Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2019)
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Cannabidiol for pets? Northern Michigan vet- erinarian Jeffery Powers is a pet parent to Ella, a 10-year- old Saint Bernard who has severe anxiety when she hears thunder or the first pop of fireworks. Recently, Powers said he has found a way to control his dog9s noise anxiety: cannabidiol, aka CBD, a compound that can be extracted from cannabis, the plant family that includes marijuana and hemp. People are turning to CBD to help manage pain, anxiety, arthritis, seizures, and other health problems in their pets. And a growing crop of CBD products mar- keted for pets 4 including tinctures, capsules, and chew treats 4 has burst onto the market to meet the consumer demand. CBD is thought to have many therapeutic properties, but unlike cannabis9 other main compound THC (tetra- hydrocannabinol), it doesn9t get users high. Powers, who is also vice chairman of the American Veterinary M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n 9s Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, credits CBD for easing his dog9s distress. As of July 2018, 47 states have gotten around the federal restriction by legalizing CBD for human use within their own states, according to the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Physicians in those states, including Oregon, can now recommend CBD to their patients, and consumers can often buy the compound on their own 4 for themselves or their pets 4 without any interaction with a healthcare professional. Even without official guidance, pet parents are increasingly seeking out CBD for their furry fam- ily members. In a survey conducted this year by the Veterinary Information Network, an online com- munity of veterinarians, nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they were asked about cannabis by their patients at least once a month. Sarah Schaff, sleep edu- cator for St. Charles Sleep Center, gives CBD to both of her older pets that have health issues. Sarah said, <I began using CBD one year ago on my 15-year-old cat and 14-year- old dog. After my cat Dipsy received the diagnosis of a large possibly benign cyst on the heart, hyperthyroidism, and signs of kidney and liver disease I wanted to make her comfortable since it was just a matter of time before passed.= She added, <Two months later after starting the CBD treatment the veterinarian said she might have another four months to live. Prior to Dipsy9s diagnosis she was having frequent urinary tract infections and noticeable breathing distress as well as a throw-up incident almost once a day. She just had her 16th birthday this April and has improved over- all in health, and is playing and acting like normal. She appears to be more comfort- able and sleeps easier since starting the CBD.= Schaff9s dog is nearly 15 years old, a retired sled dog that had signs of joint/hip pain since she was 10. <I don9t believe the CBD completely relieved her pain, but there has been a signifi- cant difference,= Schaff told The Nugget. <She now acts like a puppy at times. We are not positive, but my vet and I believe we noticed recently that her cataracts seem to be smaller. I do know that the CBD has helped with slow- ing the growth of her cysts.= Last June, Byron Maas, veterinarian at Bend Veterinary Clinic, had an article published in Cascade Business News titled <CBD Therapy for pets.= Maas noted, <There has been a recent surge in the awareness and use of CBD in health, nutrition and alter- native therapies for people, but how does that relate to our pet companions?= He went on to say that the reason veterinarians don9t know that much about CBD is due mainly to a lack of research because of its federal classification as a Class I controlled substance. However, Maas also noted that there is a wide range of potential medical ben- efits used to treat pain asso- ciated with arthritis, back pain, stress, anxiety, nausea, seizures and gastrointesti- nal problems and even can- cer. Pet parents often report good success with treatment. Clinically, reports show CBD to be extremely safe with few side effects. CBD wears off as it is metabo- lized by the pet9s liver and excreted in the bile, urine or stored in the pet9s body fat. CBD is typically admin- istered orally to pets as an extracted oil or in com- bination with nutritional supplements, other medi- cations or traditional treat- ments. Topical application is reported to provide improve- ment with joint pain, chronic arthritis and some anxiety. You can find many forms available from pet stores, dispensaries and some vet- erinary clinics. But not all products are the same and since it is not FDA approved often the potency can vary, with some CBD marketed products containing little if any of the cannaboid when tested. However, without study, veterinarians can9t accu- rately say how much to administer or how to predict effects after administration. <While some pet own- ers swear by CBD, keep in mind that researchers are just starting to learn how to use it for pets and at which dosages,= said Stephanie McGrath, D.V.M., a veteri- narian and assistant profes- sor of neurology at Colorado State University9s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. In 2016, she conducted some of the first studies looking into basic questions 7 about how CBD is metabo- lized by dogs and whether the compound poses any immediate health threats. <There were no studies on CBD [and pets] at that time,= added McGrath, who pub- lished two of her CBD stud- ies in 2018. After her initial research, McGrath began two clini- cal trials, one on dogs with epilepsy and another on dogs with osteoarthritis. Early results are encourag- ing, she says, but notes that the results are not yet final or published. Pet parents seeking alter- natives to traditional medica- tion or that need additional options for symptom relief should consult with their veterinarian for recommen- dations on how to best treat their individual pet. Holistic Mental Health Solutions Medication Management Counseling • Functional Medicine Audry Van Houweling PMHNP-BC Now Accepting Insurance 541-595-8337 • www.shesoarspsych.com 102 E. Main Ave., Downtown Sisters The barber is in! Call Jeff for an appointment today! 152 E. Main Ave. • 541-549-8771 Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl MEATS • CHEESES • EATERY • DRINKERY 110 S. SPRUCE ST. | 541-719-1186 OPEN EVERY DAY 9 AM TO 7 PM E R C P I A P T A I O R N E M P A O RT Y T S U C Gypsy Wind Clothing Friday, May 31 & Saturday, June 1 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 351 W. HOOD AVE. | Open p Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. p | Sun., 1 to 4 p.m. | Closed Monday