating pain in animals.

The FDA has yet to approve the use of CBD on animals, claiming there is a lack of research on the plant’s effectiveness.

“If medical marijuana treatment oil is something that is the future of veterinary medicine, then why not?” asked Cano.