5 Things You Should Know About Medical Marijuana For Pets (Dogs And Cats)

Many vets today believe in the medical properties of marijuana for pets. The drug can be used to treat a wide array of symptoms and disorders. Here are things that you should know about using marijuana for your pets.

Marijuana Is Effective For Cancer, Anxiety And Arthritis

While the dosage proportions tend to be different for pets, marijuana can be used to treat many of the same conditions in pets that it is used to treat in humans. Whether for the treatment of stress, seizures, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome or separation anxiety, marijuana can be highly effective. It can even treat pain and insomnia, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Veterinarians Can't Prescribe Marijuana To Pets

Marijuana is a Schedule I drug, which means that vets do not have the authority to prescribe it for an animal. That means, they can't even counsel you about using marijuana for your pets. They can, however, give you advice informally. In short, you can't expect to go to the vet and come back with a little baggie for your favorite animal.

Be Careful With The Dosage

Since your vet can't officially tell you how to use marijuana for your pet, it may be up to you to work out the right kind of dosage. Many people will try to simply think of how much marijuana a human could take, and calculate what a pet would need for its weight. Pets, however, are not humans, and can overdose far more quickly than humans of similar body weight. The right way to proceed would be to start with a very small dose, and to gradually increase it, while watching for side effects.

If You Can't Find Marijuana, Try Derivative Products

If you are in a location where marijuana is hard to find, you can try products made out of marijuana derivatives. These are legal in every state, and can offer the same kind of relief as real marijuana.

Derivative products such as CBD are actually safer for pets, because they come with very low levels of THC, the compound that produces the high of marijuana. Many marijuana fans swear by derivative products. They come with what is known as the entourage effect, which is the effect that appears when the hundreds of cannabinoid compounds in these products work together.

For Pets, A Tincture May Be The Best Form Of Marijuana

Some pet stores sell marijuana biscuits, soft chews and a variety of other products that you can use to medicate your pet. A tincture, which is an oil, may be the best choice, however. Tinctures contain set amounts of cannabinoids, and come in bottles with droppers, so it's easy to deliver a set dose, placing a drop on your pet's tongue.

Medical marijuana for dogs is still an area that's under intense debate. While the marijuana humans use can be used for pets, it can be hard to work out the dosage. With derivative products, however, the dosage can be much safer, and your pets can enjoy the undeniable benefits of this drug.