The controversial subject of prescribing CBD to pets

Administering CBD to pets is a hot topic that seems to divide the industry. As the trend toward holistic pet care grows worldwide, consumers are increasingly drawn to the purported benefits CBD brings. Meanwhile, veterinarians and regulators express safety concerns about its use in animals.

Different types of CBD

Although CBD has been hogging the headlines, the CBD market – for both humans and animals – has been largely built on what could be better described as ‘CBD-rich hemp extracts’. Hemp is the same species as cannabis, but by definition it contains less than 0.3% (and 0.2% in the UK) of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating cannabinoid. While historically hemp has been grown for its seeds and fiber, its high CBD content has meant hemp is the source of most consumer CBD products sold worldwide for animals and humans.

CBD oils, which until now have dominated the market, tend to be either full spectrum (meaning they contain most of the naturally occurring compounds found in hemp, such as minor cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as trace amounts of THC), broad-spectrum CBD oils (which as well as CBD retain a few of the other naturally molecules but are THC-free) or CBD isolate (essentially, purified CBD).

Free from any metals

Dr. Zac Pilossoph, a veterinary cannabis educational leader who takes a holistic approach to pet care, only recommends full-spectrum CBD-rich extracts that come with a certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party lab. This proves not only the cannabinoid content, but also that they are free from heavy metals, pesticides and mold.

“I do not recommend broad-spectrum, isolate or formulations made into treats as these go through further adulteration processes and distort the plant’s potential to work in full function,” he says. He is referring to the so-called ‘entourage effect’ whereby CBD is said to work best in conjunction with the other naturally occurring compounds found in hemp.

Instead, he recommends full-spectrum CBD products “for any disease rooted in inflammation or which may be idiopathic”. These represent more than 90% of diseases that occur in animals. “There are no species for which I would avoid recommending a full-spectrum CBD- rich extract if the disease processes made sense, as every animal species – aside from arthropods – has an endocannabinoid system in some form.”

Resistance among veterinarians and regulators

The CBD market for pets is expected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.3% from 2020 to 2027 and to generate $225 million in annual sales in the US alone by 2025. It is made up of a whole host of CBD-infused treats and novel delivery methods, such as pens to administer CBD gel to the underneath of an animal’s ear for easy application.

In the US, veterinarians cannot prescribe CBD products to their animal patients as this would constitute the use of unapproved drugs under Federal Law.

However, in some states, such as California, Colorado and Michigan, veterinarians are permitted to discuss CBD with pet parents and make recommendations for products, while in Nevada veterinarians can actually administer hemp-based CBD products to animals.

Nevertheless, according to the Cannabis Veterinary Association, only 45% of veterinarians actually feel comfortable discussing CBD with their clients. “Some veterinary medical boards advise veterinarians to avoid discussing, recommending and selling products containing CBD until further guidance is provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” Pilossoph explains.

26,000 research papers on the topic

In fact, Pilossoph has himself faced criticism from within his profession for his pro-CBD professional stance. “I still get a lot of pushback about there being not enough research to back the health claims or recommendations made,” he acknowledges. “This bias against CBD products is unfair because there are more than 26,000 research papers on cannabis, and veterinarians use translational medicine all the time with numerous other drugs and supplements. If anything, it is the manufacturers/formulators we should be fearing are creating untrustworthy products, not the plant itself.”

In other parts of the world, such as the European Union, authorities are also struggling to find a joined- up approach to regulating CBD for pets. In the UK, the rules are fairly clear: CBD requires a UK veterinary marketing authorization in order to be sold and supplied. With no products currently approved, any companies marketing CBD products for animal use are doing so illegally. Furthermore, only veterinarians are allowed to administer CBD to an animal, meaning the hundreds of thousands of Brits giving CBD to their pets are breaking the law. CBD products currently are only close to being approved as animal medicines in Switzerland and a handful of Latin American countries such as Colombia and Uruguay.

Changing paradigm

Is this paradigm going to change anytime soon? Heidi Whitman, Global Strategy Director at global cannabis business Avida Global, believes that education – both for veterinarians and regulators – is key to bringing about change. “Veterinary Science curriculums teach cannabis only in toxicology,” she says. “There is not a course on the endocannabinoid system, which is the physiological system targeted by compounds in cannabis. But we teach the endocrine system, nervous system, etc. This is the first step to seeing change: educating the students, who become educated practicing medical professionals.”

Whitman is keen to point out that there is clinical data and ongoing research proving the safety and efficacy of the use of cannabis in medicine. She refers to a clutch of studies showing promising results for CBD in treating osteoarthritis and epilepsy in dogs: “This cannot be ignored much longer. The adjustments in regulations will come next, country by country. I hope that the awareness, understanding and legitimacy of the data will indeed allow plant-based therapies to enter prescribing cascades, legally.”

So it may be a while yet before veterinarians can prescribe an approved CBD-based drug. However, the horse has well and truly bolted for the use of CBD by pet parents and their companion animals, and the consumer market will no doubt continue to grow exponentially.