The topic of cannabis and pets can still be a bit dicey, but new research is helping to inform pet owners and veterinarians alike about the potential benefits non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD could hold for our furry friends.
A recent study published by the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that a single dose of CBD “positively influences measures of stress in dogs during separation and car travel.” The study was conducted by researchers at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute at Waltham on the Wolds.
Authors note the well-documented research on CBD’s effects in humans, namely its ability to alleviate stress and anxiety, though it notes the effects on dogs are less documented. The study aimed to understand the impact of being left alone and traveling in a car on measures of canine stress, also looking to establish if a single dose of THC-free CBD distillate could positively influence those measures of stress.
Researchers embraced a blinded, parallel design study where a population of dogs were either left alone in a familiar room or underwent a short journey by car. Researchers also measured a range of physiological and behavioral measures before, during and after the test.
Over six months with a placebo and treatment group, dogs were given a daily administration of CBD (~4 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo with their morning meal. Testing was conducted by two blinded researchers responsible for ensuring the event conditions were standardized.
For the separation event, dogs were monitored alone in the separation test room for 45 minutes via a camera system before returning to their familiar housing. For car travel, dogs were placed in a crate appropriate for their size, fixed with bungee cords and a single piece of non-slip vet bedding. The journey was 10 minutes, consisting of a range of maneuvers like a sharp U-turn and three-point turn. The speed of the car never exceeded 10 mph as it was in a private, enclosed car park area. Dog behavior was recorded using two cameras mounted in the rear of the car.
Researchers measured a number of factors, including eye, ear and nose temperature; heart rate and variability; distance traveled; body position; coded behaviors; activity and dog behavior via video footage.
They found that travel in a vehicle elicited a more pronounced stress response and that a single dose of CBD reduced some indicators of acute canine stress.
“Significant changes in several stress-related measures (serum cortisol, mean ear temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability, whining and a stressed/anxious behavioral factor) were observed from baseline to test, with the car journey test paradigm eliciting a more pronounced stress response overall,” researchers found. “The mitigating effect of CBD treatment varied by measure and test, with some indicating a significant reduction in canine stress compared to the placebo group.”
Ultimately, researchers stated that additional research is required to better understand the effect of CBD at other dosages and formulations, along with whether or not cumulative administration improves efficacy.
In recent years, states across the country have begun introducing new legislation that would allow pets to use medical cannabis under veterinary supervision. One such bill was introduced Feb. 10 in the Rhode Island House, for a second time. The first time, the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association didn’t support the bill. Rep. Charlene Lima, a sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that more research is needed to better understand how cannabis affects pets, specifically citing that THC can be “very deadly for animals.”
California is the only state that explicitly allows veterinarians to discuss medical cannabis without fear of repercussion, through Senate Bill 627. While opponents questioned whether or not the bill would encourage pet owners to DIY dose their animals with cannabis products made for people, the law aims to do the opposite. Seeking a veterinarian recommendation is meant to better inform pet owners’ decisions on how to best use cannabis products for their pets.
The general consensus in these conversations and research is that CBD is likely less harmful for pets.
“CBD found in cannabis pet supplements is usually sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis that naturally contains extremely low concentrations of THC, which is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana,” the Anti-Cruelty Society states. “As a result, CBD is non psychoactive and appears safe to be used on pets.”
