Cannabis and Your Pets – Are there Benefits?

With the growing acceptance that cannabis is a safe and effective medicine, many people are interested in trying it—including their pets. However, when it comes to pets and marijuana, this has not been studied extensively here in the U.S. It has been used for years in other countries such as India, France, Italy, Scotland and U.K. to name a few. As a result, much of what we know about cannabis and animals comes from anecdotal evidence or studies in other species that may not apply to dogs and cats. However, there are some things we do know:

CBD oil is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis. It’s extracted from the plant and does not contain THC, which is what gives people the “high” feeling. CBD is also safe for pets to consume because it doesn’t cause any psychoactive effects or toxicity in animals.

In fact, there are many health benefits of CBD oil for both humans and pets alike:

THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. It’s what gives you the high and can cause vomiting, lethargy, depression and other side effects in pets.

THC can be toxic to dogs and cats if they ingest too much of it. If your dog eats an edible (a food containing THC), he could suffer from severe symptoms such as seizures or coma within hours of ingestion. Since most edibles contain chocolate which has caffeine as well as fat content that helps absorption into bloodstreams faster than if eaten on its own without these ingredients–this can be extremely dangerous for pets who may eat some of your leftover cookies!

Also watch out for products containing high levels of THC like tinctures (liquid drops), capsules or gummies since these are also very easy for animals to chew open once opened before consumption by humans only…

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.

Because of this, pet owners should be aware of the risks associated with marijuana use and how it can affect their pets.

While there are many benefits to using medical cannabis for humans (such as pain relief), THC is highly toxic to cats, dogs and other pets and can be fatal if ingested in large amounts. Cats are particularly sensitive to THC because they have an endocannabinoid system similar to humans’. This means that when your cat ingests marijuana, its body processes it in much the same way as it would process any other drug or toxin–which can cause severe illness or death if not treated immediately. The products listed below are CBD only products, specifically designed for pets.

If you are concerned about your pet’s health, it’s best not to use cannabis products with THC. While research on the effects of marijuana on animals has been limited, there are some concerns about the potential negative side effects of THC on pets. If you are using cannabis products, please consult with a veterinarian before giving them to your pet.

Podcast Video: Where UPG Founder, John Malanca sits down with globally known veterinary and best selling author Dr. Gary Richter M.S., D.V.M., C.V.C., C.V.A. – Cannabis And Your Pets: What You Need To Know with Dr. Gary Richter

If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, you should consult with your vet. Please note, some animals process many compounds differently than humans do, and as a result, many foods and medications that are safe for us are not safe for them. These include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, raisins and grapes, macadamia nuts, chocolate, the artificial sweetener xylitol, and THC (the above linked products are CBD only). So please keep your products out of reach from your four legged friends.

Also check out our blog – Treating Pets with Medical Cannabis