A Little CBD to Take the Edge Off--For Your Pet?

[question everything]

Barbara Hightower has found a solution to her 9-year-old dog Moose’s panic attacks: Treats made from cannabis. Ms. Hightower, a 63-year-old homemaker in Madison, N.J., says the biscuits have helped calm Moose’s sudden shaking and hiding under furniture. “It takes the edge off his anxiety,” she says.

The supplements contain a hemp extract called cannabidiol, or CBD, which has garnered a flurry of interest among people who take it for everything from sleep to stress reduction. Its human proponents say the products provide a wash of calm without producing a psychoactive “high” like marijuana, hemp’s sister in the cannabis plant family. Now, people are trying it on their pets.

(snip)

Kat Donatello, owner of Austin and Kat pet biscuits and oils, says pet owners who buy her products come in two camps: Those with aging dogs and cats with mobility issues or anxious, jittery pets. She recommends one to two milligrams of CBD for every 10 pounds of weight, and suggests giving the treats 45 minutes before the anxiety-inducing event. “For instance, if you know the doorbell’s ringing, the mailman’s coming, or your dog has separation anxiety when you leave for work,” she says.

(snip)

Veterinarians caution that research on CBD in veterinary patients is thin, and there are still a lot of unknowns, from dosing information to types of conditions that may benefit. “A lot of the information we have is anecdotal,” says Gail Golab, chief veterinary officer for the American Veterinary Medical Association. She adds that though she is not aware of significant adverse reactions from CBD, “we’re not just assuming a product is safe because we haven’t heard differently,” she says.

More..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-little-cbd-to-take-the-edge-offfor-your-pet-11557135001 (paid subscription)

[True Dough]

1. Veterinarians have yet to adopt CBD

partly because it will affect their bottom line, I'm guessing. The profit motive is significant with pharmaceuticals.

[BigmanPigman]

2. My neighbor and I have used it on our dogs for night time

dementia and anxiety. It is tricky figuring how much to give and what strength. I wish they would legalize it so they can start research and allow vets to give us their advice. Our country is living in prehistoric times as far as pot legalization goes.

[bearfan454]

3. We got some for our pets for the fourth of July

We live very close to where the city does their big fireworks show. They were much calmer with the cbd chews from Petsmart. Buddy our full blooded long haired chihuahua tried to jump up on the couch to his bed and was obviously impaired.