Marijuana Business Magazine - February 2018

PET RESEARCH ... WHAT RESEARCH? products are not for people. Sounds like a no-brainer, but any serious attempt to sell cannabis products for animals will fail if that isn’t a primary consideration. Dogs, for example, are 10 times more sensitive to THC than humans, said Dr. Lisa Parshley, a veterinary oncolo- gist in Olympia, Washington, who has clients asking about treating their pets with CBD.That means trace amounts of THC that a human patient wouldn’t notice can give a pup a bad high. And success in the pet-treat category can require more than quality CBD. “The other ingredients need to be well thought out,” said Alexis Smith, manager of Teton Tails, a pet boutique in Jackson, Wyoming. Teton Tails E ver found it frustrating how little we know about marijuana and hemp medicines for humans? Well, it’s even hazier with pets. But there are scientific points to remember when starting a cannabis line for animals. Research on cannabis in animals is almost entirely devoted to marijuana toxicity – howmuch marijuana it takes to make an animal sick. In fact, one of the few things veterinarians know about marijuana and pets is that unlike humans, marijuana can kill dogs. (There have been two recorded cases in the United States of fatal mari- juana ingestion by dogs, according to Dr. Sarah Silcox, head of the Canadian Association of Vet- erinary Cannabinoid Medicine.) When it comes to animals and nonintoxicating CBD, though, there’s little evidence about what CBD does. “It’s very frustrating not to have the research,” said Dr. Lisa Parshley, a veterinary oncologist in Olympia, Washington. “I know a lot of animals that do well (on CBD), but I know animals that have had problems. And there’s not a lot out there for veterinarians to go on when our clients ask whether they should use it.” Fortunately, animal-care researchers know they have a lot of catching up to do. Colorado State University is studying CBD treat- ments for epilepsy and arthritis in pets, and the University of California, Davis, is surveying pet own- ers about how they use CBD. The American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation set aside more than $350,000 for CBD treatment research in 2017. Veterinarians are thirsty for CBD research because they’re getting asked about it all the time, Silcox said. “We bitch and complain when people get their medical information off the internet. Well, if we can’t talk about cannabis, where do we think people are going to go?” Vets say there’s no way to prove or disprove any potential health benefits to animals from CBD. But that doesn’t mean CBD producers are free to talk about the benefits. Just as in human medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees animal medications. The agency sent warning letters in 2015 and 2016 to producers making health claims about CBD treatments sold for pets. – Kristen Nichols carries a few CBD products but says it has declined entreaties from CBD makers offering products that included ingredients inappropriate for animals, or chemicals or dyes. Any grain-based fillers, or sweeten- ers of any kind, are red flags – neither appears in an animal’s natural diet. And take a careful look at any peanut butter. Dogs love peanut butter, and it’s a common ingredient in dog treats, but an artificial sweetener found in some peanut butters, xylitol, is highly toxic in dogs and must be avoided. “You’re looking for the full spectrum of healthy ingredients, not something made in China that doesn’t show a lot of thought about the animal consum- ing it,” Smith said. It can also help to work with a brand that already has relationships with pet stores. A Colorado company that makes “body part” chews – think bones and pig ears – has found success by adding CBD to its products already made for animals. BarknBig knows noth- ing about hemp production, and the company’s CBD maker knows nothing about pet products.They leverage each other’s expertise. “We see a lot of CBD products for- mulated with grains and fillers, things that dogs don’t naturally eat,” said Erik Johnson, a partner at BarknBig. “The whole idea behind our company is to provide things that occur naturally, so this is a natural fit.” ◆ 76 • Marijuana Business Magazine • February 2018