Cannabis-based clinical trial could help dogs deal with pain

Buffy, the seven-year-old golden retriever/bordercollie mix rescue dog, just didn't seem like herself.

Her owner, Marge Holman, remembers Buffy being stiff, lethargic, and walking with little 'hiccups,'

"It wasn't bothering her but it started bothering me," said Holman, hugging her puppy at the Essex Animal Clinic.

"I wanted to jump on top of it and see if we could do something preventative to add to her quality of life."

So Buffy started a cannabis-based clinic trial out of Essex.

Cannabis, CBDor Marijuana?

Holman and Buffy connected with Dr. Janice Huntingford, a veterinarian at the Essex Animal Clinic who is working on a study to find out howcannabidiol(CBD) can help canines.

If the clinic trial continues to show positive results and is approved by Health Canada, Dr. Huntingfordsaid it could be the first cannabis-based product that veterinarians can prescribe for pets.

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But that doesn't mean Buffy is getting high to escape her arthritis pain.

In fact, the wrong kind of high could kill her.

"Tiny amounts of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) can be toxic to (dogs). That's why if you're giving a cannabidiolproduct to a pet, it needs to be a pure product," she said.

Dr. Huntingford said because this clinic trial uses pure CBDfrom hemp, it's safe for Buffy.

Qualifying for trials

Buffy was perfect for the study because she metthe followingrequirements:

• Has osteoarthritis in one limb
• Was verified by an x-ray
• Weighs between 20 and 80 pounds
• Has no other health problems

After qualifying for the clinical trail, Buffy was measured and walked through various tests to create a base for future comparison.

CBDor placebo?

Holman was then anded a bottle either Test A or Test B as part of the double blind study.

"We don't know which is the real thing and which is the placebo," said Dr. Huntingford, who adds they take blood and urine tests from the pet.

After four weeks of ingesting either CBDor the placebo, Buffy was re-evaluated.

"If they are doing well, we saycontinue. Ifnot, we may double the dose [or]adjust something," said Dr. Huntingford.

They did it once more after eight weeks. Finally, the clinic checked if the animal was on the placebo or the real product.

Buffy was on the CBD

"I knew before she even told me," said Holman, who encourages anyone with a dog that fits the requirements apply for the study.

"She takes a greater interest in being out, engaged in her environment so I knew that we had the real thing at that point."

Buffy isn't the only dog noticing the positive side effects of CBD.

"I would say from anecdotal evidence or looking at (other) dogs that we know have come through the study, the results are positive," said Dr. Huntingford.

Huntingford had previously treated animals with CBD out of her clinic after consulting with the College of Veterinarians, but she had to stop after the college receivednew information from Health Canada about who can and can not prescribe cannabis.

• Essex veterinarians treating pet pain with cannabis

"The Office of Medical Cannabis has confirmed that theAccess to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulationsdo notapply to veterinarians or animals," said the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in a May 2017 statement.

"The regulations pertain to human healthcare practitioners and access for human patients only."

Dogs needed for study

This sponsored study started by Dr. Huntingfordin Februaryneeds 64 clinical trials before it can be sent off to Health Canada.

Dr. Huntingfordsaid she's completed about a third of those trials and is hopeful more animal owners apply if their dog fits the requirements.

"My only disappointment is that we have to wait," said Holman, who said she would never risk treating her dog with CBDon her own.

"Now that the study's over we have to sit and wait until it's been approved and I'm concerned that it's going to regress."

But despite knowing there's a product that helps Buffy, Holman has no plans of trying to obtain the product until there's one approved by Health Canada.

Dr. Huntingford said waiting is a wise move because of the possible side effects an unregulated CBDcould have on dogs.