By Steph Selice

Recently I talked with Steven Fiore, MD, of CannabisMD TeleMed about cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets. Dr. Fiore, a Virginia orthopedist specializing in medical marijuana for humans, is often asked how CBD could benefit pets. He shared a concise overview of CBD and some relevant veterinary research.

CBD Legality for Virginian Pets

CBD is derived from hemp. It is not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces a high in humans but is toxic to dogs. CBD hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.3% total THC derivatives are now legal in Virginia, but not all hemp products are regulated alike (see Resources). CBD is not suitable for animal feed. However, it’s legal in products such as treats, oils, and tinctures available through specialty stores, hemp companies, and online retailers. CBD products won’t get humans or pets high but have other sought-after effects.

In Virginia, producers (but not retailers) of CBD products for pets must be licensed through the Agricultural Commodities Program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VCACS) Office of Plant Industry Services. Hemp-derived pet products are not regulated through Virginia’s Hemp Enforcement Program, but are held to strictly enforced state standards for animal safety.

CBD Product Safety and Veterinary Prescribing

Dr. Fiore stressed that CBD users need to ensure products they give their pets come from brands that source quality plants; conduct independent lab testing for quality, purity, and potency; and promote clear ingredient listings and dosage guidelines.

Dr. Amy Savarino, veterinary pharmacist at Texas A&M, recommends asking CBD product suppliers for a current certificate of analysis (COA) about ingredient quality and composition. Reputable companies will likely share COAs. Dr. Savarino has compared a COA to a birth certificate for a product.

Above all, as with anything else humans give their pets, CBD products should be approved by veterinarians. (No current CBD products for pets are FDA approved.) Certain CBD products may interact with other veterinary prescriptions or treatment and would therefore not be prescribed. For example, since CBD is metabolized by the liver, pets with liver disease or breeds with liver issues, such as Doberman Pinschers, will probably not be given CBD.

Some vets may also have concerns not only about CBD safety, administration, and dosage (since veterinary research in CBD use is relatively recent), but also about ongoing changes in Virginia law. Holistic veterinarians may be more comfortable prescribing CBD now, but other vets will likely follow as research advances and CBD statutes become established.

CBD Veterinary Uses: Cause for Optimism

CBD is already being researched to treat a range of veterinary conditions that parallel its current use by humans:

• Pain management: osteoarthritis and joint pain, neuropathic (nerve-related) pain, mobility issues
• Anxiety and stress: general anxiety, noise reactions, phobias, separation anxiety (fear of being left alone), stress during vet visits or other anxiety-producing events
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders: number and severity of seizures
• Inflammation
• Skin Irritations and allergies: itching, chewing, or scratching
• Appetite stimulation
• Nausea relief
• Cancer treatment (to supplement other care)

Joseph Wakshlag, PhD, DVM, a veterinarian researcher at Cornell and with ElleVet® Sciences, has studied CBD treatment of animals since the late 2010s, including osteoarthritis, cancer chemotherapy, mobility, anxiety, and appetite issues.

Though CBD use has sparked interest among pet lovers, some of whom already give their pets CBD to treat health conditions, Dr. Wakshlag emphasizes that CBD veterinary research is in its early stages. He and other researchers are optimistic about CBD’s promise as veterinarians learn more about the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in mammals. ECS “[is] pervasive in mammalian species. . . . [This] ubiquitous system . . . provides homeostatic balance to the nervous and immune systems, as well as many other organ systems.”

Echoing Dr. Fiore, Dr. Wakshlag reminds pet lovers that CBD products are derived from hemp, not marijuana, so they should not worry about getting their pets high. Closely monitoring pets on CBD is essential, just as humans would with any other prescribed veterinary treatment.

Current research shows, for example, that various dog breeds (and individual pets) may react differently to CBD. It often makes dogs drowsy at first and may have other initial side effects, including upset stomach, impaired coordination, or behavioral changes. Veterinary researchers are studying CBD use in cats and horses, and less often in other mammals and nonmammalian species. But CBD pet research will likely expand soon to include these animals.

About the Author: Steph Selice volunteered as an adoption counselor at King Street Cats in Alexandria for seven years

Resources

“Hemp Product Enforcement”
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/food-hemp-product-enforcement.shtml

“The Legality and Availability of CBD Oil in Virginia”
Virginia Division of Legislative Services
https://dls.virginia.gov/pubs/briefs/brief62.pdf

Code of Virginia Regarding Hemp Products
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/3.2-4112/

Virginia Consumer Protection Act
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodepopularnames/virginia-consumer-protection-act/

“Virginia Lawmakers Pass New Rules Regarding Hemp Products”
https://www.vpm.org/news/2023-04-13/delta-8-10-regulations-general-assembly-thc

“The Role of Cannabinoids in Veterinary Medicine: Insights from Joseph Wakshlag, DVM”
https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/the-role-of-cannabinoids-in-veterinary-medicine-insights-from-joseph-wakshlag-dvm

“The ABCs of CBD for Pets”
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/cbd-for-pets/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLqG6FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3RU9MQkxjbGJCY0VrOWRMAR7CIQ1J7jPNxiPVjZIiAKB6x2HfxSpYkPbgcivlK9TE7i0qi9TxFxj8_gBqCA_aem_WpuRExIv_WLIuIT0i6_BNg

“CBD and Hemp Oil for Pets”
https://www.reddogbluekat.com/post/cbd-and-hemp-oil-for-pets-expert-insights-from-veterinarian-dr-katherine-kramer

“CBD: What You Need to Know About Its Uses and Efficacy”
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/cbd-what-you-need-know-about-its-uses-and-efficacy

“Blazing a Trail”
https://richmondmagazine.com/news/news/local-medical-marijuana-market/

“The Endocannabinoid System of Animals”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6770351/

“The Role of Cannabinoids in Pain Modulation in Companion Animals”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9848446/

CannabisMD TeleMed
https://cannabismdtelemed.com/about-us

District Hemp Botanicals
https://www.dhbotanicals.com/shop/pet-collection/53

ElleVet® Sciences
https://www.goellevet.com/

Holistapet
https://www.holistapet.com/

Nature’s Nibbles
https://naturesnibbles.com/

Northern Virginia Hemp Company
https://northernvirginiahempcompany.com/

Pet Releaf
https://petreleaf.com/

Virginia Hemp LLC
https://virginiahemp.us/