CBD oil for cats with cancer works alone or alongside other medical treatments. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells caused by gene mutations; this causes uncontrollable cell division and tumor formation. Any mammal can suffer from cancer. A cancerous cell can spread and corrupt other cells; this is referred to as metastasis.
Medicinal treatment for cancer is very expensive, and in some situations, are ineffective. Vets and pet owners are becoming more interested in CBD – a plant-based superfood nutrient – due to its numerous health benefits.
Your pet can benefit greatly from CBD products like CBD oil for cats with cancer. You can decide to use only CBD oil for cats with cancer for your little companion or combine this medication with other medical therapy.
CBD or Cannabidiol belongs to the family of cannabis plants and is among the 80 different cannabinoids available. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the main cannabinoid constituent in marijuana– is the most common cannabinoid. However, CBD differs from THC because it’s not psychoactive, so giving your pet CBD for cats with cancer will not cause any intoxication.
CBD works very well in the mammalian system. It mimics the natural cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) in the body. These natural cannabinoids play different functions in the body of mammals – such as inflammation, appetite, pain, and so on – all of which are primarily controlled via a network of receptors referred to as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS constitute two major types of receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 is mostly responsible for pain or inflammation modulation; these receptors are located mainly in the brain of mammals. CB2 receptors are distributed all through the body and are mostly in control of regulating important functions of the immune system, such as identifying and destroying cancerous cells.
CBD can be used to treat a wide range of diseases since the ECS has different channels distributed throughout the body (including all major organs and systems in the body). Another nice feature of CBD is that it’s well tolerated; its adaptability makes it possible to treat different conditions as well as their symptoms in the mammalian body. CBD can be used to:
- Treat nausea or vomiting
- Treat anxiety, agitation or restlessness in cats
- Modulate inflammation all through the body
- Act as a highly effective painkiller, with little or no side effects
- Fight against cancerous cells in different forms of feline cancer
- Treat spasms or tremors in the muscles of cats
- Promote overall cardiovascular health (increasing good fat in the circulatory system).
- Encourage healthy sleep
- Stabilize blood sugar, reducing the risk of diabetes in cats
- Stabilize appetite and encourages healthy weigh in cats
- Treat different types of gut/gastrointestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea.
- Treat pancreatitis (usually occur in cats with IBS)
Your pets can benefit significantly from CBD oil for cats with cancer because they increase the amount of chemical compound called ceramide when they interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors. Ceramide has the ability to interrupt the production of energy in cancer cells. This compound can deprive cancerous cells of the nutrients they require to replicate, causing starvation.
Types of Cats Cancer
In cats, lymphoma, soft-tissue sarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the three most common types of cancer.
Lymphoma in cats
This type of cancer is the most common type in cats. Lymphoma, which is a type of blood cancer, is caused by the uncontrollable proliferation of the lymphocytes – white blood cells that prevent infection. In feline, lymphoma usually affects the:
- Nasal cavity
- Intestines
- Lymph nodes
- Liver
- Kidneys
Before the production of FeLV vaccines, one of the leading causes of cat lymphoma was Feline Leukemia. Not only does FeLV vaccine protect cats from Feline Leukemia virus, but it also protects them against certain types of lymphoma indirectly.
Lymphoma is preventable, and it can be treated (lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers). Pets with this condition can benefit significantly from CBD oil for cats with lymphoma. However, chemotherapy is the standard treatment for most lymphoma, and kittens treated for this condition normally have a better quality of life.
Chemotherapy is very effective against lymphoma. According to Colorado State’s Animal Cancer Center, nearly 75% of kittens treated with chemotherapy will go into remission. About one-third of cats may do well for more than two years with aggressive treatment. The remission duration and response rate, however, are site and type dependent.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cats
SCC (a type of skin cancer) is common in cats. This cancer usually develops on exposed skin like the eyelids, nose, and ears, and it’s more common in white cats in sunny climates. The prognosis for SCC induced by the sun is nice if discovered and treated on time. You can also prevent this condition by keeping your cats indoors and away from UV rays emitted by the sun.
Cats can also develop SCC in the mouth; about 10% of cat cancers are oral SCC. Generally, SCC is an aggressive type of cancer, and oral cancers, especially, have a poor prognosis despite treatment. Luckily for pets and pet owners, researchers are exploring new treatment options that may improve life quality for kittens with SCC.
Fibrosarcoma in cats
Cats also suffer from this type of cancer. It is an aggressive type of tumor that develops from fibrous connective tissue. The term feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) is used to describe when fibrosarcoma has developed at the site of injection of various relevant medications and preventives.
This type of cancer has been liked with injections of:
- Insulin
- Vaccines
- Antibiotics
- Corticosteroids
- Subcutaneous fluids
The likelihood of this complication is very rare, American Veterinary Medical Association, it is estimated at 1 case per 10,000 to 30,000 vaccinations. However, vets still limit the vaccination frequency and specify where the injection of vaccines will take place.
Similarly, vets may recommend specific vaccines (especially vaccines without aluminum) to minimize irritation that may occur at the site of injection that appears to increase the risk of FISS. These steps are adopted to minimize the risk of fibrosarcoma at the site on injection, but according to recent thinking, it’s possible multiple risk factors are involved, dosing and genetic factors included.
When prevention is inevitable, aggressive surgery with or without chemotherapy or radiation is employed to treat fibrosarcoma.
Causes of Cats Cancer
There are different likely causes of cancer in the body of mammals. They include:
Carcinogens
A carcinogen is a compound or chemical that can cause genetic mutations, leading to the development of cancerous cells. Carcinogens that can cause cancer in humans can also cause cancer in cats; examples include nickel, tobacco, x-ray radiation, uranium, cadmium, radon, benzene, vinyl chloride, and asbestos. Some of these carcinogens are found in the cat’s environments, especially if the pet owner smokes or consumes tobacco products.
Aging
Aging is another major cause of cancer. There are different reasons why growing old can increase the rate of cancer in mammals. One of the many reasons includes the accumulation of mutations by cells over the years. The more the mutations, the more likely the uncontrolled division of cancer cells. This is just a typical disintegration of the mammalian body. For instance, DNA in mammalian cells can be damaged as a result of chronic inflammation over the years. The body’s immunity grows weaker as one grows old; thus, identifying and destroying cancerous cells as fast as possible becomes less efficient.
Viruses
Cancer in mammals can also be caused by some viruses. Papillomavirus (responsible for warts in mammals) can cause Feline sarcoids. Feline leukemia virus, before the production of FeLV vaccine, was the most common cause of lymphomas in cats.
Fibrosarcoma
In cats, fibrosarcoma can sometimes occur at the injection sites of essential drugs like antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, or steroids; this is referred to as feline injection-site sarcoma. To prevent FISS development, vets will limit injection intake and are mindful of the area they choose to administer the necessary medications.
Sterilization
Lastly, a cat will be more prone to contract mammary cancer (breast cancer) if it is not spayed or has been spayed at a later period in life. Facts remain that cats spayed after six months of age are five to six times more likely to have this type of cancer compared to cats that were spayed before six months.
Cancer Symptom in Cats
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Cancer Society, the 10 most common cancer symptoms in pets are:
- Any kind of discharge or bleeding from a bodily orifice
- Chronic fatigue, weakness, loss of stamina, and inability to exercise
- Excessive weight loss
- Inability to eat or swallow
- Overpowering or offensive odor
- Respiratory problems and any difficulty defecating or urinating
- Stiff joints or pain when trying to move
- Unusual parts of the body that swell and/or grow abnormally
- Ulcers or sores that never heal
- Unusual loss of appetite
Additionally, vomiting is one of the most disturbing symptoms in cats. This symptom, in particular, is highly unusual in cats and should be handled with utmost care. Unlike dogs, vomiting in cats is very rate. Excessive hiding is another behavior specific to cats that need to be handled carefully. Although cats love to hide naturally due to their predatory instinct, if you notice your pet is hiding too much, then it could be a sign of a bigger problem.
Can Your Pet Benefit from CBD for Cats with Cancer?
CBD is very popular as a supplement; a lot of people are becoming interested in this medication and are using it regularly as a health supplement and medicine. You may be familiar with some of the health benefits of CBD.
According to some reports, CBD can be used to treat pain, inflammation, epilepsy, and certain skin condition. But are you aware that CBD might have anti-cancer effects? Following findings from a solid research body, CBD can inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous cells/tumors.
Best recommended CBD Oil for cats with cancer is made by company HolistaPet. Visit their official website through the link below:
How CBD for cats with cancer works:
CBD may help kill cancerous cells
Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA did a research in 2011 where they examined the effects of CBD on breast cancer cells.
The study was carried out in vitro (conducted in a sample dish or test tube) instead of an actual living organism. Nevertheless, the results of the tests conducted were amazing.
The researchers discovered that CBD assisted in inducing programmed death of cancerous cells while causing very little damage to healthy cells.
However, there was no clear explanation of how CBD induces death to cancerous cells. We are familiar with the fact that CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System in the body, but from the researchers’ observation, the effects occurred independently of any cannabinoid receptor activity.
The researchers did observe that CBD in some way, encouraged organize autophagy (destruction of damaged tissues) and apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Since cancer has to do with abnormal cell growth and cell death, it’s good news that CBD might assist in regulating cell growth and cell death.
CBD Can Help Prevent Growth of Tumor and Metastasis
Another similar study on CBD and its effects on breast cancer cells was published by the Journal of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment in 2011. The study was conducted on living organisms; it was performed in vivo on mice.
The researchers noticed that CBD helped slow down the proliferation of breast cancer cells. In addition, they also discovered that CBD reduced the metastasis of the tumor cells. From the results, the researchers confirmed CBD to have anti-tumor effects and recommended it as a compound with potentials that need to be subjected to more study for clinical trials
Also, the researchers noticed that CBD reduced ID-1 expression, a gene that plays a significant role in the development of aggressive breast cancer.
There are other studies that have similar results on other types of cancers.
For instance, a research conducted in 2003 discovered the presence of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in both cancerous and healthy skin cells in mice.
These receptors were targeted by topically applying 2 chemical compounds (known as WIN-55,212-2 and JWH-133) that mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids.
The researchers discovered that the compounds induced cell death and slow the growth of aggressive skin cancers by activating the Endocannabinoid System through the receptors found in the skin.
According to some studies, CBD hinders angiogenesis, a process that allows tumors to develop new blood vessels and transport nutrients to the tumor site.
Note: The studies mentioned in this post are preliminary. Understanding CBD, their role in combating cancer as well as other cannabinoids, require more clinical research.
What is the best CBD oil for cats with cancer?
Now you know how your pet can benefit from CBD oils for cats with cancer, you should not be bothered about selecting CBD products like CBD oil for cats with cancer or CBD oil for cats with lymphoma (a type of cancer prevalent in cats).
My recommendation is HolistaPet. All products created by HolistaPet are manufactured using full-spectrum CBD sourced from industrial hemp.
The company has three different CBD products:
- oils,
- treats,
- capsules
If yopu want to find out more about HolistaPet check out my full review: HolistaPet review
HI Kamil.
Firstly before anything else I would like to thank you for making us all aware of feline cancer. I knew existed but in all honestly i did not know what the symptoms are(a bit silly but its the truth). I think that one of my friends cats(he is a cat lover) has cancer because it has many of the symptoms you mentioned. I’ll refer him to your site. Very well structured and educating article by the way!
I honestly had never thought you could help your cat through the use of CBD oils and stuff. I mean, I knew the effects it all has on humans and how a lot of people (myself included) have benefited from it.
But to be able to kill cancer cells in cats?
The future is looking a little brighter everyday. Thanks for the great article.
-T
Hi Tyson, that’s because cats, just like humans, also have cannabinoid receptors in their brain and nervous system.
Thanks for the very informative post, Kamil. I was raised in a house where we’ve always had pets, including cats, and having supplements like these to add to their diets would have been very helpful. But going forward, this is now something that I am definitely going to invest in when adopting my next cat.
Thanks for the post!
Wow, such an informative article. The fact that you are helping sicks cats with cancer tugs at my heartstrings. I don’t have a cat but I have friends and family who do and I wasn’t aware that CBD oil could help them in that way. Lots of details and ways to help treat the little sick ones.
Thank you!
The types of cancers that a cat can be diagnosed with is so similar to what we encounter as humans. I found that very surprising.
I was also surprised at the fact that it helps with spasms. As a young child having many animals around I do not think we ever took serious that our pets could have a need for something like CBD oil. It shows how far we have come as a society as it relates to having a closer connection with our pets.
Thanks for sharing such an informative article.