Has anyone tried marijuana to help treat IBD in cats?

Denice said:

 
That started within the past year, he had a yeast infection in his ears.  The vet said that it was probably a secondary food allergy. He was eating mostly chicken so I switched up his diet, doing away with the chicken and no more issues with his ears.

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 Oh I remember my friends cat had that in her ears and it was an allergic reaction as well. They assumed it might be from the wheat and other grains in their food. Once they switched it out she was fine. So do most allergic reactions do that to the ears. 

I am just trying to learn as much as I can about any signs of illness in my cats now that I have had this big scare with Sabbath. I appreciate everyone who answers my million and one random questions

For some reason food allergies in cats show up in the ears as yeast infections a lot.  They don't always show up that way but they often do.  There can be other causes of yeast infections in the ears as well.  I know kitties that had a long standing untreated ear mite infestation often have ear issues the rest of their lives.

I absolutely think you should give it a try. My cat has arthritis and loves it. Because it is illegal federally, a lot of groups like the ASPCA way over-hype the apparent "toxicity" of weed. Many of the studies on cats being hurt by weed have been because the drugs they were given included not just weed, but spice. Spice is NOT weed and is significantly more dangerous! Also, all of the cases I have read of supposed "death by Marijuana" were from cats making poor choices because of the weed, not the weed itself. Cats do experience temporary symptoms like increased saliva production, hunger,and sleep, but I have yet to see a verified study where the cat actually died from weed. Generally, if the cat died while taking Marijjuana, it was because of another unrelated coincidental symptom of something else, such as a food allergy. 

In other words, take what people say about "Marijuana intoxication" with a grain of salt. It is an EXCELLENT alternative to NSAIDS which will damage a cats' liver and kidneys over time. My cat has yet to experience any side effects and I've been giving it to her for over 2 years. 

I would look for some trimmings of cheaper outdoor grown Marijuana if you could find it. Trimmings from non-hydroponic weeds usually have a lower THC content. You're right, you don't want your cat to get too high the first time. It might scare her! 
 

I never did give him any and he passed away a few months shy of 20 years old but I probably should have. Because of his age and condition I just couldn't take the chance without knowing for sure it would not harm him. I would have also needed a dose to start with without giving him too much. A friend used it for his cat who had cancer as well and it really helped him. My friend extracted the THC with alcohol and then gave it to the cat in drops by mixing it with hemp oil to thin it out a bit. After the cat got his dose he would stretch right out instead of curling up and it helped stop the cough attacks. I know for humans as referenced above they are using it to manage IBD so I can't see why it would not work for cats which are mammals as well. To date there has not been a single death linked directly to taking weed and if ingested it can help the body repair itself. Lets face it, a mere 200 years or less over 50% of all pharmaceuticals used THC as the main active ingredient. I listened to the fear and went with the medical advice I got and managed his IBD their way because there is no guidance with this plant and doses.

Never in my life would I give Speedy anything that has even touched marijuana, not to mention using it as medicine.  It is my opinion, a cat does not ask to ingest marijuana or hopefully is not around marijuana smoke and risk a toxic or terrifying experience.  

Furmonster Mom said:

 
I disagree.

There are many human grade medications that absolutely cannot be given to certain animals... even so far as some drugs may be used for dogs, but absolutely not by cats.

Animals process drugs differently than humans, so it is not necessarily a foregone conclusion that they can use the same drugs as us.

There are too many variables that could make things go terribly wrong.  Not only does one need to consider the strain of the plant itself, but the methods of preparation.  Different preparations and mediums (water, alcohol, oil) are going to bring out different elements of the plant... and there is the question of dosage...   Get any one of those things wrong, and you could end up with more of a problem than you started with.

Personally, I wouldn't want to chance it without some solid scientific research to rely on.

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I agree that many human medications (if not most) are toxic to animals and should never be given to your pets without veterinarian supervision.

However in this case I think marijuana is worth a shot and judging by the amount of articles I have read here I think there is sufficient scientific research to try make inroads into making our sick kittie's lives as comfortable as possible. As long as the marijuana is clean and organic and not cut with anything I do not see the harm in trying this natural remedy.

Disclaimer from the Moderators:

Just a reminder that marijuana is still illegal in most places, so check your local laws before using it. Also, as has been mentioned in this thread, there is no clear dosage or vet approved method of preparation and the safety of marijuana for cats is unknown. As such, you should definitely discuss with your vet before trying it.

That Guy, I'm sorry to hear your kitty crossed. :heart2:

But for the benefit of people that find this thread in the future, there is a product sold for cats and dogs, and it was developed by vets. It is not illegal, as it is hemp-based, which is low THC. It is a high-CBD (cannabidiol) product. The vets will work with you and / or your vet. One can read about the science of it on their new website once it's up.

The current site where you can read about it and order it is http://www.cannaforpets.com/ The benefits of CBD are provided without the THC of marijuana. I use this product for Lazlo as his appetite and general demeanor were off after completing chemo for large cell lymphoma. I know of a number of cats with IBD and pancreatitis taking it. But it should not supplant traditional medicine. It can make a wonderful adjunct therapy.

rememberme923 ...i was interested in you post...my 11 year old cat has osteo arthritis and i have stopped him taking NSAIDS but the alternatives he is on is helping but he still has some problems with getting around and pain...i can get some  can butter and wondered how much you give? im willing to try anything to make life more comfortable for him

I learned somewhere that cats don't have the same receptors as us and can't get "high" from marijuana (and aren't affected at all). It looks like whoever told me that was probably wrong.... so much misinformation about this plant going around!

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has experience treating a cat with this. It seems like it'd be really hard to dose, even in humans that's a problem because it's from a plant that varies in concentration of chemicals from harvest to harvest.

samus said:

I learned somewhere that cats don't have the same receptors as us and can't get "high" from marijuana (and aren't affected at all). It looks like whoever told me that was probably wrong.... so much misinformation about this plant going around!

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has experience treating a cat with this. It seems like it'd be really hard to dose, even in humans that's a problem because it's from a plant that varies in concentration of chemicals from harvest to harvest.

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I'll refer you to THIS thread, where he talks about hoe much he gives his cat:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/299130/sudden-discovery-of-cancer'

It's in the very last post.  I've been threatening to make the cannabis butter for my Callie...still have the recipe on my fridge. Maybe one of these day's I'll do.

There are many mammals that don't get 'high' from marijuana but they still get everything else that it can offer. I never did try it with my old cat but at times I wish I had. My buddy had a cat that was pushed on him and it turned out the cat was littered with cancer. It wasn't too bad at first but it started to have serious issues which one vet was saying was asthma and I had him take the cat to my vet who found the cat was littered with cancer on the first trip. Because of the amount of cancer in the cat there was nothing they could do other than let him live out his last days until it got too bad or put him down right away. Because the cat was still eating and going to the bathroom properly and other than bouts he seemed generally happy. As it started to worsen my buddy took 14 grams of weed and soaked it in vodka for a week and then pout the vodka out and heated this until the alcohol had evaporated and you are left with the weed in a concentrated form. With the goop that was left over he started with small balls like a bearing from a bicycle rim and then worked up to one the size of a pea. He would mix this will help oil to thin it out a bit and then put some in the cats mouth with a syringe.

For my buddy he said he would get home and the cat was all crunched up and seemed uncomfortable and he would give the cat a dose and within 30 minutes the cat was stretched out on his bed. Most people who would want to do this know their pets so it is really a matter of starting with a small dose and see how the cat reacts. Start with something small and then work up because there is no exact dose so it is trial and error. From what research I have done I don't think it is possible to overdose on marijuana but start small and see how they react. I used buprenorfin to help my last guy with the aches and pains of being old and it worked well but it was not cheap and had a lot of side effects. Do research on marijuana and look at all of the benefits that it can bring and just because you don't get high it doesn't mean it can't help help you.

Search for information on rendering the marijuana into a concentrated form and I am told there are a bunch of videos on how to do it so it should not be too hard. Once you have this it is then just a matter of getting it into your cat which can be done by hiding it in food or putting it in capsules to name a few then see how they change. My guy was 18/19 when I posted this and I just didn't have to guts to try him on it at his age. Until the last month I was able to keep things under control and he knew it and for the most part was okay with it. He never had a problem with buprenorfin because he knew how good it made him feel even though it tasted awful and he would come to me to get a sub-q because it made him feel better. If you do your research you find a lot of people and pet owners who have had success using marijuana to treat different things so it can certainly be worth researching. I was interested in IBD and arthritis and there were a lot of people using it to treat the symptoms of IBS which is very similar to IBD and certainly with arthritis.

On that note I really don't see what the problem is with most peoples perceptions of marijuana when you consider that probably more than 50% of the pharmaceuticals used THC as the active ingredient when they were working on the horseless carriage which wasn't that long ago. There are a lot of people who swear by it and not just to get high and no reported deaths so it can't be that bad. If you can use it to help your pet be more comfortable like my buddy did then give it a try just start small and work up from there.

That's really interesting, I'll definitely consider that if (really, when) my cat's IBD flares up again. So your friend basically made hash and dissolved it in oil to dilute it back out? Was the bearing/pea sized ball one dose or was it split into multiple doses? (That sounds like a lot!!) Do you know how long it helped your friend's cat (or if it built up a tolerance)?

Just curious, where did you get the info that marijuana was widely used medicinally in the horseless carriage era? My understanding was that it was made illegal because it was what those other people (Mexicans) used, while cocaine and opium were the popular active ingredients in American pharmaceuticals. Or do you mean it was widely used in places other than the US?

It's interesting that this thread is almost three years old, and the laws have been changing quite a bit in those three years, as has the general view of medical uses of marijuana.  My friend no longer uses the tea.  First, she got a recipe for making an oil-based product (google "cannabis oil recipe") and used that for awhile.  Now she has gotten some cannabis oil from some other source, but I do think it's a preparation for humans. If I were to do an oil, I would probably use the coconut oil recie easily found on Google, but so far I don't have any hospice cats who would need daily pain relief so it's a moot point.  I'm sure you can find out a lot more on the internet now that it's coming into the spotlight.  At least if you make your own, you need not worry about dangerous additives.

My friends cat was only on it for about a month or so before the end came so it was a pretty quick decline. When you break the marijuana down it does not make hash but instead it makes a very stick residue of oil and whatever was extracted from the plant matter. Because it is hard to administer when it is sticky you add oil so you can get it into the cats mouth and as hemp has other qualities so it is a good oil to use. This may have been because of how he did it but I do know he used indica and soaked it in vodka for a week or so and drained the liquid then put it over low heat and slowly cooked the alcohol out of it until it was goo. To get it into the cat my buddy used oil and a syringe but you can use other things. All of the ways to prepare this stuff are out and doesn't take much to find it. For the dose just start with a really small ball and see how it works out. You should see a change depending what you are trying to address. My buddies cat would be all crunched up and walk very stiffly and 30 minutes after a dose he was stretched out on his back or crashed out on his bed. My buddy could see the relief in how the cat acted and knew it made a difference.

As for the history I don't have references but you can all search for yourselves and you should and you will find more than enough links. As to making it illegal I had always thought it was business in general that kind of did it. I know pharmaceuticals were one but also the plastics industry that took off in the early 1900s took over an industry that was hemp based before. We have been using it for over 5,000 years that have been recorded and who knows how long before that. I am thinking about it again for my current IBD cat but he is only 3 so I don't have the age concern as I did with my last guy.

I am worried that the  advice given in this thread about marijuana treatments for cats is very dangerous.  Try experimenting with dosages???  I worry also that cat owners may get the idea to use other substances that make themselves feel good and put that burden on their cat also,  such as prescription painkillers, opiate teas.

@That Guy  , I believe that your buddy's cat was "crashed out on his bed" because the cat was stoned.  

I'm concerned about the vagueness of the dosing advice. It would be dangerous to experiment on your pets at home, especially as they're already sick. I understand people's desire for natural and alternative remedies, and I personally have nothing against marijuana, but it's so unproven and based on anecdotal evidence that I would be extremely hesitant to give it to my pets. It seems very irresponsible to me.
And just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it can't be dangerous! From our Health Forum Rules:

Supplements and herbal remedies can be very potent and can cause adverse reactions in some cats. You should always consult your vet about any treatment, whether nutritional, natural or alternative and keep in mind they can interact with other treatments your cat receives and cause problems.

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IMO, with society's attitudes towards marijuana becoming more relaxed, I think we will soon see studies being done on its effectiveness in pain reduction for animals as well as humans.

My cat 'kity' was diagnosed with kidney failure a few years back. At the time i remember feeling extremely upset about it. She was 10 years old at the time. It seems to be so common in cats.I have always been of the opinion that big corporations exist merely to place profits over care particularly where medicine is concerned. That being said, I have always tried to be as natural as possible with what I consume for myself and pass my holistic views onto my family. Slight opening there I apologise Back to kitys CKD, the vet told me her parameters were high and things would slowly deteriorate. Every pet owners nightmare. I have 3 cats but kity I am extremely close to and have a strong bond with. I'm sure many of you can see what I'm trying to say.
I have always believed in the positive effects of cannabis oil. A few years ago, I came across someone I trusted to supply it properly. At the time, I got it for my partners mums breast cancer hoping she would ingest it with my trust in hand but unfortunately she has been conditioned, like so many of the demonisation of cannabis. I believe it cures cancer and at the very worst can help with pain relief as an alternative to morpheine. When the vet advised me to put her on meds and feed her that royal canin food so it didn't worsen, I was keen to try to slow her CKD with the oil. I was always optimistic about it helping. I forgot to mention she was also experiencing small fits which were getting worse with time where she would violently eat herself as if she were in pain and then spasm on her back. Heartbreaking to see. I had to try the oil. I had her urine samples tested before and after a 6month ingestion to kity. After the 6month period of giving her the correct dosage requirements I was absolutely stunned at the results. The vets words after her post urine test were 'I've never seen this before', her kidney failure parameters are edging back to normal?' She was sceptical when I initially told her what methods I was trying at home but seemed more open minded after seeing those results. Kitys fits also completely stopped. I trial and error stopping and starting her on the oil and when I stop giving it to her she develops the odd fit again but a small dosage a day seems to keep them at bay. I really hope anyone reading this genuinely takes in what I'm saying because it's made me so happy to know that my home cooked chicken soups and alternative methods have had such a positive effect. I still use the oil now. Do not buy it from someone you do not know. I wouldn't be able to supply it so please do some research and go from there.

The things suppressed in this world are suppressed for a reason I'm afraid to say. That conversation is for another place and time.

To all you aninmal lovers out there I respect you taking the time to show love and care for your animals. All animals (especially our pets) are wonderful creatures and deserve the same respect as any other living being.OK, sorry don't want to get all 'Philisophical'

Do some research and if you want to know any info about what I did and how I did it I'd be very happy to help. I guess the animal immune system is as close to humans as it gets so what works for us can work for them. Granted, everyone is different but it doesn't cause any harm.
No adverse effects to report other than getting dosage right for the first week or so.

Thanks for reading

Red Top Rescue said:

 
I don't know about butter or tinctures, but cannabis tea is pretty simple and pretty natural.

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The active ingredients of Cannabis are not water soluble, so making a tea out of them won't generally allow the main active ingredients to dissolve into the tea. The Cannabinoids are oil and alcohol soluble, so butter or oil compounds would be the best bet for getting the ingredients out of the plant and into the mix.  A very small dose would be recommended but I have seen no research whatsoever that indicated that Cannabis is harmful in any way to cats...other than being difficult to chew and swallow in it's raw form. If your cat is 19 and suffering, I personally don't see the harm in it, but my personal medical circumstances have changed my mind about it's medicinal use.

   I have had malignant melanoma, diabetes, and now kidney failure is becoming troublesome. I have no appetite at all and can easily go a day without eating or even being hungry. I have lost over 70 lbs over the last few years, but I never dieted...I just lost my appetite. I weighed 260 when I was married 21 years ago and I'm currently at 185. I would be a LOT skinnier if it wasn't for the hunger reactions to Cannabis use, to the point that I might not be here if it wasn't for this plant.

    As long as the stigma exists, there will always be opposition to marijuana use. It has been villianized for decades, so it will take a while for public opinion to change. I feel it is a much safer natural medication that really does work without crippling side effects (like Prednisone). Trying to relieve a pets discomfort is a lot different than blowing smoke in Kitty's face to see if she catches a buzz...I would hope that people at least acknowledge that it can be helpful in many , but certainly not all, conditions.

   Please keep in mind that this is just my personal opinion and I can't speak for anyone other than myself. I know how it has helped me...if it helped my cat to feel better and regain it's appetite then I would be yelling the news from the rooftops. Since I don't currently have a cat that is in need of something like this, I can only express my thoughts and experiences.

Jim 

When my cat was first diagnosed with lymphoma a co-worker suggested I supplement her medication with cannabis. I was sort of stunned by the advice and put it immediately out of my head. Then this thread became active again and I'm once more pondering it.

I searched around and found this site: https://cannacompanionusa.com

Does anyone have an experience with this? My intention is to give my cat a fighting shot. She's not a candidate for surgery or chemo or radiation. Maybe I'm being childish, but I think no options stink! She's so young and has never had a health issue before this. I'd do anything for her if it will help ease what she is going through.

I still need to search what my own state laws are in regards to this. It might not be an option simply based on my location.

Any more thoughts on this? The last thing I want to do is put a sick cat in harm's way. A decision like this needs lots of thought.