CBD for Cats with Cancer
Generally we see lower rates of cancer in cats, compared to their canine counterparts. Regardless, if your companion is diagnosed with feline cancer, it can devastate you as a pet parent. The journey of deciding on treatments and complementary therapies for cancer in cats can be difficult, depending on the diagnosis and timeline your veterinarian gives you. Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD oil for cats with cancer might be the right option for pet parents who choose not to pursue conventional methods like chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. Additionally, FSHE CBD for cancer in cats can also be a highly effective complementary tool to manage symptoms and side effects of conventional cancer drug therapies. No matter which tools and therapies you choose, it’s essential to understand cancer in cats thoroughly, how it works, and how to manage it effectively and with as little stress as possible for your cat.
Table of Contents
Common Types of Cancer in Cats
Lymphoma in Cats
The most prevalent cancer found in cats is lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of many origins; it can come from the lymph nodes, intestines, nasal cavity, liver, or kidneys. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that occurs when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that protects the body from infection) proliferate uncontrollably. It is a systemic (whole-body) cancer with many causes, but one of the most common is Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). In cats, the intestinal tract is the most common site of origin for lymphoma.
Unlike other forms of cancer, conventional veterinary medicine has a pretty good cure rate for lymphoma. However, that’s not to say the treatments don’t have side effects or are foolproof. Conventional treatment is usually oral chemotherapy and steroids in combination or separately. The protocol used depends entirely on the type of lymphoma and its location. Steroids and chemotherapy are known for causing a whole host of side effects. With steroids, side effects include excessive thirst, urination, aggressive behavior, lethargy, increased risk of infection, vomiting, and diarrhea, to name a few. Chemotherapy tends to share many of the side effects of steroids and can also cause bleeding risk, loss of hair coat, changes in the skin, kidney damage, bladder pain, and heart failure.
Mammary Cancer in Cats
Mammary cancer is common in both cats and dogs and tends to develop as they age. According to conventional veterinarians, this cancer is primarily avoided by spaying your cat before their first heat cycle. Although early spay is not usually recommended in the integrative veterinary community when it comes to dogs, most female cats are spayed at a very young age due to the nature of cats to reproduce quickly. Unfortunately, this early spaying has other consequences, such as urinary incontinence and infections.
Treatment of mammary cancer usually involves surgical removal of the affected tissues, and recovery from this surgery is arduous and painful. Due to the aggressive nature of mammary cancer in cats, metastasis (spreading to other tissues) is common. Depending on the surgeon and case, more than mammary tissue, such as lymph nodes, may be removed. Many patients will require two surgeries, making a recovery even more difficult.
Cat Skin Cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that accounts for most feline skin cancer diagnoses. Excessive sun exposure is thought to increase the risk of this cancer. It is commonly found on skinless areas like the nose, ears, and eyelids. The usual “cure” is the removal of the cancerous tissue. However, surgical excision may be impossible if the affected area is too risky or affects a site that cannot spare any tissue.
Fibrosarcoma in Cats
Fibrosarcoma is an aggressive type of cancer that attacks the body’s fibrous tissues, primarily the mouth. It is the most common type of oral cancer in cats. This cancer is not only aggressive but invasive. Management of fibrosarcoma is problematic from a conventional standpoint. Surgical removal is the standard method, but it can cause significant setbacks and difficulties depending on how much mouth and jaw tissue is removed. Radiation and chemotherapy are traditional complementary methods used for this type of cancer; of course, they have their own side effects.
Diagnosing Cancer in Cats
In the case of any type of cancer, proper staging is imperative to appropriate treatment. The staging process will involve any number of diagnostic measures such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, bloodwork, and biopsies. These measures ensure a correct diagnosis and progression estimation.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer in Cats
Whether or not you choose conventional therapies for your cat’s cancer is entirely your decision. Consulting with an integrative veterinarian will always give you the most extensive “toolbox” of options. This includes a discussion of traditional therapies and more holistic therapies to complement them. If you choose not to go the conventional route, for whatever reason, your integrative veterinarian will be able to guide you on an alternative path that suits your cat best.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD for Cats with Cancer
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract has a whole plethora of benefits when it comes to cancer. Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD oil for cats with cancer has been well studied and known to have antitumor and anticancer effects. So if you don’t want to pursue methods like chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation, FSHE CBD oil for cancer in cats might be the right option.
Even if you choose to use conventional methods to manage your cat’s cancer, FSHE CBD for cancer in cats can still be a super effective complementary tool. Full Spectrum Hemp Extract has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiemetic (anti-nausea/vomiting), and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. This means FSHE CBD for cats with cancer effectively manages and reduces most unpleasant side effects of cancer drug therapies by balancing the body, meaning its symptom reduction is systemic and affects the body as a whole rather than just isolated symptoms.
*(It is important to note that these benefits will not be seen when using Broad Spectrum or Isolate extracts, only FSHE)
FSHE CBD oil has been shown to complement and increase the effectiveness of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Pairing FSHE CBD for cats with cancer, with a mushroom extract containing Turkey Tail mushroom, will increase this effect since Turkey Tail is also well known for its therapeutically enhancing effects.
FSHE CBD Oil is especially helpful in promoting post-surgical healing, so even if the only treatment method you choose is surgery, it can still be beneficial. FSHE truly benefits almost any cancer patient. In addition, its safety is unparalleled for cancer; it cannot be overdosed, protects the body from harm, and has no long-term side effects.
Related: Benefits of CBD for Cats
Dosing CBD oil for Cats with Cancer
Understanding the proper dosage of FSHE CBD oil for cats with cancer is just as important as understanding the benefits. There are numerous brands of CBD Oil to choose from for your cat, many of which do not understand or know the science of dosing CBD, which is hugely problematic.
Just as you wouldn’t take Tylenol according to your body weight, dosing CBD oil by weight is not research-backed or efficacious. This is especially true regarding severe conditions like cancer that require a much different dosing strategy. Since cancer is aggressive, and its therapies are in kind, you must dose your FSHE CBD for cats with cancer to match the body’s need for serious help.
A proper cancer dosage for a cat ranges from approximately 35-50mg of FSHE daily. We recommend our Heal: Full Spectrum CBD oil for Cats with cancer. Our Heal CBD oil for cats has approximately 37mg of CBD in one full dropper.
We recommend splitting this dose 2-3 times daily since FSHE CBD oil stays in the bloodstream for about 6-8 hours, peaking around hour 2. To keep your cat comfortable all day, dosing more often is recommended. Give your cat their FSHE CBD Oil for feline cancer right before a meal for maximum benefit. And always make their dosage as positive an experience as possible. Give your kitty lots of love, treats, or whatever else makes them happy after their FSHE CBD oil dosage. It will make the process simple and easy for both of you in the long run.
Related: Our CBD Dosage Page for Dogs & Cats
Final Thoughts
Navigating the journey of cancer in cats is not an easy one. The decisions you make for your pet during this journey are important and have significant impacts on your pet’s quality of life. Finding suitable treatment options will be unique to your pet. No matter what you choose, complementary, holistic options like Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD Oil for cats with cancer, medicinal mushrooms for cancer, a fresh diet, homeopathics, and supportive herbs can help your cat maintain quality of life while navigating through their cancer journey.