Over the past ten years, the relationship between pet and owner has taken on a new meaning. With Americans waiting until later, if at all, to start a family, the bond with their pets has grown stronger, and young Americans are leading in their rate of pet ownership. The pet industry has seen changes like the popularity of grain-free food and pet technology. Now, the focus is on CBD oil for pets.
Just as people are increasingly taking cannabis to ease their ailments, pet products with cannabis are on the rise. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-intoxicating chemical compound that comes from the cannabis Sativa plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, another cannabinoid) CBD doesn’t get users high.
Scientific research has shown that there are many legitimate medical uses for cannabis. Once cannabis was proven to help humans, pet products seemed to be the natural progression for many cannabis supporters. At SuperZoo 2018, the largest national show for pet retailers, there was an increasing number of products with CBD and hemp oil on display. Many pet owners are finding that cannabis oil serves as an alternative to traditional medicine, providing many of the same benefits without the side effects.
According to Dogs Naturally, an aging Staffordshire Terrier had a two-and-a-half-inch mammary tumor and metastasis that disappeared three months after treatment with cannabis and didn’t come back. The owner of a Jack Russell Terrier with a severe heart murmur and painful arthritis found he was able to take long walks after a month of cannabis treatment. That’s when veterinarian Edward Bassingthwaighte discovered cannabis could be a critical part of his holistic veterinary practice. “I simply can’t explain the improved heart murmur,” reported Bassingthwaite. “They normally don’t get better.”
It is estimated that up to 5% of dogs suffer from seizures. Typically, these dogs are put on drugs like phenobarbital and potassium bromide. While they may help control the seizures, they can be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver. Additionally, CBD has been shown to work with drug-resistant epilepsy. In one study, 7 out of 8 patients with epilepsy that was resistant to drugs saw an improvement within 4 to 5 months of taking CBD.
The biggest moneymaker in the pet industry right now is healthcare, particularly veterinary care. In 2016, $15.42 billion was spent solely in veterinary care, up 2.5% from 2015. Judging by the recent growth in the pet care market, the pet medicine opportunity for cannabis is too large to ignore.
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