Kratom has many beneficial properties, such as potent pain, stress, and anxiety relief, and relaxation. Its popularity has soared in the past decades without the sign of topping. So, if you have a companion that is experiencing pain, you may be interested in knowing whether you can use kratom for pets.
Let’s have a closer look and find out.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a tropical Southeast Asian tree, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom is rich in a variety of alkaloids, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
These alkaloids are responsible for the majority of kratom effects. These include pain relief, similar to what you can expect from opioids. That’s because kratom activates mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in the brain. Opioids target the same receptors. Nonetheless, since Mitragyna speciosa is not an opioid, it does not cause potentially fatal respiratory depression that opioids are notorious for.
In addition to pain relief, the Southeast Asian herb can provide stress, and anxiety relief, improved mood, euphoria, and more.
In addition to mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, kratom has traces of other alkaloids as well as other chemical compounds. Current studies on Mitragyna speciosa have identified 25 alkaloids and 40 total chemical compounds in the herb.
While mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine provide pain-relieving and relaxing properties, other compounds offer additional beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory ones. The full scope of kratom is yet, however unknown due to limited medical studies.
Due to the powerful beneficial pain-relieving effects, pet owners may consider giving their furry friends kratom, especially if they are looking for more natural remedies.
Is Kratom for Pets Safe?
Animals, including dogs, cats, and other pets, also have mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in their brains. Therefore, opioids or opioid-like substances can provide pain relief in a similar way as it does to humans.
Up until this time, a few limited kratom studies have been carried out on animals. Let’s take a look at the findings:
- In 1992, a study on dogs revealed no fatal toxicity at high doses. Yet, the study indicated that there might be a negative effect on dog liver and kidneys.
- In 2007, a study on mice revealed that Mitragyna speciosa extract could improve withdrawal symptoms in addicted mice. Moreover, Mitragyna speciosa extract reduced depression symptoms in mice without reducing their activity level.
- In 2008, a study on rats discovered that a single dose of kratom stopped diarrhea. After two weeks, these rats fully got used to kratom, and their digestion was as before.
- In 2013, a study on rats found out that Mitragyna speciosa was generally safe at regular doses. Yet, it had toxic effects at very high doses (over 100mg/kg).
- In 2016, mice with psychosis experienced improvement of their positive and negative symptoms such as social withdrawal and excessive climbing after being administered Mitragyna speciosa.
- In 2017, a study on rodents discovered that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, as well as their derivatives, showed more effective chronic pain relief than morphine and with fewer side effects.
While these studies are promising, they are limited. Only a few studies on limited species of lab animals have been done. There are no studies examining long term results of kratom use.
Due to the many alkaloids and other compounds, kratom is a complex herb, and it is not known how each of those interacts with pets. Moreover, a substance that is safe for one pet may not be safe for another.
What Pet Users Have to Say?
Numerous users who have tried using kratom for pets have shared positive experiences on discussion platforms such as Reddit. So, carefully administered kratom may be safe for at least some pets.
Owners of primarily senior dogs have reported small doses of kratom have provided effective pain relief and relaxation, making the last days of their furry friends easier and more pleasurable. Their pets were more energetic and playful. With that said, the dogs didn’t die from kratom. They were old and terminally ill.
Nonetheless, the general consensus among pet owners was that kratom should only be a pain relief method for older pets who suffer from chronic or other forms of pain. Due to the lack of information on how kratom affects dogs and other pets, most users believe you should not use kratom for pets that are healthy.
After all, not everything humans can take is safe for pets. For instance, chocolate, a beloved treat of many, can be lethally toxic to cats and dogs.
Kratom Dosage for Pets
If you choose to use kratom for pets, keep in mind that you should not use the same dose you would give yourself. It will also depend on your pet’s size and weight. So, start with a very small dose such as half a gram.
You can try giving your pet kratom tea or mixing the powder with treats such as peanut butter. We recommend organic or at least unsweetened peanut butter. If you want to give it to a cat, use it very sparingly and only to give kratom. Peanut butter contains lots of fat and can cause obesity.
Make sure that you only use high-quality kratom from trusted and reputable vendors. Low-quality kratom can require excessive doses, exposing your pet to kratom alkaloids without providing adequate pain relief. It is also possible for the product to contain contaminants and adulterants, which could be extremely damaging to a suffering animal.
What Herbal Alternatives to Kratom Are Safe for Pets?
While it is unclear whether kratom for pets is safe, numerous other plants have proven to provide pain relief, relaxation, and other benefits.
Some examples of herbs include frankincense, turmeric, licorice, ginger, yucca, alfalfa, horsetail, Boswellia, hawthorn, and cayenne pepper. CBD, another popular yet controversial substance, can also provide pain and anxiety relief, treat seizures, and more, and several studies back that.
Have you used kratom for pets? How did your furry friend respond to Mitragyna speciosa? What dose did you use, and how did you give it to them. Would you recommend the herb to other pet owners? Why? Why not?
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