Cannabinoids are a group of compounds obtained from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) used for various therapeutic purposes in dogs, cats, and ferrets: antispasmodic, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, and appetite stimulant, or for their neuroprotective, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
A recent review by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, in collaboration with other facilities in Mexico and Uruguay, provides us with an updated picture of the availability andtherapeutic use of natural or synthetic phytocannabinoids, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabidiol and cannabidiol.
Studies under review have demonstrated the analgesic properties of these substances and the role of cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) receptors in the endocannabinoid system in modulating acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain. This system consists of three main components: endogenous ligands (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol), G-protein-coupled receptors, and enzymes that degrade and recycle the ligands. Their interaction with CB1 receptors has been shown to inhibit signaling in pain pathways and cause psychoactive effects. On the other hand, CB2 receptors are associated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic responses and effects on the immune system.
The endocannabinoid system
Cannabis extracts and their synthetic derivatives are an effective therapeutic tool that contributes to the compassionate treatment of pain and participates in its multimodal management. However, the endocannabinoid system interacts with several endogenous ligands and neurotransmitters, thus offering other therapeutic possibilities in dogs and cats, such as in the case of those patients suffering from seizures or epilepsy, contact and atopic dermatitis, degenerative myelopathies, asthma, diabetes, and glaucoma, among other inflammatory diseases. In addition, these compounds have been shown to possess antineoplastic, appetite-stimulating, and antiemetic properties.
Ultimately, the study of the endocannabinoid system, its ligands, receptors, mechanism of action, and signaling, has contributed to the development of research demonstrating that hemp derivatives and their synthetic derivatives are an effective therapeutic alternative in the multimodal management of pain in dogs and cats due to their ability to prevent peripheral and central sensitization.
Research suggests that cannabinoids can be used in veterinary medicine to treat acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain due to their ability to prevent peripheral and central sensitization.
Reference
Miranda-Cortés A, Mota-Rojas D, Crosignani-Outeda N, Casas-Alvarado A, Martínez-Burnes J, Olmos-Hernández A, Mora-Medina P, Verduzco-Mendoza A and Hernández-Ávalos I (2023) The role of cannabinoids in pain modulation in companion animals. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1050884. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1050884
