Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Dogs are wo-man's best friend. Dogs are family. We love them and they loves us back--unconditionally. Like we humans, dogs get aliments. They may experience anxieties and stress. As they age, dogs suffer aches and pains, just like we do. So we take our canine friend to the local veterinarian to tend to their ailment. Often, the Vet prescribes medication--a powerful pharmaceutical, which is usually effective, although not always. Pharmaceuticals, like opioids, can be addictive and have other worrisome side-effects. Now a safer alternative is emerging--cannabis for canines.
Administration of cannabis and cannabis-based extracts to benefit over-all health and well-being are used by humans to treat an array of ailments. There is much to suggest that cannabis may benefit dogs as well. Many dog-moms and dads are giving cannabis potions to their pooches--with good results.
The problem is that as a result of cannabis being classified as a Schedule 1 Drug by federal law since the 1930s, there has been little research. Veterinarian have no training in cannabis therapeutics and risk "losing their license" if they recommend it. And, until recently, cannabis was not readily available to the law-abiding dog owner.
CANNABIS FOR CANINES explains cannabis therapeutics: how they can soothe many physical and psychological conditions and be used in conjunction with pharmaceutical medications, as well as preventatively. CANNABIS FOR CANINES describes cannabinoids, which are chemicals in the plant, and how they interact with a dog's endocannabinoid system to soothe their distress. Readers learn the importance of close observation and how to track conditions as a way to check for effectiveness of the treatment and the importance of keeping their Vet in the loop, especially if the dog is taking a pharmaceutical. Precautions are included. CANNABIS FOR CANINES is a fun, informative read of interest to dog owners and canine professionals.
Synopsis
Our beloved dogs can suffer aches, pains, anxiety attacks, and even depression, just as we do. Vets often prescribe powerful pharmaceuticals like opioids that can be addictive. CANNABIS FOR CANINES explores medicinal cannabis, the emerging alternative to such strong pharmaceuticals. Should your dog suffer from seizures, anxiety, eating upsets, cancer, lethargy, or other aliments, cannabis therapeutics may support your vet's treatment.
While proponents of cannabis herald a long list of health benefits for our dogs, how cannabis interacts with canine biology is not fully understood. What is known is that cannabis supplementation promotes canine wellness, but owners must be cautious because cannabis can have a more pronounced impact on dogs than it does on humans.
The secret to the wonders of cannabis therapeutics is the endocannabinoid system (ECS) found throughout the body in humans as well as in dogs, including in the skin and muscles, nerve cells, immune system, and brain. Cannabinoids mimic naturally-generated neurochemicals to bind to ECS receptor sites to ignite biological processes, like quieting spasms, soothing anxiety, or reducing inflammation.
Dosing is complicated and can be confusing. Because dogs are smaller than humans they weigh less, including big dogs, and need much lower doses than we humans do. Additionally canine bodies are more sensitive to smaller doses, so neither human cannabis products--marijuana--nor dosing schedules for humans should ever be used with your dog. CANNABIS FOR CANINES delves into dosing complexity, explains how to monitor your dog's response to cannabis therapeutics, and how to use monitoring feedback to tailor and fine-tune the dose.
Packed with useful information, CANNABIS FOR CANINES is a must read to learn how to use medicinal cannabis to improve your beloved dog's health and quality of life.