Let’s talk about CBD

Concord Animal Hospital’s team of veterinarians gets questions about CBD and pets almost every day – here’s their take CBD and your pet.

​Small amounts of marijuana are now legal in Massachusetts. Products with CBD are available at your local grocery store, gas station, and even pet store. This has many pet owners wondering whether these products could have health benefits for their pets.
“I’d say each of the doctors here has a client per day asking about CBD products for their pets,” says Dr. Rhea McCullough, CAH veterinarian. “Owners of older pets and pets with chronic diseases in particular want to know whether they should consider CBD products marketed for animals.”
Knowing that many in our community are curious about CBD, we’re sharing the four things you need to know about CBD and your pet.

What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a product of both the cannabis and hemp plants. It is only legal when it is derived from hemp – any product for sale containing CBD should not be derived from cannabis. CBD does not have psychoactive properties. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive component of cannabis, or marijuana.
​What research has been done on CBD and pets?
Not enough! “At this point there are very few published results that determine benefits of CBD for pets or how it interacts with other medications or supplements,” notes Dr. McCullough. “Not only have benefits not been confirmed by the research, but proper dosing and CBD toxicity levels have not been defined.”
​There is anecdotal evidence that CBD may have benefits for pets. These claimed benefits include reducing inflammation, stimulating appetite, reducing anxiety, and controlling seizures. There are studies underway and all in the veterinary community eagerly await the results. 

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What are the risks of giving CBD at this point?
"My biggest concern at this point is the lack of standardization across CBD products and possible contamination," says Dr. McCullough. "Many contain more or less CBD than they claim. Others contain undeclared and potentially significant levels of THC as well as toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals."
Even CBD itself isn't completely benign. ​Potential health risks the FDA is currently investigating include liver injury, drowsiness, diarrhea, and changes in mood. Also concerning is that we don’t know how these products might interact with current medications. If we are working with you to manage your pet’s cancer or seizures, a product containing CBD may interact with another medication.

What is Concord Animal Hospital’s stance on CBD?
Our team of veterinarians suspects that there CBD does have health benefits for pets. However, there are significant knowledge gaps in the science, safety, and quality of CBD for pets. Until there are published studies on the safety and efficacy of CBD and standardized dosing, we do not recommend that our clients administer CBD products to their pets.

“We may get there, but we aren’t there yet,” says Dr. McCullough. “We want to proceed with caution. Something that appears benign like CBD might carry risks that have yet to be uncovered. A good parallel is vaping, whose risks are being investigated and restrictive legislation considered only now, after use has become widespread.”
​It’s also important to note that recommending a product like CBD for your pet that has not yet been deemed safe or effective could put our veterinarians at risk for board discipline or actions against their veterinary licenses.

Though we don’t recommend CBD products, we want our clients to be open with us about CBD products that they are administering to their pets and to feel that they can ask us questions about CBD. We’ll discuss CBD for your pet to the best of our knowledge. We’re your partner in your pet’s healthcare and want you to feel that you can be transparent with us!