As a dog owner you want to make sure you are giving your pet the very best. This means feeding them the right dog food and finding appropriate toys and activities for them. Many people are also starting to use medical marijuana for their pets. This is why you should understand the benefits this controversial treatment can provide.
Why Use Marijuana for Pets?
The first thing to understand with this is that marijuana will not cure your dog or cat of any particular issue they are suffering from. It can however be
used for symptom management. It is commonly used for pets with cancer, those undergoing certain medical treatments or seizures. Some people report it can reduce or eliminate the seizures their dogs have.
People also use it as a tool to improve the quality of life for their pet with incurable cancer or those sick from chemo. There is even a report of a veterinarian in Seattle that is recommending medical marijuana for dogs with arthritis to help reduce the inflammation and pain. It is also commonly used to help with pain management for pets with these conditions.
How Well Does it Work?
A quick internet search will show you countless case studies of pet owners dosing their pets with marijuana. One example includes a person from New York whose dog Luna was going through treatment for end stage lymphoma. The symptoms caused her lymph nodes to swell and made her cough. Her owners found that as they gave her marijuana in her dog food her symptoms started diminishing.
Another story about the benefits of medical marijuana was with an 11 year old cat, named Monkey with intestinal cancer. While her tumor was not in a place it could be operated on, her owner wanted her to do something to make the end of her life easier. Before treatment Monkey had lost a bunch of weight and was very lethargic. After starting cannabis treatments she was full of life and would play and eat as though she was a kitten. While she ultimately lost her life to the cancer, she was at least able to enjoy the last few months of her life.
What do Vets Say?
The truth about this is that the research into marijuana for medical benefits for pets is still in its infancy. There are many vets out there who are still leary of using a treatment that has not been fully studied, despite individual case studies. There is one vet, Dr. Kramer, who has been a huge proponent. He is known as the vet guru and he has been writing, making videos and talking with other vets for years about the benefits of medical marijuana for pets, such as using tinctures in the dog food.
The Verdict
Not all states have legalized marijuana and if you live in a state that has not, then this is something that is not even an option legally. Secondly, you will want to talk with your doctor. Find out if it can be a good option for your pet and whether mixing it with dog food is the best delivery method. Make sure you fully understand the dosing as well as the side effects to watch. This will help you to keep your pet safe and give them the best quality of life you can.
