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About Hemp

And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed. And God saw that it was good.
— Genesis 1:12

ABOUT HEMP

The Basics

What is the difference between marijuana and hemp with naturally occurring CBD and CBG?

Researchers checking hemp plants in the field
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Hand holding fresh marijuana leaf nature background

HISTORY

A Plant of Many Purposes

Both marijuana and hemp come from the Cannabis sativa L. plant; however, marijuana contains higher levels of THC, which is the component of the plant that is psychotropic. Hemp, by US law, is defined as having 0.3% or less THC and is not psychotropic (it will not get your pet “high”). Hemp has been grown for many purposes including fiber for textiles, food, clothing, housing materials, rope, and other products. In fact, material made from hemp has been dated to over 10,000 years ago and as such, it was likely the first crop ever cultivated by humans.

The Farm Bill

Until the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the Farm Bill of 2018) was passed by Congress on December 12, 2018 and signed into law by President Trump the following week, hemp was an illegal substance in the United States. With the passing of the Farm Bill, hemp and hemp-derived products were legalized federally as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana; however, is still a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act and it is listed by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule I drug (high potential for abuse and generally considered to have no accepted medical use). While the federal status of marijuana remains unchanged, over 30 states have legalized medical marijuana and many states have legalized recreational use of marijuana.

Why should you purchase Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD and CBG?

First, our products are created by veterinarians – for veterinarians – and their patients. We became interested in CBD because we wanted to treat our pets with it, but after doing some research, we quickly realized that there was a great deal of misleading information on the internet. We also saw that many of the products being sold were bogus; some were manufactured in a manner that was not optimal (meaning harmful residues or chemicals were in the product) or they actually contained little or, in any many cases, NO CBD. Hence, we began to develop our premium products and establish our Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care brand.

Dan on his back

DR. FOSSUM’S PET CARE Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract is a combination of two primary cannabinoids: CBD and CBG. You can find the concentration of each of these cannabinoids on our labels. Very few pet hemp products contain CBG because it is very expensive (it is known as the Rolls Royce of cannabinoids); however, there is evidence that CBD and CBG work synergistically to provide enhanced benefit. We have also added additional terpenes and a unique flavoring for each species to enhance palatability. We created our extract to deliver CBD and CBG at a precise amount per milliliter so we can more accurately quantify how much each patient is receiving (and as a prelude to our clinical trials in dogs and cats).

At DR. FOSSUM’S PET CARE, instead of using an inaccurate dropper we use oral syringes so you can more accurately quantify how much your companion is receiving per pound of body weight. To make it easier for you to administer the correct amount of CBD/CBG we provide separate concentrations for small, medium, and large dogs. We also have a cat and horse formulation.

See our Usage Guide to determine the exact amount recommended for your pet. Keep in mind that every animal is different in the way that they respond to cannabinoids, thus the amount that is most beneficial for your pet may differ from that recommended. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount until you find the right amount for your individual pet. 

Premium Products Require Quality Ingredients

We created our extract to deliver CBD and CBG at a precise amount per milliliter

we use only the highest quality ingredients

Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract

Scientist holding CBD cannabis oil bottle, close up

We purchase our hemp from small boutique farms where they plant and harvest with care. The hemp is extracted in small controlled batches.

At DR. FOSSUM’S PET CARE we believe it is critical to be involved with every aspect of the production of our product that will affect its quality – from the soil to shelf.

There should be no doubt that DR. FOSSUM’S PET CARE Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract is of the highest quality. We provide a third party Certificate of Analysis (COA) on each and every batch we process. You can access the certificate by scanning the QR code on the package.

The Science:

The Science

All mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) which interacts with natural neurotransmitters in the body. When these endocannabinoids (or messengers) bind to receptors located throughout the brain and body they affect appetite, sensation, mood, memory, the immune system, and more. These same receptors are also responsive to external compounds, such as the plant based phytocannabinoids found in hemp. There are 100+ known phytocannabinoids in the hemp plant. Both the natural endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids are composed of lipids (fats or oils) and this is the reason that cannabinoids such as CBD are fat-soluble and why these extracts are often delivered in an oil base.

Terpenes & Flavonoids​

Terpenes and flavonoids are natural components of the cannabis plant that work synergistically with cannabinoids (i.e., cannabidiol [CBD], cannabigerol [CBG], and cannabinol [CBN]) to increase the benefit of any single cannabinoid. Terpenes are aromatic compounds which are present in many essential oils (e.g., eucalyptus, lavender) and contribute to the plants’ taste, smell, and color. Flavonoids are compounds found in most fruits and vegetables and contribute to their pigmentation, odor, and flavor. Terpenes and flavonoids are active from a pharmacology standpoint and may themselves reduce oxidative stress and and help maintain a healthy inflammatory response. We employ specific terpenes and flavonoids to enhance the “entourage effect” and provide an optimal, researched, proprietary blend for your pet.

Why is Whole Hemp preferred over pure CBD?​

While the hemp plant naturally contains cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, during processing these compounds can be isolated and removed. Our products have been maximized to provide optimal benefit by combining several cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes into a single product. We have done this to take advantage of the ENTOURAGE EFFECT. See also the information on the administration curve or “How much is too much” on this page.

Why Cannabinoids?​

The main function of the ECS is to maintain body homeostasis or harmony in response to external and environmental stresses. Phytocannabinoids, like our natural endocannabinoids, stimulate the endocannabinoid receptors (EC receptors) to produce specific effects. Some phytocannabinoids, such as CBD, don’t directly trigger EC receptors; instead, it modifies the receptors’ ability to bind to other cannabinoids such as THC. We have spent years researching the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that deliver the best support for your pet.

What is the Entourage Effect?​

The “entourage effect” helps maximize the benefits of hemp extract. This phenomenon results when the many components within the cannabis plant interact with the body to produce a stronger influence than any one of those components alone – it’s a synergistic effect. Terms that you should know are “Broad Spectrum” which means that the product has cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids – but the THC has been removed and “Full Spectrum” which means that there is THC contained in the final product. THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana and while hemp extracts contain less than 0.3% we have opted to remove it entirely (no detectable THC) because it can be toxic to animals. Our product won’t get your pet “high”.

Administration Curve or "How much is too much?"​

Pure CBD (known as CBD isolate) has a bell-shaped response curve, meaning that its efficacy (how well it works) increases with an increasing amount until it hits a threshold/maximum and then the effect decreases. This means that if you give too much of an isolate it may be less beneficial than a lower amount (see our FAQs for additional information). This is known as a “bell-shaped dose-response curve”. On the other hand, when a full- or broad-spectrum product is given the efficacy may plateau (meaning a higher amount doesn’t necessarily result in a greater effect, but it also doesn’t result in a lesser effect). This is known as a “dose-response curve” and might be explained by the synergistic interactions between CBD and minor phytocannabinoids or non-cannabinoids presented in the extracts. Thus, CBD isolates need to be given within a very limited dosage range. When other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids are added, the benefit is greater, meaning that the amount given needs to be less precise. Work with your veterinarian to determine the correct amount to give your companion. That optimal amount will vary from animal to animal and may be influenced by other medications that are being given or underlying health conditions such as liver disease.

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