Veterinarians says more research into effects of cannabis on animals is needed
Although experts remain cautious, but optimistic on the use of cannabis with animals the Centre-refuge Nymous has been seeing positive results in the animals they are treating.
Gaby the skunk and Lou the racoon are currently taking the oil either in their food or via a syringe.
Gaby’s hind legs don’t work and part of her brain has atrophied and Lou suffers from body spasms from a bout of hypothermia.
“The results were almost immediate for Gaby. She’s stopped trembling. It seems to have helped her have better co-ordination, better balance, and hasn’t stupefied her,” Lessard told Radio-Canada.
For Lou, the cannabis oil “lowered the intensity of her spasms,” he said.
Lessard said the idea to use cannabis came to him after he’d done research online, and consulted some veterinarians.
He then approached Montreal’s Clinique la croix verte, a medical marijuana dispensary on Ontario Street East, which agreed to provide the shelter with cannabis oil for free.
The clinic’s director and founder, Shantal Arroyo, said the market for cannabis products made especially for animals is growing.
“It’s already a billion-dollar industry in the U.S.,” she said
Caroline Kilsdonk, president of the Quebec Order of Veterinarians, said “There are a few studies that have been conducted on the therapeutic properties of cannabis that contains both THC and CBD, but they haven’t come to any firm conclusions and weren’t carried out on all species,”
Source CBC
Image – Centre-refuge Nymous
