Is Cannabis Good For Pets?

These days, a lot of folks treat their pets like their babies. Perhaps you can relate? And it makes sense. When you bring a pet into your home, they become a part of your family. Eventually occupying the same space in your heart as your own flesh and blood child would.

And this exponential pet-love growth has resulted in a proliferation of pricy pet products for increasingly pampered pets.

This includes everything from gourmet pet food, which, frankly, looks far better than our chow – to pet vitamins and all-natural supplements to prescription medications that treat physiological conditions and psychological issues, like anxiety obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

And amid this growing focus on the health and wellness of pets, one question, in particular, keeps coming up again and again…

Is medical cannabis good for pets?

Just like people, pets have ailments. Both physical and psychological. Meanwhile, cannabis has proven to be a therapeutic breakthrough for many humans. In fact, we’re on the verge of federal cannabis legalization primarily due to the undeniable benefits of medical cannabis.

So, why not use medical cannabis to help your best (non-human) friends? The same thought occurred to the Cannawayz.com crew. And we decided to take a closer look…

CBD Vs. THC

Of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis, the two active ingredients are CBD and THC. And just as with people, CBD and THC have a very different effect on pets. So, let’s examine each of these key ingredients separately.

How Can CBD Help Pets?

Just a quick disclaimer, we’re using “pets” as a generic reference to cats and dogs. Mainly because among the nearly 130 million pet-owning US households, over 100 million include either cat or dog.

Unfortunately, when it comes to documenting CBD's therapeutic value to pets, no comprehensive research exists defining the health and wellness benefits CBD provides.

And any veterinarian worth their salt will tell you as much. This also brings up an important point: Always consult your veterinarian BEFORE giving your pets cannabis, regardless of whether you’re considering CBD or THC-based products. And this advice applies to really any natural supplement.

But things are changing on this front. In fact, since 2018, there has been a massive push for research on cannabis treatment applications for cats and dogs.

In the meantime, all we have is anecdotal evidence. And according to these reports, here’s how CBD can help pets:

• Pain relief + pain management
• Minimizes or eliminate seizures
• Reduces nausea
• Stimulates appetite
• Decreases anxiety
• Fights cancer

How Can THC Help Pets?

THC is the active ingredient in cannabis that “gets you high.” And due to the resulting stigma, there’s even less research exploring THC’s impact on both humans and pets. So once again, we’re forced to rely on anecdotal evidence to uncover THC’s potential benefits to your pets.

But just as with CBD, there are countless reports from pet owners who’ve experimented with giving THC concentrated cannabis to their pets. And according to their findings, here’s how THC can help pets:

• Pain management
• Counters nausea
• Eases anxiety + hyperactivity
• Guards against strokes
• Opens bronchial passages and improves respiratory function
• Promotes better quality sleep
• Gastrointestinal support
• Increases appetite

Further Research Is On The Horizon

As the push toward cannabis legalization continues to ramp up, we’re destined to see more research into the potential therapeutic applications of cannabis.

And this research will not be limited to humans. Our pets are sure to get their due as well. All of which means in the not too distant future, you’re likely to see both over-the-counter and prescription-based cannabis products available for your furry friends!