Are you curious about the opinion of experts on the use of CBD in animals? We interviewed veterinarian Mrs Daniela Králová, DVM., and learned a lot about her experience in her veterinary practice.
As she states, it is a very versatile plant that has been known to humans for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and has a very wide range of uses. In her veterinary practice, she uses cannabis in several ways:
- internally (CBD oils and capsules)
- externally (ointments, sprays and serums)
- as dietary supplements (oil, dainties, hempseed cake and bran)
What does the vet think of our CBD and hemp products?
Hello, how long have you been using CBD in your practice?
I've been using CBD and hemp intensively for the last 2-3 years although my first patients were 5-6 years ago, which I find quite amazing compared to the time mankind has been using hemp, so I don't doubt its effects. But the last few years we've been trying to intensively study that effect.
What ailments do you most often use CBD for?
It depends on how the hemp works on the body in general - that's what customers always ask me when they are worried about their patients, pets, that they might be "high". I always explain to them that we are doing with the component of hemp that does not have psychoactive effects. It works like a lock and key where the endocannabinoids work with the endocannabinoid system to affect the CB1 and CB2 receptors, hence what CBD is best used for.
We know, for example, that there's a high concentration of CB1 receptors in nerve tissue, so we like to use that for pain management and painful conditions that a huge group of patients suffer from. So, for example, for seizures, epilepsy as an adjunctive treatment and possibly cancer. Or even as a basic treatment for chronic diseases like allergies, skin rashes. Overall, it also has an effect on the immune system. Actually, on everything, since all tissues contain these receptors.
This is where the “droplet syndrome” works - when you use something in small amounts, but over a long period of time, the effect is very big indeed. It's not as fast as, for example, an antibiotic or a chemical painkiller, but on the other hand, hemp is a much healthier way to go.
Are there any specific cases that you can tell us about? How did CBD work for which patient's case in particular?
For sure. Basically, I use CBD the most in 3 ways: internally, externally (ointments, balms, etc) and then hemp as a great food supplement. Internally - it's actually the concentrated CBD drops for dogs that have the most effect, so I use it most with seniors where we have indications - musculoskeletal pain, digestive impairment, peristalsis, and various neurological and neurodegenerative conditions that CBD oil works beautifully for. Then it is also very positive for epilepsy patients. But there's really a lot where CBD helps.
I really like to use ointments externally, which are lovely for superficial skin rashes or cracked paws.
Could you mention a canine patient that had epilepsy and how it helped him?
We have had several patients that have already had escalating doses of chemical medication for epilepsy, where we know that as time goes on this medication has weaker and weaker efficacy and we have to keep increasing the doses for the effect. The perfect thing here is that actually, instead of destroying the patient's liver, instead of putting the burden on the organs that have to deal with it, which are the liver and the kidneys, on the contrary, I can reduce the dosage of these medications and increase the concentrations of natural medicines.
Do you recommend CBD more for dogs or also for other animals?
I certainly recommend it for other animals, given that scientists have found that the endocannabinoid system is in the bodies of not only mammals but also invertebrates, insects, and marine animals. So it still has tremendous uses, which as time goes on we will discover. And that's why I recommend it to everybody.
Great! You said that hemp is also great as a dietary supplement. I see you use hemp cake and dainties or even bran. What has been your experience with these products as well?
Hemp is just an amazing plant because it can be used in a really versatile way. It is also an excellent nutritional supplement. Nutrition is one of the good health prevention strategies.
Hemp seed oil is an excellent dietary supplement due to its content of unsaturated fatty acids - omega 3,6,9 and its appropriate ratio.
I like to use hemp bran very much in overweight patients, which we deal with very often. They contain a high proportion of fibre, so the dogs feel satiated. Or I give them to patients that have a disorder of intestinal motility, intestinal peristalsis.
For example, I need hemp seedcakes for patients where we need to increase weight mass, improve fitness. Or for sports breeds of dogs, or moms, pregnant, breeding bitches, that are exhausted. Or in general and for convalescent patients that have had eating problems and have lost a lot of weight.
Well, last but not least, there are dainties that are good for diversifying the diet that is healthy and beneficial.
Did you have any reason to choose Cannadorra products?
I definitely did. I like the fact that you have certificates for your preparations, that you work with the Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicines (CZ). That's kind of a guarantee of ingredients and quality for me, which is terribly important with hemp. Because, if it contained THC, which is psychoactive, and is contraindicated in animals as they have a higher concentration of receptors in their brains, it will not do them any good. And the fact that I have confidence with you that it's not there is an important thing to me. It's one of many reasons.
Thank you very much for your reply and your trust. When you recommend your clients to use CBD, do you give them any information on how to use it, how often?
Yes, always, but it is a matter that must be dealt with individually. It always depends on age, health, general condition, use of other medications and evaluates what is good for whom accordingly. But in principle, we use 1 drop per 4 kg of weight in general, but for each patient individually and carefully - sometimes we allow a higher concentration, sometimes we give less and slowly increase for safety. I would say it's not something that can be put on a table.
It is also important to cooperate with the owner of the pet, who would help us by monitoring the animal, its condition and give us this information. It's a " long-distance run" but it definitely gets results if the owners are patient and understand that the results may not be seen the next day.
I'm glad you say this because we also run a hemp clinic and we often get a lot of letters from dog owners about dosage and we also advise them to start with a small dose and gradually increase it. And that it is also very individual. Thank you very much for the interview and the information! I hope we will see each other soon!
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