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We love our dogs, and will do anything to make them feel better! Educating yourself about the potential benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) may seem daunting, but does not need to be.
One of the best ways to begin is by learning as much as possible about all the potential benefits of phytocannabinoids for pets, and then consulting with your veterinarian prior to choosing your CBG pet product. This is to ensure that your pooch gets the right veterinary diagnosis and traditional treatment first. That said, by consulting with a CBG savvy veterinarian, you’ll also be getting the best advice about which CBG pet products to use. This is incredibly important today when long-term results from cannabinoidal research is not available.
To help you get started, here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of CBG for dogs!
CBG, also known as cannabigerol is a cannabinoid that is found in low levels (less than 1%) in numerous cannabis strains. According to a recent study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) “Cannabigerol (CBG) is another major phytocannabinoid having a pharmacological profile relatively similar to THC and CBD in relation to its CB-independent activities. CBG is nonpsychotropic and does not bind or activate CB1 or CB2. However, CBG is antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory, as it inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS) release of proinflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2 in primary microglial cells, activates and attenuates murine colitis induced by intracolonic administration of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid.”
Additionally, the study goes on to discuss CBG as a potential disease-modifying agent in Huntington’s Disease because of its neuroprotective properties. “CBG was extremely active as a neuroprotectant in mice intoxicated with 3-nitropropionate (3NP), improving motor deficits and preserving striatal neurons against 3NP toxicity. In addition, CBG attenuated the reactive microgliosis and the upregulation of proinflammatory markers induced by 3NP and improved the levels of antioxidant defenses that were also significantly reduced by 3NP. We also investigated the neuroprotective properties of CBG in R6/2 mice. Treatment with this phytocannabinoid produced a much lower, but significant, recovery in the deteriorated rotarod performance typical of R6/2 mice.”
Veterinary News DVM 360 explains that cannabinoids that are beneficial to health undergo the first-class metabolism, and adds that there is more of a risk from toxicity with inhalant products than with oral products. That said, they go on to add that “The drug is eliminated by hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion in five days in dogs. Cannabinoids are very safe in dogs; indeed, a life-threatening dose of THC is hard to determine. “Toxicity” often reflects the ingestion of another compound in the product eaten, such as chocolate.”
On the other hand, Alberta Animal Health Source (ABVMA) states that we should all consult with our veterinarians prior to using cannabinoids on our dogs. Although there is preliminary evidence to suggest that cannabinoids may be beneficial to our pet’s health, there have been no long term studies thus far. They explain that “research into cannabinoid receptors in companion animals is in its early stages and more work is needed to fully understand these complex systems. All these variables make it extremely difficult to safely prescribe cannabinoid products to pets.
The endocannabinoid system has two cannabinoid receptors which are CB1 and CB2. CBG has an effect on both CB1 and CB2 by increasing the levels of anandamide (AEA) in the body. That said, the endocannabinoid (ECS) system is important in dogs, and aids in the function of maintaining homeostasis.
CBG is similar to CBD in that it may have numerous potential health benefits for dogs. That said, both of these cannabinoids will not get your dog “high”. As of today, both have demonstrated few side effects when using a full-spectrum oil of the highest quality that has been purchased from a reputable brand. Lab testing becoming the industry norm, making it easier to see which product is best for your pooch.
Cannabis strains usually carry less than 10% CBG, yet hemp strains will yield much more CBG with some as high as 94%, and a THC level as low as 0.001%. Because of the restrictions in testing cannabis, it makes it much more difficult to find out about accurate research linked to CBG use.
CBG is found in much lower concentrations than CBD and THC. It also has no psychoactive properties, meaning that your pooch will not get ‘high”. CBG does not change the effect of THC in the body. It binds with CB2 receptors (found in the body, but not in the brain and nervous system), and can stop other compounds from binding with CB1 receptors. (found in the nervous system and brain) When exposed to light or heat, CBG is broken down in the cannabis plant. CBG and CBD are both not addictive and have few side effects if any. Long term research still needs to be done on the use of both CBD and CBG.
Due to FDA Regulations, we recommend that you do your own research on CBD and CBG pet products. So far, CBG may be safe for use in pets and may have numerous health benefits.
The way all cannabis compounds work together is known as the “entourage effect”. Though not all products work this way, it’s best to understand which ones do, so that you’ll purchase the best CBG, CBD products for your furry best friend. The use of CBD, CBG, and other hemp-based products for pets may result in the enhancement of CBD. Pet products with added terpenes together with CBD and CBG may further enhance the potential health benefits. The interactive synergy between CBD compounds is called the “entourage effect.” That said, consult with your veterinarian prior to purchasing a CBG or CBD product for your pooch.
A study publishedin Science Direct found that CBG had anti-inflammatory properties similar to CBD. According to another study published in2015 in the National Center for BioTechnology Information,” CBG appears to be particularly active against the mitochondrial dysfunction, calpain activation and oxidative injury caused by 3NP. It was also active in R6/2 mice, but with only modest effect, so it is possible that it needs to be combined with another phytocannabinoid in these mice to enhance its therapeutic effects, in particular with cannabinoids having activity at CB1 and/or CB2 receptors, which have been found to serve as therapeutic targets in these mice. This additional investigation will be critical before proceeding to clinical studies with CBG in patients with HD.”
That said, there still needs to be more research done on the benefits of CBG as an effective treatment for the above-mentioned health conditions.
CBD/CBG oil may be useful in numerous ways in the treatment of cancer, as well as for all the symptoms that accompany cancer treatment and that cause pain. Besides its ability to destroy certain cancer cells, and prevent the growth of blood vessels to tumors, CBD/CBG oil also offers antioxidant properties and may help slow down tumor growth. Recent studies demonstrate that CBD/CBG oil is effective in improving the efficiency of chemotherapy in people with cancer.
With cancer pain being severe when tumors are affecting bone, CBD/CBG studies have demonstrated that it’s use has decreased pain and inflammation. Although CBD/CBG should not be used on its own for pain management, pet parents can add it to a regular pain treatment regime. Consult with your veterinarian for more advice.
When looking at all the CBD/CBG pet products, the most important consideration is if a CBD/CBG product uses anisolate or a full-spectrum oil. A full spectrum oil is the most potent and is derived from the entire plant.
The extraction of the oil takes place via a carbon dioxide process called CO2 extraction which entails using pressurized carbon dioxide to extract the CBD from the entire plant. CO2 functions as a solvent when reaching extreme temperatures, yet because it is under the boiling point, it’s cold. It is processed to create oil from the plant. It is also a clean and environmentally friendly process.
Finding out whether your CBD oil is safe for your dog is simple enough to do! Today with the unsanctioned medical use of CBD- based products containing a variety of oils, supplements, gums, and some with a very high concentration of extracts, it is all the more important to understand safety issues related to CBD oil use in dogs, and to understand what to look out for when purchasing a safe, high-quality CBD oil for your pooch, that is free of contaminants.
With all the recent research available, you’ll become familiar with CBD dosing and safety standards, and learn more about why the purity and consistency of CBD oil are important, and also, most importantly, about any safety precautions your dog should take when consuming CBD oil in any CBD pet product.
There are numerous methods for the analysis of cannabinoids, yet there is still no standard agreed upon the analytic method that is used to test accuracy and suitability. That said, here are the problems today that cannabinoid analysis faces:
CBD/CBG Possible Side Effects in Dogs
-Nausea
-Fatigue
-Irritability
With neither CBD or CBG being a cure for a disease, it’s best to first consult with your veterinarian for advice before using either. Your veterinarian will advise as to the correct dosing for your pet. It may be difficult to keep your pooch pain-free during illness, or getting him or her to maintain body mass for longevity, nonetheless, with the cannabis industry exploding in Canada and the US, it’s best to first seek sound veterinary treatment for your dog with a correct diagnosis and medication. The use of either CBD or CBG or products needs to be safe for all pets. Additionally, more research needs to be done.
Meet The Author
Canine Specialist & Writer
Claudia Bensimoun is a freelance journalist and author, and specializes in veterinary content, and eBooks. She's a long-time feature writer for Animal Wellness magazine, Fido Friendly magazine, and the United States Dog Agility Association. In addition, Bensimoun has written for numerous pet websites, magazines, newspapers and online publications. Her interests include wildlife conservation, animal welfare, disaster/ humanitarian relief, veterinary research, and veganism.
