Episode 86 - Can CBD or Cannabis Help My Pets?
In a word: Yes, according to Dr. Tim Shu, the Pet Vet.
A while ago when I was visiting my sister I got an urgent call one evening. Her very gorgeous and naughty labradoodle, Spencer, was wobbling around the house and then fell into a deep sleep. A little investigation showed that he had climbed on to my bed, sniffed around my luggage and somehow managed to open (!) and down a tin of Kiva chocolate covered cannabis coffee beans. We estimated he ate about 50mg of THC . What should we do?
Her vet had no idea. If only I had known Tim Shu then. I’d have asked him the question that so many listeners of this podcast ask regularly: Are CBD and cannabis products safe for pets?
To learn more how to use cannabis products for dogs, cats horses (let’s not forget ferrets, rabbits, pigs, rodents, and horses) I snagged an interview with this California-based “Pet Vet” one of the few who has taken the lead in using cannabinoids to treat animals.
Among the topics we discussed:
How safe is CBD for pets? Short answer: CBD has a wide margin of safety
What are the most common side effects? Short answer: Diarrhea or sedation
Do CBD/cannabinoids work for arthritis? Short answer: Yes, especially with cats
How did you get into this? Long answer: When I first started the company many people thought it was a crazy idea. Some still do. But humans didn't get to where we are now by being content with the status quo.
The way medicine is practiced today is not the same as it was 50 or even 10 years ago. The reason is because it's improving and better options and therapies are available. The way medicine is practiced tomorrow will not be the way it's practiced today, it will improve. It is up to us to push for those improvements. If cannabis has therapeutic potential, we have a moral and ethical obligation to our patients and clients to thoroughly evaluate that potential. To learn more, check out https://vetcbd.com/ Also…Please check out Dr. June Chin’s great blog post on the underreported correlations between COVID, gut issues and cannabinoids. You can find here it on MedicalCannabisMentor.com.
Also… I just finished reading Entangled Life by the young scientist and fantastic writer, Merlin Sheldrake and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The book is a fantastic underground tour of fungi and their pivotal role that enables so much of the natural world to thrive. Sheldrake is a superb storyteller and the narrative is as compelling as any adventure thriller I’ve read recently. It’s also a great companion to Michael Pollan’s How To Change Your Mind as well as the mind-bending film, Fantastic Fungi. Sheldrake’s work made me wish I could dig a hole and hang out in this hidden and magical world that thrives just a few inches beneath my feet.
Try to buy it from an indie bookseller if you can. Amazon made enough billions last month.