Let me be honest…when my veterinarian suggested I give pot to my 10-year-old dog, Shanti, I was a little skeptical. I thought, cannabis for canines? Is that safe? I don’t want my dog walking around being high. However, after learning a little bit more about the benefits, I was open to the option. I should mention, my vet cautioned me and said it’s important to be careful when using cannabis extract on canines. She added that while it’s not something she would or could ever prescribe, some of her other clients who have dogs with similar conditions like Shanti’s experienced positive results from the right dosage of CBD.
With a brief online search, I learned that the cannabis plant has dozens of different chemicals called cannabinoids. There are two main types: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBDs are therapeutic, while THC is the cannabinoid that imparts psychoactive effects, or the “high”. Studies show that many cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects — and can potentially help with arthritis pain — something that Shanti has been suffering from for years.
Cut to two days later when I signed up for a cannabis card (as her designated human, I have to be Shanti’s representative) and I set up an appointment with Charles, the owner of Right Ratio–a company that currently creates formulas for at least 70 other dogs in the LA area.
Charles hand-delivered the product, because he wanted to meet Shanti in person and explain to me how the process worked. He instructed me to give her 0.7ml of the oil extract (I put it on her food) and suggested I keep an eye on her after administering the medicine to make sure she was okay.
After giving her the medicine, she became a little drowsy. She slept a couple of hours and then sprang up from her nap and I took her on a walk. I immediately noticed she had more pep in her step…I can’t tell if it was because of the long nap, or if it was because of the CBD. Whatever the cause, she seemed happy and didn’t seem as stiff as she had been in the days before.
While I know CBD is not a cure-all medication, if it helps with Shanti’s pain and boosts her quality of life… I’ll continue to give it to her. Stay tuned for updates!
