Use of CBD oil for the treatment of small animal conditions

Dr. D. Miguel A. Sánchez-Valverde Professor of Veterinary Surgery. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Murcia. Campus Universitario de Espinardo 30100 Espinardo, Murcia.

CANNABINOIDS, WHAT ARE THEY?

The cannabis plant(Cannabis sativa ), popularly known as marijuana or hemp, is a plant species that, apart from its recreational use in humans, has aroused great scientific and clinical interest due to its multiple therapeutic properties, not only for human medicine, but also for veterinary medicine (Della Rocca, G., Di Salvo, A. 2020). More than 150 active substances have been discovered in this plant, called cannabinoids, capable of causing effects in the organism of higher animals (mammals). (Bonini, S.A., Premoli, M., Tambaro, S. et alt. 2018). And what are cannabinoids, well, they are those chemical substances able to bind with the cannabinoid receptors of the organism and the central nervous system through the endocannabinoid system. The two most abundant and best known cannabinoids in Cannabis are TetraHydroCannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) (Mechoulam, R., 2005). THC is the main psychoactive compound in the plant. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica strains with THC levels above 0.2% are referred to as Marijuana, and are characterized by psychoactive effects (altered perception and mood modification). Hemp is considered to be any strain of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant that contains concentrations of less than 0.2% of TetraHydroCannabinol (THC), and in these cases the main active component is Cannabidiol (CBD), so these varieties of the plant are also referred to as CBD, and not as Marijuana. Another name by which plants with high CBD and low THC are known is Hemp (Fallahi, S., Bobak, L., Opalinski, S. 2022) In addition, in this type of varieties the marked absence of psychotropic and psychoactive effects is appreciated.(Unni, A. 2018).

THC vs. CBD

We have analyzed which are the main cannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plants, but let’s analyze each of them and compare their properties.

Characteristics of THC and CBD

What is THC?

The full name of THC is 9 Delta-Tetrahydrocannabinol and although nowadays CBD seems to be eclipsing its fame, THC has been the great star of cannabis. It is that cannabinoid that is responsible for the psychoactive effect of marijuana, and it is the active principle for which cannabis has been considered a banned substance in most countries (Bonini, S.A., Premoli, M., Tambaro, S. et alt. 2018). But its effects go far beyond that. THC has important narcotic properties, very effective in curbing pain in chronic patients, and is a great ally to whet the appetite and curb nausea, so it is often recommended to people being treated with chemotherapy.

What is CBD?

The full name of CBD is Cannabidiol. This cannabinoid is one of the most famous components of cannabis today. It is the active ingredient that has revolutionized the perception of cannabis worldwide, due to its therapeutic properties. The most important thing is that this cannabinoid does not arouse psychoactive effects. That is to say, it does not alter brain capacities. And it is also able to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC (Bonini, S.A., Premoli, M., Tambaro, S. et alt. 2018). It rose to fame for its proven anticonvulsant properties, and has been studied as an active ingredient capable of curbing the seizures produced by some refractory epilepsies (Perry, M.S. 2019). But its medicinal action capacity does not stop there; it is currently known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and tranquilizing actions that can be used in the treatment of chronic conditions in particular (Bradley, S., Young, S., Bakke, A.M. et alt. 2022).

Current legal status of cannabinoids

The legal status of both cannabinoids depends on the country where we are. Until December 2020, the legislation of each country was based on the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, whereby cannabis, and therefore its cannabinoids, belonged to Schedule IV of prohibited substances (at the same level of danger as heroin) (United Nations. 1961). But this changed in 2020, when the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs reclassified cannabis, following recommendations from the World Health Organization, and voted to remove cannabis from that list, as long as its use was for medicinal purposes (S&F Lawyers 2021). This new perception fed the hope of the scientific community, which could research cannabinoids with greater freedom. However, it does not imply changes at the legal level: the legality of cannabis or some of its cannabinoids will continue to depend on the legislation of each country. In Europe, the cultivation, sale, transport and consumption of cannabis with THC levels above 1% is prohibited in almost all cases. The same is not true for cannabis with THC levels below 0.5% and high CBD levels, whose cultivation, sale and consumption is allowed in some countries such as Switzerland or Italy. In addition to countries, the law will change depending on the use given to cannabinoids (medicinal or recreational), and depending on the mode of consumption (flowers, tinctures, type of extracts) (S&F Lawyers 2021).

CBD for use in Companion Animals

In the case of the human species, the way of receiving cannabinoids can be chosen by the patient, between inhalation via the lungs, ingestion of oils and other extracts or even tinctures and creams. In addition, and depending on the country, it is possible to choose between receiving the cannabis plant with high doses of THC, or limiting the treatment to CBD. Animals, like humans, have an endocannabinoid system with CB-1 receptors (in charge of brain processes) and CB-2 receptors (in the immune system and peripheral organs). These receptors are responsible for a wide variety of physiological processes such as inflammation, anxiety, stress, mobility, learning, nausea, vomiting, appetite, emotions, aging, allergies and dermatological problems. However, in the case of pets, we believe that the only truly valid products are pet CBD oils, so that their mental state is not affected by THC. Moreover, inhalation is not a suitable way, and creams and lotions, given their large amount of hair, would not be effective either, therefore, at present we will limit ourselves to the use of CBD oils via oral route ( Della Rocca, G., Di Salvo, A. 2020).

We have several types of CBD oil for dogs, CBD oil for cats and CBD oil for horses.

As animals also produce endocannabinoids, it is believed that their receptors respond to CBD in a similar way as humans do. However, much research remains to be done on the effects of cannabidiol in animals (Wakshlag, J., Schwark, W., Deabold, K. et alt. 2020). CBD is believed to help in the treatment of processes involving (Galán, V. 2021) (Luque, A. 2020):

Inflammation

Because CBD shares metabolic pathways with anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), there is increasing evidence that it helps in inflammatory processes, such as arthritis, and in some patients it has even been possible to completely replace anti-inflammatory drugs with CBD, which is highly desirable in dogs suffering from the side effects of NSAIDs used for long periods of time. (Yu, C.H.J., Vasantha Rupasinghe, H.P., 2021).

Pain

The benefit of CBD oil as an anti-inflammatory observed in dogs suffering from arthritis or osteoarthritis not only has benefit at the inflammatory level, but also acts indirectly by decreasing pain (Gamble, L.J., Boesch, J.M., Frye, C.W. et alt., 2018). In dogs with other types of inflammatory pain as well, such as back pain due to intervertebral disc disease, neuropathic pain or other pain of chronic origin (Morrow, L., Belshaw, Z., 2022).

Seizures

Seizures are the most studied application of CBD in humans and it is beginning to be studied in dogs ( García, G., Kube, S., Carrera-Justiz, S. et alt. 2022). Several researches have shown that CBD is able to decrease the intensity and frequency of seizures in dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (McGrath, S., Bartner, L.R., Rao, S. et alt. 2019). In addition, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is sponsoring a study, through the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, that will evaluate the use of CBD in treatment-resistant epileptic dogs (McGrath, S. 2017). Full results are expected shortly.

Neurodegenerative diseases

Some veterinarians who have tried it with their patients have been able to observe a remarkable improvement of symptoms in older dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Being disorientation, sleep cycle disturbances, decreased activity or increased anxiety or restlessness and alterations of the (Lima, T.M., Santiago, N.R., Alves E.C.R., et alt. 2022).

Cancer

In people, CBD has been studied for possible use in cancer patients, both to treat the tumor(s) directly and to treat the secondary symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy. Very limited research has been conducted on the use of CBD for dogs with cancer. However, the anti-nausea effects of CBD observed in people receiving chemotherapy have also been documented in rats and ferrets (Parker, L.A., Rock, E.M., Limebeer, C. L. 2011), suggesting that dogs receiving chemotherapy may benefit from CBD treatment in these cases (Brioschi, F.A., Di Cesare, F., Gioeni, D., et alt. 2020).

Anxiety

Some articles claim that CBD for dogs is also effective in decreasing anxiety, others, however, see this as doubtful because since CBD is not psychoactive, it is unlikely to have the ability to directly treat canine anxiety in the way that other anxiolytic medications do. The use of CBD for dogs with regard to anxiety requires much more research (Yu, C.H.J., Vasantha Rupasinghe, H.P. 2021).

CBD Dosage in Small Animals

As the full benefits of hemp oil in the treatment of veterinary diseases are not yet known, there is some doubt about the recommended dosages and whether it can be used long-term (Wang, T., Zakharov, A., Gomez, B., et alt. 2022). Veterinarians, in general, who prescribe CBD treatments for dogs use observation as a method of monitoring and dosing. In other words, we adjust the dosage continuously until a satisfactory result is achieved (Galán, V. 2021). Studies on the use of CBD for dogs with arthritis or seizures have generally used a dose between 2-8 mg/kg, twice daily (Luque, A. 2020). This would amount to a daily dose of between 4 and 16 mg/kg. This dose has been found to be safe and effective only for the conditions studied (arthritis and seizures). But further research is still needed to evaluate the doses needed for CBD in the treatment of other conditions (Luque, A. 2020).

On the other hand, we find dosages ranging between 1-2 mg/kg per day administered in two doses (every 12 hours) (Green, Dr. 2022). Lower than those described in the previous paragraph. However, the American veterinarian Robert Silver, a veterinary graduate from Colorado State University and an expert in CBD therapies for dogs and medical cannabis, has conducted a great deal of research on the effects of medical cannabis and CBD in animals and recommends doses of between 0.2 and 1 mg of CBD per kg of body weight per day, divided into two doses (every 12 hours). The maximum dose for a dog weighing 10 kg would be 10 mg CBD per day (Silver, R. 2016). He recommends starting with a dose of 0.1 mg/kg every 12 hours (twice a day), maintaining this lower dose for a week and observing the effects. Many times, this lower dose will work well. In the case of not seeing effect he recommends going up to 0.25 mg/kg twice a day or going up as needed (Silver, R. 2016) (Luque, A. 2020). These doses, recommended by Silver, R in 2016 seem to cause infradosification, perhaps because part of his studies were conducted with a higher proportion of THC than is currently used, and without reaching the maximum recommended doses of up to 8 mg/kg, we find that most producers of CBD oils for small animals recommend daily doses of between 0.5 and 2 mg/kg day in cats and 1.5 to 4.5 mg/kg in dogs spread over two times (every 12 hours).(Ayuso, J., Ayuso, E. 2022) (Gorilla Grillz 2022).

We can give an example of dosage for both species, so that the amount of mg is explained in the form of drops, since the oils come with dropper, and it is easier for owners to dose it this way, and the veterinarian can explain it in the form of daily drops, or drops every 12 hours. Taking as a reference the presentations of the brand Gorilla Grillz, currently a leading brand, for its quality and with more than 300 distribution points in our country, we observe that for cats the presentations are at 3% CBD and in the case of dogs there are two presentations at 3% CBD for small dogs and 6% CBD, more useful for large dogs.

Example 1: Cat weighing 6 kilograms. We use 3% CBD oil. Each ml of product contains 30 mg of CBD. And calculating at 20 drops per ml, each drop contains 1.5 mg. Minimum dose 0.5 mg/kg = 3mg/day. 1.5 mg /12 hours. 1 drop /12 hours. Maximum dose 2mg/kg = 12mg/day. 6mg /12 hours. 4 drops /12 hours.

Example 2: Dog weighing 12 kilograms. We use 3% CBD oil. Each ml of product contains 30 mg of CBD. And calculating at 20 drops per ml, each drop contains 1.5 mg. Minimum dose 1.5 mg/kg = 18 mg/day. 9 mg /12 hours. 6 drops /12 hours. Maximum dose 4.5 mg/kg = 54 mg/day. 27 mg/12 hours. 18 drops /12 hours

Example 3: Dog weighing 12 kilograms. We use 6% CBD oil. Each ml of product contains 60 mg of CBD. And calculating at 20 drops per ml, each drop contains 3 mg. Minimum dose 1.5 mg/kg = 18 mg /day. 9 mg /12 hours. 3 drops /12 hours Maximum dose 4.5 mg/kg = 54 mg/day. 27 mg /12 hours. 9 drops /12 hours

Recommendations when administering CBD

Although it is a natural product, CBD oil should be considered, by its actions, as a medicine, and as such it would be advisable that before using it in pets we ask the opinion of our veterinarian.

We can, in general, apply the following rules to improve their effectiveness and the safety of our pets (Luque, A. 2020):

• Keep in mind that if your dog is being medically treated for another pathology, the safe concentration of cannabidiol and the medication in question may be altered as they interact undesirably with each other. It is therefore important to inform your veterinarian before making the decision to use CBD.
• As each dog may respond differently, it is important to start with the lowest dosage, monitor your dog’s results and adjust accordingly. Most products will offer dosage suggestions.
• CBD oil for dogs and cats is administered orally.
• The most common format in which we can find CBD oil for dogs and cats is a bottle with a dropper dispenser.
• Avoid putting the dropper directly into your dog’s mouth to avoid contamination. If it is done carelessly, clean it well afterwards.
• You can use a teaspoon or a syringe to give it, passing the drops directly to this system.
• If possible, try to administer it without food, for greater absorption.
• For its correct conservation, store the product refrigerated in the refrigerator and avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Once opened, use within the time indicated by the manufacturer.
• As it is necessary to start with a low dose, it is advisable to take a CBD product with a low percentage (Example oil at 3%).
• It is generally believed that young animals need less CBD than older animals.

Possibility of side effects

There is no scientific data on the side effects of CBD use in dogs (Wang, T., Zakharov, A., Gomez, B., et alt. 2022), but there are possible side effects based on how CBD affects humans (Bonini, S.A., Premoli, M., Tambaro, S. et alt. 2018). To minimize potential side effects, it is important to ensure the right dosage for our dog on an individual basis (Luque, A. 2020).

What could be the side effects that we would observe in our pets, in case of problems?

• Decreased salivation and dry oral mucosa. This may manifest as increased thirst.
• Low blood pressure. High doses of CBD are known to cause a temporary drop in blood pressure. Even if the drop is small, it can create a brief feeling of dizziness in our pets.
• Drowsiness. May cause mild drowsiness when higher doses are used.
• Elevation of alkaline phosphatase in the blood test. Numerous scientific studies have found that when administered at recommended and safe doses, CBD causes an elevation in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test, although it is not yet known for sure if the elevation of this value has any medical repercussions.

Other effects considered negative that we could observe would be excessive panting, lethargy, vomiting, slight urinary incontinence or loss of balance. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, overdosing may be occurring.

Because any medication or supplement that we give our pet carries the risk of a reaction, it is always advisable, when administered for the first time, to start with small amounts and then closely monitor the effects. And we always recommend to be in contact with the pet’s primary veterinarian to solve any incidence (Luque, A. 2020).

CONDITIONS THAT CAN BE TREATED WITH CBD OIL

Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Orthopedic conditions in general and of the joints, in daily clinical practice, account for approximately 45% of the work performed by specialists in Veterinary Traumatology and Orthopedics, as the other 55% is occupied by fractures of the long bones of the extremities.(Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Navarro Alberola, A., Murciano Pérez, J. 2015).

Orthopedic diseases are a major cause of pain and discomfort in dogs and cats of all ages, sizes and breeds. The prevalence of a particular orthopedic pathology can vary significantly depending on the joint being evaluated. Thus, for example, the prevalence of canine osteoarthrosis (OA) ranges from 14.3% if the hip joint is evaluated to 86% in the case of the shoulder (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Navarro Alberola, A., Murciano Pérez, J. 2015).

The term arthritis refers to inflammation of the synovial membrane inside the joints. As a consequence, derra- mes are produced by the increased production of synovial fluid and only if the arthritis persists can it damage the cartilage, subchondral bone, ligaments and tendons surrounding the inflamed joint, thus becoming a degenerative condition (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Zilberchstein, J., Carrillo Sánchez, J.D. 2022).

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative disease with a progressive course that occurs when the articular cartilage wears down. Currently, it is known that, in addition to the cartilage, osteoarthritis affects the entire joint: the subchondral bone, the ligaments, the joint capsule, the muscles surrounding the joint or the menisci (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Zilberchstein, J., Carrillo Sánchez, J.D. 2022).

For the treatment of arthritis there are very precise pharmacological mechanisms, so that we can combat it with steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids) or with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), since these inflammations, if diagnosed in time, evolve favorably.

The problem arises in the treatment of osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), since it has produced alterations of the articular elements, which are not correctable either by medication or surgery.

Once osteoarthritis has been diagnosed, either in a particular joint due to trauma or infection, or in the joints of the body in general due to the age of our patient, it will be necessary to extend the treatment over the long term, and very often throughout the life of the patient in question. In these cases, both the use of corticosteroids and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually cause the appearance of pernicious side effects, which in a large number of cases force the treatment to be discontinued (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A. 2014).

It is here, in those cases of osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, where CBD oils can make a difference, due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic capacity, without presenting, in the long term, pernicious side effects that would force the cessation of treatment (Vaughn, D., Paulionis, L., Kulpa, J. 2021) (Bradley, S., Young, S., Bakke, A.M. et alt. 2022).

However, we know that the painful and inflammatory processes of osteoarthritis manifest themselves more during periods of higher humidity and colder weather throughout the year, i.e. during autumn, winter and spring, with summer being much more benign for this disease.

For the above mentioned, personally my recommendation for the use of CBD oil in pets affected by osteoarthritis is to use it during the months of October to May maintaining three weeks of treatment and one week of rest, and maintaining a seasonal break in the months of June, July, August and September, in which the high temperatures and dry environment allow better mobility of our patients.

Regarding the dose to be used, I recommend starting with a dose of 1.5 mg/kg distributed in two daily intakes, i.e. one intake every 12 hours. It is important that the first dose be taken early in the morning, since, after periods of inactivity (night rest), arthritic joints suffer more. After the application of this dose for at least 2 weeks, the following should be done

to evaluate the action that CBD oil has had on the behavior of the pets (mobility and absence or decrease of pain) and if necessary increase the dose. And in this way progressively, until the effective dose is found for each specific patient. But, of course, never exceed the threshold of 4.5 mg/kg, if there is no specific recommendation from the patient’s veterinarian.

Seizure Control

One of the first applications in which CBD oil was used in human medicine, as a treatment, was epilepsy, both in adults and children. And in fact it has been used since 2014, when the first experiences were published (Szaflarski, J.P., Bebin, E.M., Comi, A.M. et alt. 2018).

In the first studies carried out, it was seen that in the groups treated with CBD oil the frequency of seizures decreased, as well as the range of severity of the seizures that occurred in these patients (Perry, M.S. 2019). The only alterations that were verified by analytical tests were an increase in alkaline phosphatase and hepatic aminotransferase, but which in no case could be considered dangerous, resulting in CBD oil being considered safe and well tolerated (Szaflarski, J.P., Bebin, E.M., Comi, A.M. et alt. 2018).

Analyzing these studies, CBD oil has begun to be used in dogs with epileptiform seizures as an adjunct to conventional antiepileptic drugs (Morrow, L., Belshaw, Z. 2022). Results are good in most cases, with reduced seizure frequency and reduced seizure severity. (McGrath, S., Bartner, L.R., Rao, S. et alt. 2019).

The dose used by McGrath et al. was 2.5 mg/kg twice daily, resulting in a daily utilization of 5 mg/kg. As in the previous case, I consider that it is better to start with a somewhat lower dose, 2.5 mg/kg as a daily total, and distributed twice. Subsequently, evaluate the result, with a minimum treatment of 12 weeks, and once the results are seen, we can increase the dose progressively, always evaluating every 12 weeks, and reaching a maximum of 4.5 mg/kg daily.

Once the effective dose is achieved, after the 12-week treatment periods, my recommendation is to stop the administration of CBD oil for two weeks, in order to avoid the need, in the long term, to have to increase the doses.

Disorders of the Spine and Spinal Cord

Spinal cord disorders are very varied, regardless of the cause (concussion, compression, contusion and spinal cord section), and the severity of the neurological deficit can help us to determine the degree of spinal cord injury. Knowledge of the degree of spinal cord injury is essential when issuing a prognosis about the possible functional recovery and when recommending or not certain types of treatments (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Murciano, J., Navarro, A., Paredes, J. 2016).

The ultimate goal of any diagnosis is to determine exactly the cause of the pathology observed, and no less so in the case of spine and spinal cord disorders, we need to know whether it has been a trauma, an infectious disease or a degenerative disease, since the prognosis and possible treatment will depend absolutely on an accurate diagnosis (Sánchez-Valverde, M.A., Murciano, J., Navarro, A., Paredes, J. 2016). In the subject that concerns us, CBD oil is going to be indicated in chronic degenerations of the spine, and in cases of onset of herniated discs that can be treated by conservative treatment.

The degeneration of the intervertebral spaces causes a generalized osteoarthritis of the spine, this is what we know as spondyloarthrosis. That is, in short, a type of osteoarthritis that occurs in the vertebrae due to age and, in many cases, to the way of life to which our pets have been subjected. Sporting dogs, hunting dogs, dogs that guard open spaces, dogs that move around a lot, may be more susceptible to this condition. As the osteoarthritis that it is, I recommend following the same protocols that we have explained for osteoarthritis in general. Start with a dose of 1.5 mg/kg divided into two daily doses, i.e. one dose every 12 hours. After the application of this dose for at least 2 weeks, we should evaluate the action that the CBD oil has had on the behavior of the pets (mobility and absence or decrease of pain) and if necessary increase the dose. And in this way progressively, until we find the effective dose for each specific patient. But, of course, never exceed the threshold of 4.5 mg/kg, if there is no specific recommendation from the patient’s veterinarian.

In the case of incipient disc herniations (what we call light protrusions, as opposed to established disc herniation or extrusion), it is one of the few occasions in which we can recommend a conservative and non-surgical treatment, and in these cases I do recommend as an adjuvant the use of CBD oil, in this case always in low doses of 1.5 mg/kg. Increasing these doses can be dangerous, because if it hides the progression of the disc herniation it could complicate the complete recovery of the patient. In these cases it is necessary the periodic revision of the patient by a specialist.

Anxiety and Stress

Some articles claim that CBD for dogs is also effective in decreasing anxiety, others, however, see this as doubtful because since CBD is not psychoactive, it is unlikely to have the ability to directly treat canine anxiety in the way that other anxiolytic medications do. (Luque, A. 2020)

However, cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system, a biological system present in humans, dogs and cats, among other animals. This system regulates some bodily functions and therefore, CBD can cause broad and profound effects. Scientific studies have been conducted on animal subjects, which have shown that cannabidiol works as an anxiolytic, that is, it contributes to decrease the signs of anxiety (Garcia, R. 2019).

We have been talking so far about canine patients, but in this section we have to focus on both the canine and feline species. We are going to give some examples where these two species can suffer stress and anxiety, and surely all of us in our professional life and as pet owners will recognize some of the situations.

In the case of the canine species:

– Individuals taken in from a shelter after being abandoned.

– Patients who have never lived in the city and who change to an urban setting.

– Change of owners for various reasons.

– Birth of a child of the couple that owns it and feeling slighted.

– Fireworks festivities

In the case of the feline species:

– Patient left at home for two or three days in the care of a caregiver.

– Change of owners for various reasons.

– Entry into the house of another cat taken in by its owners.

Dosage in these cases, as explained above, is best started at the lower levels (0.5 mg/kg daily in two applications for cats and 1.5 mg/kg daily in two applications for dogs).

We can analyze the results, in each of the situations, and progressively increase the doses if they have not been effective, reaching the maximums we have already mentioned of 1.5 mg/kg per day in the case of cats and 4.5 mg/kg per day in the case of dogs. It is not necessary to maintain the doses permanently, but they will be applied, only and exclusively in the period in which stress or anxiety state may occur.

Management of Cancerous Processes

In people, CBD has been studied for possible use in cancer patients, both to treat the tumor(s) directly and to treat the secondary symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy, especially vomiting (Abrahamov A, Abrahamov A, Mechoulam R. 1995).

Very limited research has been conducted on the use of CBD for dogs with cancer. However, the anti-nausea effects of CBD observed in people receiving chemotherapy have also been documented in rats (Parker, L.A., Rock, E.M., Limebeer, C.L. 2011), ferrets (Van Sickle, M.D., Oland, L.D., HO, W., et alt. 2001) and shrews (Cluny, N.L., Naylor, R.J., Whittle, B.A., Javid, F.A. 2008), suggesting that dogs receiving chemotherapy may benefit from CBD treatment in these cases (Luque, A. 2020). It is true that the complications and side effects of chemotherapy described in the canine and feline species are much milder than those described in human medicine.

In most animals, the side effects of chemotherapy, if they appear, are characterized by being mild and transient. Less than 5% of patients experience serious or life-threatening side effects, according to data from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Complutense University. (Pinedo, C. 2013). The side effects of the usual chemotherapy treatments in people (hair loss or vomiting) are not extrapolable to dogs. Veterinarians apply less aggressive treatments that have fewer side effects, although in some cases some responses may occur, which are cited below (Pinedo, C. 2013):

– Digestive alterations: lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

– Changes in character, making him more isolated and detached from his owner.

– Lowered defenses, which increases the risk of the patient contracting infections. For this reason, the veterinarian performs frequent blood tests to monitor the state of the immune system.

– Hair loss in animals undergoing chemotherapy treatment is rare, unlike in humans. However, it may be the case that the hair, after grooming, takes longer to grow than usual or has a different color than the rest of the hair.

Being a milder symptomatology, the action of CBD oil on CB-1 and CB-2 cannabinoid receptors seems to be effective enough to minimize this symptomatology and offer pets a better quality of life.

As in all occasions we will dose starting with the minimum dose and observing the effect it produces (0.5 mg/kg for cats and 1.5 mg/kg for dogs). After seeing the results we can progressively increase the dose until we find the effective dose.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

On the one hand we have the word “Physical Therapy” under which we will perform the physical examination and evaluation of the patient with functional limitations, in order to determine a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment (American Physical Therapy Association, APTA), and on the other hand, the word “Rehabilitation”, which would include the part of physical therapy aimed at the recovery of diminished or lost functions through non-invasive physical techniques (Zilberchstein, J., Sánchez-Valverde, M.A. 2014).

Physiotherapy gives a new perspective to Veterinary Medicine and expands the therapeutic options aimed at offering a quality service to our patients. In addition, it can be included within Preventive Medicine, a new concept that we include in Veterinary Medicine, in this case, with the objective of preventing injuries or the unfavorable evolution of musculoskeletal and neurological pathologies.

Although physiotherapy seemed to be destined only to competition animals such as horses and racing dogs or those assigned to work, nowadays and for the good fortune of dogs, cats and other pets, several specific care techniques have been developed in a rigorous professional context. Resting times are mandatory for fracture resolutions even though this inevitably leads to greater muscle atrophy due to disuse of the part involved and a longer recovery time. Rehabilitation plans can begin after surgery depending on each case, allowing a rapid development of the muscle masses and an increase in muscle mass. mobility of joints that had been previously immobilized (Zilberchstein, J., Sánchez-Valverde, M.A. 2014).

On the other hand, we are faced with the condition that any rehabilitation process is usually painful, and also usually causes some inflammation of the treated areas. It is necessary to mobilize the joints that have been in pause mode and this generates stress and pain in the patient. And this is where CBD oil treatment can play a great role, as it is slightly anti-inflammatory, analgesic and prevents, as we have seen, anxiety.

In these cases my recommendation is to use the lower doses both in cats (0.5 mg/kg per day in 2 daily intakes) and in dogs (1.5 mg/kg per day in 2 daily intakes). The treatment will be maintained during the whole period of time that the rehabilitation process lasts. In our experience it is not necessary to recalculate the doses, since these minimum doses have offered a good result.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is still a long way to go, it is anticipated that both CBD for dogs and cats, as well as other alternative medicines, will play a key role in increasing the quality of life of pets in the near future.

The use of CBD for dogs and cats with regard to anxiety requires much more research.

In all the aspects in which we use CBD oil we must take into account the beginning of the treatment with minimum doses and recalculate progressively until we find the effective dose for our patient.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This review work has been sponsored by “Gorilla GrillzTM” and specifically by their “CBD Pets” product line of CBD oils for animals.

My thanks to Javier Ayuso López and Enrique Ayuso López for their contributions to the generation of this work, through their personal communications.

BIBLIOGRAPHY .

Abrahamov, A., Abrahamov, A., Mechoulam, R. 1995. An efficient new cannabinoid antiemetic in pediatric oncology. Life Sci. 56: 2097-2102.

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