U of S professor looking into C.B.D. effects on dogs

An ingredient in marijuana may just help out your furry friends in the near future.

A professor at the University of Saskatchewan is studying the effects of ‘cannabidiol’, or C.B.D., in dogs as a veterinary medicine.

Dr. Al Chicoine spoke to John Gormley recently on his findings.

“We’re starting to see a lot more research into this area for people. In veterinary medicine, we typically follow along human medicine, just a little bit later. So, folks are very interested in seeing if these C.B.D. products are useful for a variety of different conditions in animals,” he said.

Chicoine started his research on a group of 13 dogs at the veterinary college at the U of S, and hopes to expand the research to cats in the new year.

Before that can begin, he said he still has a lot of work to do.

“We’re just doing some preliminary safety research.”

One of the challenges comes from THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

“A lot of the products that are being used now, they don’t contain much THC, but there’s typically still a little bit that’s in there,” Chicoine said.

This can make it difficult to see which chemical negative side effects come from, but Chicoine said he hopes to see the drugs effects on pain, arthritis, and vomiting in pets.