Pot and pets

By Christian Dutchyn

 

 

People have used marijuana as a medication for centuries and now some people are giving it to their pets to treat the ailments that afflict them.

While giving marijuana to animals is illegal, a new issue that has risen is whether or not pet owners should be allowed to give the medication to their pets. Serious long-term health consequences when using marijuana are rare, but in 2012 there was a case of two dogs dying from a massive marijuana overdose after ingesting the substance. This is an uncommon occurrence the issue is usually resolved if the animal vomits.

In 2001 Canada was the first country to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Since then, the movement of legalization has spread across the world. The substance is now viewed as a legitimate form of medication in several countries such as Italy and Argentina. The drug has even been recreationally-legalized in U.S. states like Alaska and Colorado.

Jim Sweetman, a veterinarian at the Downtown Veterinary Hospital, said it’s difficult to determine how effective the use of marijuana is in treating pets.

“It’s never been tested in Canada, so we really don’t know. It hasn’t been tried in Ontario and our association says we are not to use medical marijuana on pets,” he said.

When it comes to people giving their pets the substance as a form of at-home medication, Sweetman said he feels it is a legal matter.

“If the people think it works, there’s probably nothing wrong with it, but that’s a legal decision someone else would have to make,” said Sweetman.

Although its effectiveness in animals remains unknown, some people are medicating their pets.

Brian, who asked his last name not be used, is the owner of a dog named Caesar who suffers from arthritis. Caesar is a German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix who has been given cannabis butter to treat the pain and lack of mobility that accompany his illness. Brian said Caesar has improved since starting the at-home treatment.

“He used to sleep all day and only get up once a day to go outside and use the washroom. He was non-responsive and really lazy and he’d moan a lot in his sleep,” said Brian. “Other medications would be ibuprofen or another form of a pill that would be tough on his liver and kidneys. I didn’t want to put him through that in his old age so I just tried the butter first. It worked way better. I give him small slivers of weed butter every day and now he’s active all day long.”

More research is needed to determine if medical marijuana is a viable way to treat animals. More information about marijuana and its effects on people is available at the Health Canada website.