Nouvelle
6
is thc safe for pets?What Owners Need to Know
Image Credit: By Jagodka on shutterstock.
As a cannabis educator and writer, much of my time is spent researching this hotly debated topic. During the countless hours I spend reading publications about cannabis and pets, I am always dismayed to read unqualified statements such as “THC is toxic to dogs” or “Avoid products containing any THC.” These statements are misleading and, at the very least, need to be clarified. To make this claim without any qualification or description only leads to confusion.
For example, in a research paper recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association, the author specifically stated “THC is toxic to dogs” in the introduction, despite the fact that a test product used in the study, which contained THC, induced no signs of toxicity. Clearly, these contradictory messages, whether intentional or not, need to end. What are pet parents to think? The decades-old attitude of fear surrounding THC needs to change. The constant labeling of THC as “dangerous” has led many to believe that this compound is poisonous and that the smallest amount will kill their pet.
But as many medical professionals know, THC is not evil and is, in fact, vital for the complete entourage effect that is unique to cannabinoid medicine. Therefore, I would like to try to dispel some of the constantly-perpetuated myths surrounding THC in pets, its pros and cons, and how we can best move forward.
Understanding THC and Its Therapeutic Benefits