So I talked to my vet about the CBD oil…she said…“I’m not supposed to tell you this…but yes…try it!!” I’ve found it on Amazon…but are ALL CBD oils equal?? I didn’t find any labelled specifically for dogs. How do I know how much to use?? Thanks. My dogs seizures average every 4 to 6 weeks…should I wait until the “event” is closer…or start now??
Do you have any CBD stores near you? I know that even in my very not progressive state/area that they have started popping up. All things on Amazon are 100% NOT created equal and I’d be very wary of ordering anything I’m going to ingest from a non verified vendor. Definitely find a reputable brand and make sure it is their company selling through Amazon if you must go that route. Going somewhere in person would be better.
All CBD oils are also not created equal regardless of Amazon as who you purchase it from or not. Some will have additives and minimal amounts of CBD. Whether or not it goes through 3rd party testing is important too. I know that the store out here has a sign that says they have products for both humans and animals and to come in and chat with them.
I don’t use CBD personally so can’t recommend a brand. Coworker got some for a dog from Amazon and it didn’t work (she did no research so not surprising that she got something that wasn’t great quality). AKC has some information on CBD for dogs and how to choose… good starting point if you can’t find somewhere near you to go talk to someone in person: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/cbd-oil-dogs/.
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I used CBD oil for a seven-year-old corgi with seizures. It came from Pharmapet and seem to be a reasonably good brand. It was 350 mg and the dosage was seven drops per day. He’s been on it for about six months now and has not had another seizure
You can find a lot of info online about dog seizures and cbd oils. Easy to obtain by mail…hemp source which is high in cannabinol and low in the, so no “high” involved. Most health food stores can advise and carry cbd for pets.
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Thanks. CBD oil is legal and available in Ok. not sure about Texas. I’ll do some research…Or get my daughter to bring it from Ok at Thanksgiving!! When I acquire it…should I go ahead and start her on it before the seizures are “due”??
This article and dosing guide may help; you can buy it from this company as well. It comes in different strengths so you need to make sure you know how much each mL contains.
https://www.innovetpet.com/blogs/news/phytocannabidiol-cbd-for-pets-with-seizures
https://www.innovetpet.com/pages/cbd-dosing-calculator
Personally I think you should seek out some testing if your dog’s seizures are so predictable. There may be a better option than CBD oil. Most people I know that have dogs with idiopathic seizures do not have predictable seizures. And some of them find that CBD oil helps and others have reported it does nothing. Generally it is recommended to be taken daily because seizure activity is not predictable.
I am not sure why your vet didn’t think they could tell you about it; it’s not illegal. There is no THC in CBD oil. Again, I question your vet’s knowledge of seizure issues.
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If they are in a state where it is illegal, because not all CBD oils are legal everywhere, then of course the vet is going to cover their bum by making a follow up statement to something they can’t really recommend yet. It could also be that this is not the vet who owns the practice and the vet that owns the practice has told everyone else to not be recommending alternative medicine, who knows. In my state it only became legal in June because of how marijuana was defined in our statutes. That has been rewritten so it is now legal (with 0% THC so absolutely no trace amounts can be detected) as of June 2018.
Probably want to double check, but as of early 2018 (pre recent elections where at least Missouri has approved medical marijuana)…
- Limited access, restriction on level of THC (varies per jurisdiction): Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.
- Illegal: Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota
CBD oil CAN contain trace amounts of THC. Not enough to get you high, but enough to potentially make it illegal under state law.
ETA - this map shows that you are fine in TX and OK… map is from June 2018:
https://qz.com/quartzy/1296860/is-cb…n-who-you-ask/
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Not using CBD for seizures in my dog, but am using it under vet’s supervision for my 17 yo Cairn’s aches and pains. She recommended CannaDrops by HealthyHemp. He’s a 20 pounder and gets three drops twice a day (basically with morning and evening meal). It seems to make him much more comfortable. I was very worried about many of the anti inflammatories given his age, so this has been a good solution.
As an aside (since this is a horse forum) I gave 10 mg CBD once a day for four days to my headshaking mare. Stopped the headshaking cold. Since we believe that her headshaking is neurogenic, trying trial CBD was reasonable. Pretty amazed that it worked. Waiting to see what happens this coming spring.
Well, I would still expect my vet to know what it is and whether it can be legally bought, and if so, where.
Something like “there is a lot of promise for CBD oil to treat epilepsy, but unfortunately it is not legal in our state yet.” OR “yes, CBD oil does help some dogs with epilepsy, and this is why…and this is where you can get a quality product. Don’t just buy anything off the internet.”
AKC is currently studying the effects of CBD oil on epilepsy right now. It’s not a new idea:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/cbd-oil-for-dog-seizures/
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Yes, I posted a link above that has AKC information on CBD oil that also contains the link you posted.
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No- they are not all equal for a litany of reasons. Cannabis oil extracts from marijuana plant (pharmaceutical grade, high levels of CBD) does not equal hemp seed oil (low levels of CBD/trace, can order on amazon, etc). The amount of CBD vs THC is vastly different in these two categories of products. In animal and human epilepsy, CBD therapies can be trialed as an escalating and then maintenance dose therapy- not as an abortive/PRN thing. I also question a vet that would recommend this type of therapy in this manner, like those products are not created equal and a licensed person should pull a few papers and know that.
(source: ran studies of CBD in multiple neurological disorders, specifically epilepsy).
Some really knowledgeable folks on here! I get my CBD oil from Tennecbd in Franklin, TN. I don’t know if you can mail order from them. Their canine form is beef flavored, and my dogs love it. It seems to have helped my almost 12yo Aussie with aches and pains; doesn’t seem to have made much difference to my anxiety-ridden collie mix. I also take the people version for my arthritis and it does seem to help. Just my two cents.
To my knowledge there are no peer-reviewed studies on the efficacy of CBD at any concentration on canine epilepsy. Even in states with recreational marijuana, and thus the greatest freedom to do open testing, products are regularly found to have higher levels of THC than advertised. Heavy metals, pesticides, mold, etc. has also been found in various cannabis products.
Even seemingly reputable websites promoting the use and dosage of CBD are quick to include that some people have adverse reactions (including an increased frequency of seizures) and that there is no standard dose.
Most products advertised for canines contain such low levels of CBD I think most effects are placebo or associated with other medication changes.
The biggest concern would be elevated levels of THC that are undisclosed or inconsistent between batches. THC is impairing and not something that I would ever give to any animal.
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A vet cannot recommend CBD - just not enough reliable studies - and they would open themselves up for litigation.
Anecdotal evidence may be ok - but recommendations from a vet may put them in jeopardy…understandably.
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Agree, Grace. So far anecdotal, or luck, but finding a trusted manufacturer who guarantees content and low THC
is probably not yet available. I am cautious to jump on any new band wagon and trust that it is not a lot of ww woo.
I’ve a friend that swears by it for Lyme disease, even cancer. I’d wait.
Overall, it is a good thing for Canadians that it MJ ls legal across the country but lots to work out still.
So far…no new seizures!! She’s been on CBD oil for 3 weeks. She’s got a lot more pep and energy, too!!
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Well, so far so good, but best not to get too excited yet. Even if it helps, it may not work immediately or effectively (without other meds also).
You had said
So, I would say at this point it’s too early to tell.
Worth a try and hoping for the best. Keep this thread updated, please.
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No, not a fair expectation. DEA has essentially threatened us with losing our Federal licenses if we give clients any advice on it. And, with so little solid information on the different blends or standardized dosing, I don’t have useful information. And yes, I know that CBD is different from marijuana, but we’ve been given a firm “NO” from DEA and you don’t mess with DEA
I’m in a state where it’s legal and medical marijuana would likely help my chronic pain. I cannot touch it with a 40 foot pole because it’s not legal at the Federal level and I cannot risk my DEA license. The same for my primary care, she has lupus, but doesn’t dare consider medical marijuana as she needs her DEA license.
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My vet…from our previous state…is a very good, “personal friend” as well as my “old” vet. She told me what I needed to know in a way that protected her position…I’m good with that!
Fair enough. We have a great alternative therapies vet in my area that I have used many times (although not recently) for chiropractic and acupuncture. I can’t imagine her not being able to talk about the efficacy of a recently well-known and highly marketed alternative therapy. The pros and the cons, and the understanding about what is in it if you are looking to try it - even if she cannot recommend it or sell it.
I have no love for CBD oil; right now I see it being marketed by every pet boutique and grooming shop in the dog show world - apparently to treat seizures to hair loss to bad breath. Just go on any FB breed health group and it is recommended for EVERYTHING.
Seizures disorders/idiopathic epilepsy is a problem in my breed and a lot of people are using it (or trying it) as so many dogs’ seizures are not well-controlled even on meds. The responses I’ve seen are a mixed bag - from it being a miracle cure to doing nothing at all. People are buying it on Amazon and giving it to their dogs based only on the recommendation of sellers and random internet sites. It seems like it would be a good thing for people to get actual advice from vets, even if that advice is only to tell them what NOT to buy.
