Recently I bumped into Andy Hanniagan, who is a longtime friend of mine that I hadn't seen for ages. Andy and his wife Paula are the founders of Bounce, which are those healthy snack balls that you see everywhere in grocery stores and service stations.
One thing I love about these guys is that they have always been into alternative healthy lifestyle options, so it was no surprise when I asked Andy what he is upto these days that he told me he has taken a role as CEO of Hemp Fields Australia.
Like most people, my perception around Hemp / Cannabis is stoners smoking joints to get high. But the products developed for medicinal use couldn’t be further from that, they all are missing or have super low levels of THC which is the psychoactive element of cannabis that gives the high and are being used to improve people's health all over the globe.
So when I told Andy what I was doing with Pet Collars was quick to tell me that they had a Pet brand called Hemp Pet so I organised a meet up with him to learn all about how hemp oil can benefit our Pets Health, so I could share it with you guys.
The backstory on Hemp is that it is one of the oldest and most versatile plants that exist on our great earth. It has traditionally been used in foods and for textiles but more recently the focus has been on its medicinal properties for both humans and our furry friends.
Most people think that Hemp is Marijuana, They look the same, grow the same and smell the same BUT are not the same. Hemp is grown for its seed, its fibre and its oil.
One of the products from Hemp that has been labelled an ancient superfood is Hemp Seed Oil. It is so good as it contains the perfect ratio of 3:1 Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) to Omega-6 (linoleic acid) fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are ones that your pet can not produce naturally, so they need to get them from their diet.
Also the Omega-6 fatty acid I mentioned, which is called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA for short). This GLA is a building block for prostaglandins which is a substance in your dog's body that controls muscle contractions (good for seizures), inflammation, regulates temperature, reduces anxiety and other vital functions.
Most dogs have the right amount of GLA naturally, but there are times like after hard exercise and stress that they will need more and this is when supplementing it becomes important. It will also reduce any inflammation, strengthens immune systems, reduces joint pain and arthritis.
Hemp oil can also improve your pet's coat as the oil easily penetrates the skin and improves cellular growth. The balanced acids also help reduce inflammation from skin allergies.
But before you start adding hemp seed oil to your dog’s meals, there’s a couple of things you should know.
Hemp seed oil is a polyunsaturated fat, which means the oil is unstable. So if you cook your dog’s food, you don’t want to add hemp seed oil to the food while it’s cooking. This can cause the oil to become rancid and cause health issues in your dog.
In addition, if your dog is eating a poultry-based diet, adding hemp seed oil may cause an imbalance in his diet. Chicken is already quite high in polyunsaturated fats and linoleic acid so maybe use flaxseed oil instead in this case.
But if your dog is eating a diet rich in beef and other ruminants, then hemp seed oil is a great way to balance the diet and boost their health. It is recommended that for every 500g of meat you add a teaspoon of Hemp Oil or between 1ml-5ml depending on pet weight. But it always pays to check with your Vet if you are not sure.
It doesn't just need to be used in times of sickness or distress either. It should be implemented into your feeding routine. You can also buy non food products made with hemp like bedding, so definitely look into that.
But back to the food and oils, obviously I would love for all of you to support my buddy any and shop at www.hemppet.com.au.