Kratom is a popular herbal remedy in alternative medicine circles, and pain relief is top among its self-reported benefits. Most individuals prefer using the herb for pain management over pharmaceutical opioids to avoid the latter’s harsh side effects.
However, kratom’s pain relief effect is not exclusive to humans, and pet parents are currently turning to the herb as a pain management remedy for their pets. Nonetheless, is kratom effective for pain relief in pets, and most importantly, is it safe? Before you look for kratom for sale online, find the answer to these questions and more below.
What is Kratom?
Kratom (mitragyna speciosa) is an herb indigenous to Southeast Asia, where local communities use it as an elixir for everything from fatigue to common ailments. It features phytochemicals called alkaloids that deliver its said therapeutic effects.
The herb first entered the USA market as a potential treatment for opioid withdrawal since it is an atypical opioid. Atypical opioids cause a similar effect in the brain and body to pharmaceutical opioids like morphine, Vicodin, and fentanyl, save for harsh side effects and dependency.
Preliminary research into the herb showed that it delivers other therapeutic effects, including pain relief. According to one study, kratom’s dominant alkaloid, mitragynine, is a potent analgesic. The herb’s minor alkaloids, including speciociliatine, pynantheine, and speciogynine, also feature analgesic (pain relief) and anti-inflammation properties.
Kratom is available in different strains denoted by the herb’s leaf vein color and native country. So, you can find red, green, and white kratom strains when shopping for the herb. Each strain has a varying level of analgesic capacity.
How Kratom Works
To understand kratom’s capacity to manage pain in pets, begin by understanding the herb’s mechanism of action. Kratom functions like other opioids (morphine and codeine, and heroin) since its mechanism of action entails interacting with the body’s opioid system. The opioid system features receptors, including mu and delta-opioid receptors with which opioids interact to deliver pain relief and other psychological effects.
However, kratom is an atypical opioid. Therefore, the herb only binds partially (partial agonist) to the said receptors, so it does not cause dependency issues like other natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic opioids. However, according to one research report, mitragynine, the primary alkaloid in kratom, is more potent than morphine, making kratom highly effective for pain relief.
Research Studies on Kratom’s Effects on Animals
The empirical research data available on kratom’s effect on humans and animals are scarce. Most reports on kratom’s effects on pets are anecdotal. However, the available findings on the kratom-based research conducted to establish the herb’s analgesic effect and other associated effects on animals are below.
Its primary goal was to establish kratom’s effect on the rat’s gastronomical tract, and tests entailed administering kratom extracts to the test subjects. Study results concluded that low-dose kratom (50mg daily) slowed digestion and impeded diarrhea, while higher doses (200-400mg) contributed to weight loss.
The study’s primary purpose was to investigate kratom’s antipsychotic properties. Study results yielded that a low kratom dose (75-100mg) alleviated social withdrawal among test subjects, while an acute dose (50-500mg) alleviated exaggerated climbing behavior.
This study’s primary purpose was to investigate kratom and its derivatives to establish their antinociceptive (pain signal blockage) capacity. The study’s results concluded that kratom and its derivative features antinociceptive properties, although its derivatives have milder side effects.
Although rodents were the primary test subjects in the research studies conducted above, rodents are mammals, as are most pets. Therefore, the results replicate other mammalian organisms, including human beings. So, pet parents of non-mammalian animals should take note of that.
Potential Kratom Benefits
The research studies above prove kratom’s pain-relieving effects. However, pain in animals and human beings often leads to other symptoms, including anxiety, appetite loss, and nausea. So, besides its analgesic effects, kratom may deliver the following benefits to pets in pain.
- Anxiety relief: Pets, particularly dogs, may experience anxiety resulting from physical illnesses like cognitive anxiety syndrome (CAD) and Thyrotoxicosis. Kratom can help alleviate such anxiety while tackling the pain.
- Arthritis management: According to statistics, one in four dogs aged one year or older is at risk of developing some form of arthritis (especially osteoarthritis). Cats are not spaced either, as statistics show that 90% of cats above six years old have osteoarthritis in at least one joint. Since osteoarthritis is a painful non-communicable disease, kratom can help alleviate the pain for your pet.
- Energy stimulant: lethargy is a common chronic pain symptom, and kratom is a stimulant at low doses, alleviating pain.
Is Kratom Safe For Pets
The unavailability of substantial research on kratom means its long-term effects remain unknown. However, one study on mitragynine’s pharmacokinetics and safety concluded that the test subjects tolerated mitragynine, save for mild sedation and anxiolytic effects.
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Kratom Prescription and Administration
Kratom’s legal status currently hangs on the balance, with the FDA dissuading citizens against its consumption. So, it remains unclear whether veterinarians can legally prescribe it to pets or only recommend it.
However, the most important thing to note is that kratom is biphasic, delivering stimulant effects at low doses and sedation at high doses. So, start low, monitor your pet’s behavior closely, and go slow.
Also, kratom is naturally bitter, and your pet is likely to spit it out. So, get creative and administer it alongside food and treats to mask the bitter taste. However, if your dog is nauseous or feels digestion will lower bioavailability, you can rub kratom extract on your pet’s gums.
Conclusion
By all indications, kratom is safe and effective in alleviating pain in pets. However, get a guide to kratom strains and then go slow on the dosage to avoid undesirable effects. Finally, ensure you buy high-quality kratom pet products from trusted vendors.
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