TREATING PETS WITH MEDICAL CANNABIS

Questions and answers from veterinary professionals.

Drs. Gary Richter and Trina Hazzah, co-founders of the Veterinary Cannabis Society (VCS), spoke on a panel at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association conference in Reno, NV, in October 2021. Below are excerpts from their question & answer session. 

Introduction: “The mission of the VCS,” Dr. Gary Richter explained in his introductory remarks, “is to educate veterinarians and pet parents about how to use cannabis safely and effectively. We work with regulators and legislators to sort out the myriad legal problems the veterinary profession currently has with cannabis. This is true for both hemp-based CBD products, but also for higher THC cannabis products if you happen to live in a state where that sort of thing is legal. The VCS is working with industry to make sure that the products that are being marketed and sold for animals are being done properly, they are manufactured safely, that product labeling and advertising is legal and appropriate. Finally, the VCS is working on product certification. So, for example, if you were to pick up a product that had the VCS seal on it you would know that that product has already been vetted for quality and efficacy.”

Question from the audience: What will set your rating system for products apart from what the NASC [National Animal Supplement Council] does?

Dr. Gary Richter: We’re actually consulting with a couple of people, including the NASC, to potentially collaborate when it comes to hemp-related products! So, really – NASC does an excellent job from the standpoint of evaluating products and their manufacturing practices and that sort of thing. The flip side of it, what we would bring to table, would be the educational aspect as well. So, we can provide veterinarians and the pet owner with what is out there from the standpoint of applications of certain ratios of cannabinoids, terpene profiles, what have you, so people are a little better able to pick the formula that most specifically serves whatever you’re treating.

Question: I was under the impression that you couldn’t give THC to dogs and cats because it’s toxic.

Dr. Trina Hazzah: When THC is dosed appropriately it can be exceedingly effective. As an oncologist, many of my patients that have cancer have been on very high doses of THC, sometimes 30 or more mg of THC two times a day. And that seems insane, right. If some people took that dose, they would be asleep for a week. But there is truly an art to getting veterinary patients up to those high doses. Not every pet can tolerate the same dose or titration schedule.  As we increase the dose over time, the CB1 receptors actually internalize, and tolerance occurs. So, you can actually get a patient up to larger amounts of THC when titrated with appropriate guidance.