VetNotes has proudly partnered with CBD Vets Australia.

Supporting veterinarians with quality medicinal cannabis treatments

As pet owners become increasingly interested in exploring natural, alternative therapies to improve their pet’s wellbeing, many are now turning to their veterinarians for advice and guidance on how to access these treatments when deemed medically appropriate. 

Medicinal cannabis is still a new and emerging clinical field, for both humans and animals, and CBD Vets Australia is at the forefront of this space. As part of Australia’s leading medicinal cannabis network, CBD Vets Australia provides a legal pathway to help veterinarians connect their pet patients with high quality medicinal cannabis treatments, while ensuring that these medicines are being appropriately prescribed.

CBD Vets Australia's dedicated network of veterinarians understand the potential role that medical cannabis therapies can play as an alternative or adjunct treatment for a range of chronic conditions affecting Australia’s pets, with the aim of improving their quality of life. These include health issues such as osteoarthritis, chronic pain, epilepsy and anxiety. The treatment can also sometimes play a role in supporting overall quality of life and as part of palliative care treatment. 

With CBD products now readily available online to the public - often from unverified black market sources - CBD Vets Australia is working to highlight the serious health risks that can come with buying untested and non-prescription medicinal cannabis products from online stores. 

At CBD Vets Australia, we are advocates of quality prescription medicinal cannabis therapies. We are at the forefront of developing research and training programs to support Australia’s veterinarians in prescribing these medicinal cannabis products, when clinically appropriate, that have undergone stringent testing.

Joining the CBD Vets Australia Network

Veterinarians who join the CBD Vets Australia network have access to:

• Ongoing support: CBD Vets Australia helps you enhance your care offering by connecting with our national network of veterinarians who have experience in alternative, adjunct treatments

• Educational resources: Medicinal cannabis treatment is rapidly changing and evolving. We help you feel empowered with the latest research, learning resources, case studies and evidence-based guidance

• Quality assurance: CBD Vets Australia provides a legal pathway to access products that have undergone stringent quality testing. With years of experience in plant-based medicine, our network ensures your pet patients receive only the highest quality care.

Peace of mind for veterinarians and pet owners

We know that there’s been an explosion of the amount of medicinal cannabis products, such as CBD oil, that are for sale online. Unfortunately, many of these formulations are not assessed for the purity or accuracy of their cannabinoid content. 

Preparations marketed online as 'pure' CBD oil may in fact contain impurities and various other substances which may be toxic to pets, such as heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides. For both veterinarians and pet owners, this is extremely concerning given the risk of adverse effects that come with using these untested products. Recent analysis in the United States found that two thirds of CBD products analysed had greater than 10% variation of CBD concentration compared to their label claims. And some products had virtually no CBD in them.

Another issue associated with the purity of CBD oil is THC content. THC is the cannabinoid compound derived from the cannabis plant that is associated with feeling intoxicated or ‘high’. Some black market CBD products that are labelled as pure may in fact contain THC, and this can be particularly harmful to dogs. THC poisoning in dogs can cause vomiting, delirium, increased sensitivity to touch and light, decreased heart rate, increased saliva, lethargy, and in some cases, death.

The good news is that CBD Vets Australia offers reassurance for veterinarians and pet owners, who now have a legal pathway to access prescription products that are pure and have undergone stringent pharmaceutical quality testing.

A supportive network, trusted by Australia’s vets

Perhaps you have had pet owners enquire about medicinal cannabis such as CBD but you don’t know where to legally source quality pharmaceutical grade products. That’s where CBD Vets Australia steps in. Medicinal cannabis, when sourced and administered appropriately, can provide many potential therapeutic benefits for our pets as an adjunct therapy for conditions such as epilepsy, osteoarthritis, chronic pain, anxiety and palliative care needs. Of course, not all pets respond with the health benefits their owners would like, but when conventional medicines have failed or fallen short, it may be an alternative option that vets are keen to try.

CBD Vets Australia makes this journey easier not just for veterinarians, but for pet owners as well. They can contact us, and we will either connect them with the closest network prescribing vet, or if they’d like to stay with their own trusted vet, we contact that vet to inquire if they’d like to consider CBD as an appropriate medical option. 

Through our national network in rural and urban areas, and our championing of education initiatives, we provide a simple way to legally access high-quality medicinal cannabis so that pets can get the most out of the treatment, and try an alternative option or adjunctive therapy to improve outcomes if their conventional medication is insufficient or has failed. 

Please contact us on info@cbdvetsaustralia.com.au or (02) 8294 9303 if you would like more information or training in prescribing legal CBD for pets.