Safe Food for Your Pets

Auntie Dolores is a play on anti dolores, with “anti” meaning against and “dolores” being the Spanish word for pains.

With cannabis being legal for human medical use in California, Auntie Dolores specializes in snack items for humans that contain cannabis, a.k.a. marijuana, a regulated Class I narcotic. Such snacks are referred to as edibles in the cannabis industry.

Julianna Carella, the founder and CEO of Auntie Dolores, calls her proprietary blend CBD-infused pet goodies Treatibles, which are marketed as super food wellness treats.

“We started developing Treatibles in 2013,” Carella relates. “Many of the cannabis patients using our edible products began to ask about products for their pets, and so began the research and development of Treatibles.”

About six companies are making these types of pet products now, she adds.

Carella is quick to mention that, while Auntie Dolores voluntarily lists laboratory analysis results, including the CBD content in milligrams, on Treatibles packaging and on the company website, most CBD pet treats competitors do not provide this information for their customers.

“Due to the lack of regulations, companies can call a product ‘CBD-rich’ even when it has very low dosage of CBD milligrams,” she notes.

Auntie Dolores has testing done at CW analytical, a third-party cannabinoid testing laboratory in Oakland, Calif. “Prior to us incorporating it into recipes, they test the raw material for purity, exact cannabinoid levels, and to make sure it is free of pesticides, contaminants, and molds,” Carella says. “They also test for exact amounts of CBD and THC on the finished treats to determine cannabinoid levels present and ensure there is the amount of CBD levels we want and that there is virtually no THC.”

Hemp seed oil and CBD are also tested for contaminants and heavy metals in order to rule out any presence of these materials. “We do guaranteed analysis testing at a pet food laboratory and these results are printed on all our product packaging,” Carella adds.

Treatibles are made with a proprietary blend of nontoxic hemp-derived CBD and other cannabinoids, as opposed to cannabis-derived, Carella points out, emphasizing that Treatibles are safe for any animal with an endocannabinoid system (which regulates many homeostatic functions). “CBD does not cause any ‘high’ whatsoever,” she says.

“Pet owners are giving their dogs Treatibles to alleviate symptoms and pain associated with several disorders, including separation anxiety, arthritis/pain/immobility, hip dysplasia, cancer, and epilepsy,” she says.

Available in blueberry and pumpkin flavors, Auntie Dolores Treatibles are made following a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan, even though there are no regulations requiring it.

Treatibles are held to some labeling and marketing restrictions, however. “Because CBD is not an FDA approved ingredient, we are restricted with regard to the claims that can be made about the products,” Carella explains. “Unfortunately, we cannot make any health claims until cannabinoids are taken off of the Controlled Substance Act list and cannabinoid research that is long overdue finally commences. In the meantime, we rely on information we know to be true, such as that all animals, except insects, have an endocannabinoid system, and respond to phytocannabinoids.”

“Many veterinarians are using the product in their practices to calm animals as they wait in the waiting room for their appointments,” Carella says. “Dog trainers, behaviorists, groomers, and animal communicators also use the product with their clients.”

Auntie Dolores conducted research into why their customers were buying Treatibles by including a feedback postcard with the first 2,500 bags sold. “When the postcards were returned, we began to collect data which taught us much about the many conditions the product was addressing with regard to their animal companions’ health and wellness and response to Treatibles,” Carella recounts.

Six-Pack Against Salmonella

One expert strategist in the war against Salmonella in pet food and pet treats is Edward Richter, PhD.