CBD for pets

When Amber Sanders’ dog Honey Bear underwent chemotherapy for cancer, her oncologist at Veterinary Cancer Care suggested she try CBD oil as part of Honey Bear’s recovery program.

“I’m not sure if it did anything for the chemo side effects,” Sanders said. “But it was a game-changer for her hips.” The senior dog went from having a hard time walking to running through the mountains.

Ceramic artist Lisa Nye-Jensen experienced similar results with her arthritic 15-year-old Rottweiler-heeler mix Rio. “He hasn’t given us a report or anything,” she said. “But it seems to help.”

“Most of our patients use CBD,” says Dr. Jeannette Kelly of Veterinary Cancer Care. “We extrapolate from research that has been done on humans and mice. It has been shown to help all kinds of ailments and reduce the production of cancer cells. Yet we always say ‘may help,’ given the research is in its preliminary stages.” Some animals do not react well to CBD, she said, but most do.

Coryelle Kramer, an animal communicator and manager at Camba CBD in Santa Fe, explained that the receptors in the body that respond to CBD react differently with different people and with animals. “Some [animals] work well with the tinctures, and others respond better with edibles,” she said.

“A client came in with an incredibly anxious dog,” she said. “I gave her half a CBD cookie and she was noticeably calmer within minutes.” That particular dog was a small Chihuahua-Yorkie mix, so the CBD in half a cookie was enough to take effect quickly.

Kramer recommends starting with a low dose of CBD and working your way up. She suggests 10 drops to begin if you’re using a tincture or one treat if you’re using an edible, increasing the dose in increments of five to 10 drops or an additional treat if needed. The point is “for the animals to be pain free, with a better quality of life, not sleepy,” she said.

The levels of THC — the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant — in CBD products are miniscule, which virtually eliminates the possibility of overdosing or producing a psychotropic effect. “You can use it with other medications too,” Kramer said, as long as there are no reports of negative interactions.

While CBD is legal in much of the country, some states — such as Florida and Texas — have banned it altogether because of its relationship to THC. New Mexico is relatively lenient when it comes to CBD production and distribution. April 2017 state legislation allows for its production with either a commercial or a research permit. However, boutiques that sell CBD products must be kept separate from medical cannabis dispensaries, because the laws state that dispensaries can sell only cannabis grown, produced and manufactured in New Mexico, and many CBD products come from out of state.

Not all CBD shops cater to animals. Those that offer tinctures and treats for pets include Camba CBD, with an entrance behind Minerva Canna (1710 Cerrillos Road), Fruit of the Earth Organics (901 Early St.) and Sacred Wellness (1300 Luisa St.).

Owners give their pets CBD for everything from seizures and skin ailments to aggression and anxiety, Kramer said, and overall, “the stuff is amazing.”