Cannabis for your pets there’s more to it than CBD
A discussion about how two entrepreneurs got their start in the cannabis industry
The co-founders of My Best Bud, Irena R. (IR) and Irena H. (IH), have come to be known as the two Irenas. They are powerhouse serial entrepreneurs with backgrounds in the aerospace engineering, law and medical fields. They hope that the science they used to develop wellness products for pets will one day be able to treat humans as well. And they see a lot of opportunities for women in cannabis.
Q: How did your career in cannabis get started?
IR: The cannabis industry was at once the most unlikely and yet the most natural place for me to find my true calling. After the devastating loss of my husband from pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago, I could not let go of the thought that there was no medicine out there to help him and the only medicine which does exist, does little to stop the disease and often does more harm than good. My husband was an orthopedic surgeon and believed in the promise of cannabis and medical research. With him in mind and with the hope of developing cannabis-based medicines and therapies, I wanted to be part of the solution and dove into years of research and development.
IH: When my husband was fighting two different cancers, I was introduced to the science of cannabis. Working with animals both domestic and wild, I developed strong relationships with veterinarians who not only treat animals daily, but also advocate for legislation to protect the well-being of animals. There were countless animals that were suffering and the medication that was available to them was often more harmful than helpful.
Q: What led you to start My Best Bud?
IR: I have found that many people who enter the cannabis industry are driven by a passion to help their loved ones or someone they know who can benefit from the healing properties of cannabis. In my case, I had witnessed the limitations of existing therapies and medicines for people and pets and became determined to find a solution. My Best Bud started as a solution to the gap veterinarians face in their treatment options and it was with the support of veterinarians looking for better treatment options that My Best Bud was born. Some traditional treatments for pets do little to offer permanent or even temporary relief and often do more harm than good.
“Over and over we’ve seen people who aren’t convinced cannabis will do anything for their pets become advocates of it,”. We would set up My Best Bud tables at dispensaries and speak with people directly about the needs of their pets, distributing our products. Weeks later, those same people would return with tears in their eyes and hug us.” - Irena H
Creating alternative medicine to solve problems and treat ailments our furry family members are facing without the negative side effects of some of the traditional medicines on the market currently, will one day help us all. This is our mission and this is what we offer with our products.
Q: What makes My Best Bud stand out?
Dogs and cats have different ailments and are not all the same breed, size, weight or age. My Best Bud has three different pet-specific, veterinarian-formulated ratios of CBD to THC because cannabis is individualized medicine and not one-size-fits-all. My Best Bud products are specially formulated using the highestquality ingredients and specifically dosed for animal receptors with the goal of safety and efficacy offering relief, not a high.
Determining the right ratio of CBD to THC is the most important factor in determining which product is right for your pet.
Pet parents can scan the QR code on the packaging or go to https://mybestbudca.com/rightratio/ and answer a few questions to determine which product is right for their pets’ needs.
IH: As we were developing My Best Bud, my Doberman was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and given only months to live. Subsequently, he suffered an acute condition which caused him to lose the use of his rear legs. Due to his heart condition, he was unable to use steroidal medication, and the medication that was prescribed not only offered no relief but also hurt his kidneys. The only thing that ended up helping his rear leg issue was the 4:1 formula that we developed, and he was soon able to use his rear legs without any negative changes in his liver and kidney blood tests. In addition to prescription heart medication, it has continued to be part of his daily regiment and it has been well over twoand-a-half years since his DCM diagnosis.