3 minute read
Hemp health for pets
Cats have a deficiency of liver enzymes called “glucuronyl transferases” which are responsible for breaking down terpenes.
von Peter Trzos, MD, Marijuana Patients Organization Board Member
Artikel auf Deutsch: www.hanf-magazin.com/pt2
Hemp isn’t just good for you, it’s good for your pets too!
Just like us, many animals cannot synthesize everything of what they need to be healthy and must rely on their diet to supply certain nutrients. Essential fatty acids are used as building blocks to make long-chain fatty acids necessary for life and their end products are incorporated into every cell in the body. Hemp seed oil is high in the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are used to make eicosanoids, which are signalling molecules that promote or decrease inflammation.
As with most things in life, there can be too much of a good thing. Inflammation causes many health issues such as arthritis, autoimmune disease and allergies, but it’s also necessary for the body’s healing response. Pets with some illnesses like cancer or infections may even need their diet supplemented with more omega-6 fatty acids to help their body fight back. Consuming antiinflammatory omega-3 fatty acids in the right proportion to inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids is critical for good health and hemp seed oil naturally contains the perfect ratio. Because many pet foods are manufactured using cheaper oils that contain far too much omega-6, and too little omega-3, it may be a good idea to supplement your pet’s diet with hemp seed oil to give them more balanced nutrition.
Beyond serving to balance healing and overall health, fatty acids also benefit heart and kidney health, trainability, overall mood, growth and development skin health and promote a shiny coat. While many people see almost immediate effects from supplementing their pet’s diet with hemp oil, it may take three to four months for the full benefits to be seen as the fatty acids are incorporated throughout the entire body. If your pet develops flatulence or diarrhea you may be over-supplementing them, in which case you cut back their daily dose until their symptoms disappear.
Hemp oil made from the whole plant contains additional compounds that are not present in seed oil. The most famous of these compounds is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is known for its psychoactive effect of getting users “stoned.” Unlike in marijuana, hemp contains only trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%), so it will not get your pet “high”. Fullplant hemp oil possesses significant amounts of CBD (cannabidiol), which doesn’t cause intoxication while offering potentially life-saving medical benefits. CBD has been known to help treat epilepsy, seizure disorders, fight the pain of multiple sclerosis, decrease inflammation, protect against neurodegenerative diseases, lower anxiety, relieve pain, aid the immune system, promote heart health and even help fight cancer. Cannabidiol is a fascinating and safe health supplement that has gotten a lot of media attention in recent years, and it seems that more research proving its effectiveness comes out every day. Because all mammals contain an endocannabinoid system that responds to the body’s own signals as well as compounds found in hemp, CBD offers potential benefits for humans and animals alike.
Terpenes are another class of compounds that are found in whole plant hemp extracts, but not in seed oil. They’re not unique to hemp or cannabis though, and are commonly found in nature.
Terpenes are what causes basil to smell like basil, rosemary to smell like rosemary, oranges to smell citrusy, etc. They possess documented, albeit very modest health benefits, and generally have such a low potency, that ingesting them as a dietary supplement is impractical. Beyond offering little benefit, they can actually be a danger to your pet! Many animals, while appearing similar to others, have very different metabolisms and sensitivities to toxins. We all know that feeding chocolate to a dog isn’t a good idea, that’s because of theobromine, a chemical that humans can easily handle, but dogs break down very slowly. Cats have a deficiency of liver enzymes called “glucuronyl transferases” which are responsible for breaking down terpenes. Because they are unable to metabolize terpenes effectively, organ damage and even death can occur! It’s very important for cat owners to avoid products containing terpenes (even full-plant hemp extracts) at all costs; the modest rewards (if any) are far-outweighed by the serious health consequences. Pet owners should only buy products specifically formulated for their animals and never give them anything marketed for human use.
