CBD has many similar benefits for dogs and humans.
By Deborah Pirchner, Frontiers
Cannabis derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD), have been becoming more popular for humans—and it might not be any different for dogs.
The researchers have now used data from dog owners over a period of time who have fed their dogs CBD or not. They found that the dogs receiving CBD were different in terms of age and health. Over time, the findings showed that dogs receiving CBD supplementation showed less aggression. The team stated that this behavioral change could be important for the safety of both humans and dogs.
CBD may have therapeutic benefits in humans for conditions such as chronic pain or nausea. According to a recent study, it appears that even dogs are reaping the benefits. Researchers from the U.S. used the Dog Aging Project data to determine the demographics, health and behavioral characteristics of dogs who used CBD or hemp products. The results of their study were published by Frontiers in Veterinarian Science.
The Arizona State University’s Cannabis Analytics, Safety and Health Initiative director, Dr Maxwell Leung, said that dogs who have been given CBD for a number of years initially behave more aggressively than dogs not using the product. However, their aggression lessens over time.
The long-term change in behavior highlights CBD’s potential as a treatment for canine issues, added Dr Julia Albright. An associate professor of the College of Veterinary Medicine of University of Tennessee.
The older male, the ailing, and the older
This is the most comprehensive study to date on CBD usage in companion animals.
Data was collected from Dog Aging Project. This is a science community project in which dog owners provide information on the diet, lifestyle, health, and environment of their dogs over a period of several years. The data was collected from 47,355 dog owners. Owners completed surveys every year between 2019 and 2023 regarding the health and experiences of their pet.
They also stated how often their dog received CBD or hemp products. A daily supplement is considered frequent use, while a less-frequent supplement would be something given once or twice a week. Owners who have never given CBD to their dogs can report that they do not use it.
There were several correlations between CBD usage and dog characteristics.
Leung stated that “in the sample we took, 7,3 percent of all companion dogs were treated with CBD- and hemp-based products”.
2 759 (5.6%) of these dogs received supplements frequently. They were three years older in average than the dogs that didn’t get them.
CBD is especially linked to certain conditions. Dogs with joint pain or osteoarthritis (12.5%), dogs with cancer (10) and dogs with dementia (18.2%) had the highest CBD prevalence.
Dogs who were given the supplement are also more likely than humans to reside in states with medical cannabis legalization. It could be that the relationship between owners and pets influences their decision to use CBD.
CBD was more commonly given to male dogs, a 9-percent increase over female dogs.
The CBD-treated dogs’ level of physical activity was not different from those that did not receive CBD.
Docile dogs
It was also discovered that CBD usage led to behavioral changes.
The dogs who used CBD for a long time showed lower levels of aggression than those dogs not using CBD. This could be attributed to the direct effects.
Dogs who consistently use CBD showed a decrease in aggressive behavior over time, compared with a trend that was more stable among dogs not using CBD.
No similar effects were observed for other behavior, such as agitation and anxiety.
“Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety—a fight or flight response that kicks in. Albright said it was unclear as to why CBD seemed only to help aggression, but not anxiety or other agitated and anxious behaviors.
The team said that they did not examine the mechanisms of behavior changes in the study. Further studies will be needed to confirm CBD’s calming effect.
Data collected may have also been biased by the owners, as no data on formulations, dosage, routes of administration, or product sources were included.
Albright said, “At the moment we don’t have an accurate picture of what the treatment plan will look like.”
According to the team, owners that are considering CBD supplementation for their dogs should make sure they choose a trusted brand. The team also said that owners should be aware of dosage as CBD can cause adverse side effects such as gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea.
The study, according to the team, is a good starting point for better understanding how CBD can be used as an aid in alleviating behavioral and health problems that are common among aging people and companion animals.
Leung said that CBD benefits dogs in the same way it does humans.
Frontiers published this article first.