We would do just about anything for our furry friends. According to the American Pet Products
Association, in 2018, dog and cat owners spent $72.13 billion on pet care while $15.5 billion of those
dollars were paid for over the counter supplements and medicine.
As our pets age, arthritis, inflammation, and low energy can be a heartbreaking sight. When the
prescriptions don’t seem to be working anymore, there is a natural alternative: CBD.
CBD is one of the cannabinoids extracted from the marijuana plant. It has little to no THC, meaning that
there are no psychoactive effects induced if CBD is taken. Humans and animals can reap a variety of
benefits from treating chronic pain to regulating anxiety and depression.
Dr. Patty Khuly is a veterinarian who prescribes CBD in her vet clinic. In a recent article published on
Veterinarian Practice News, Dr. Khuly writes about the specific ailments CBD can treat in our pets.
“CBD’s safety profile has been studied in dogs at Colorado State University (conclusion: safe) and
research into its efficacy in seizure disorders is currently underway there. A mountain of anecdotal
reports also identifies osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, allergic skin disease, appetite
stimulation, and nausea relief (among others) as other potential areas of study. High-level evidence on
efficacy is scant, to be sure, but CBD oil is considered safe and effective by a growing number of
veterinary practitioners who aren’t your typical devotees of alternative medicine. I fall squarely into that
camp. Count me among the converted.” Writes Khuly.
Murray Avenue Apothecary in Pennsylvania sells industrially grown organic CBD in the form of gummies,
oil, vapes, and creams. According to one of the pharmacists, the oil can be sprinkled into a pet’s water
bowl or food.
Susan Kettering, dog-mom to Moe, the 13-year-old mixed breed canine, “Moe”, swears by CBD oil.
According to an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Moe had been prescribed drugs and
acupuncture to treat inflammation and pain from arthritis. Although the treatments worked for a while,
Moe’s condition became worse. Ms. Kettering thought Moe would need to be euthanized soon.
When all hope seemed lost, Moe was given CBD from Murray Avenue Apothecary. Within two days,
Moe had his appetite back and spring in his step.
“He loved going outside to roll around in the snow. He started trying to eat shoes again, which he had
not done for a long time,” Ms. Kettering said.
Karen Lindauer is a pharmacist working at Murray Avenue Apothecary. One of her clients had eight cats
that were not using the litter box correctly. Ms. Lindauer says that this can be a sign of anxiety. She sold
her client a topical CBD ointment to rub on the felines' ears. Shortly after using, all the cats get along
better and properly use the litter box.
Similarly, Goren, a sixteen-year-old Maltese with dementia and a blind Pekingese with seizures at Senior
Hearts Rescue and Renewal Animal Care Clinic take CBD. Founder and President, Denise Pavitt, says CBD
“has made a tremendous difference, the blind Pekingese no longer has seizures and the Maltese’s
aggressive behavior has improved.”
Additional Sources:
https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/whats-the-deal-with-cbd/
