The journal Veterinary Medicine and Science published a case study that suggests very small doses psychedelic LSD can reduce a severe dog’s separation anxiety by reducing destructive behaviour and decreasing the duration vocalizations.
The authors of the study said that the results suggest “potential therapeutic efficacy” of 1cp-LSD microdosing in the management of canine anxiety, though they admitted future research was needed to confirm the findings. The authors point out anxiety in dogs is “common, with an estimated 1/5 of canine populations affected.”
The subject of the new study was a 13-year-old female dog of mixed breed, whom researchers had previously administered a single microdose of 1cP-LSD—a semi-synthetic analogue of LSD with very similar psychoactive effects—”to observe the effects of the drug in the canine species, as no literature existed on this matter,” the paper says.
Authors wrote that results from the previous experiment revealed the drug “was safe and reduced anxiety effectively in the animal.”
This study examined the dog’s separation anxieties and the changes that occurred over the course a LSD treatment program. Researchers used a point-based system to determine that the anxiety score of the dog had decreased significantly from 29 (severe), to 14 (moderate), after treatment.
Authors wrote that they observed a decrease in anxiety, which was characterized by fewer destructive behaviors and shorter durations for vocalization. This improvement was maintained 1 month after treatment even though vocalizations increased.
Treatment consisted of administering 5 micrograms of 1cP-LSD—or about 0.38 nanograms per kilogram of body weight—orally to the dog every three days, which amounted to 10 total doses over the course of the month. Report: “The substance, disguised as a slice of ham, was given to the animals orally during breakfast.”
Authors explained that since no studies on LSD in dogs have been done, the dose chosen was extrapolated based on human data. This acknowledges possible interspecies differences when it comes to substance metabolism.
The doctors added that they had not observed any adverse reactions during the treatment.
Authors—from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Asociación Científica Psicodélica, in the Canary Islands—acknowledged that the study’s “key limitation” was its lack of a placebo-controlled, blinded design. The team implemented “methodological safeguards” that were meant to decrease bias. They included using validated behavioural scales for assessing anxiety and also evaluating subjective observations of the owners as well as objective indicators like vocalization duration or destructive behavior.
Researchers also pointed out that the use psychedelics by non-humans could lead to questions regarding informed consent as well as “the animals’ ability to understand and comprehend the nature and purposes of the study”.
They wrote: “While the study was designed to examine the therapeutic potential of these substances it is important to recognize the possible impact on animal welfare.” It is not known what the long-term effect of repeated administrations of psychedelic drugs on animals will be. More research needs to be done in order to evaluate any potential negative effects.
The new results from the pilot study, however promising they may be, concludes the report.
“The administration of 5 µg of 1cp-LSD once every 3 days over a 30-day period was associated with a reduction in severe anxiety to a moderate level in a female dog, with the effect persisting for 1 month posttreatment,” it says, adding, however, that “Given the exploratory nature of this single-case study, these findings should be interpreted with caution.”
While the team’s focus on LSD is novel in a variety of ways, there’s been growing interest within the scientific community about potential treatment alternatives for pets and other animals, including with cannabis.
For example, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a study last year that it said shows CBD is “safe for long-term use” in dogs—a significant finding given emerging research that cannabis can effectively treat conditions such as anxiety and certain skin diseases among canines.
Another 2024 case study found that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease, especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.
In a separate study conducted late last year it was found that administering CBD to dogs could counteract any negative effects caused by accidental THC ingestion.
Authors of that report said reducing the cost of treating THC toxicosis is especially important given that cases of accidental marijuana exposure have been increasing in recent years and that the inability to afford emergency services is “a leading barrier to accessing veterinary care in both the United States and Canada.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sought input from veterinarians and the broader public about the use of cannabis-derived products—in particular CBD—in animals. The FDA wanted to learn more about the use trends of cannabis-derived products, possible drug interactions, standards for quality and other concerns related to veterinary cannabinoids.
This input will help the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), “knowledge potential safety signals related to these products as well as aiding in our understanding of the veterinarians’ experience with CDPs.” [cannabis-derived products] The FDA filed said that “for their animal patient patients”.
It added that “FDA is prioritizing the regulation and oversight of CBD markets, which includes products sold to animals.” While there are some published data on the use of CDPs by animals, many important gaps in knowledge exist regarding CBD and other products containing CDPs.
Among other relevant research, a study published in early 2023 found that dogs that receive daily doses of CBD see “significant reductions” in stress and anxiety related to car travel.
Other studies have demonstrated benefits of CBD such as reduced frequency of seizures among dogs who receive the cannabinoid, while a study published in 2018 found that CBD treatment appeared to improve canine arthritis.
Last August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that cows that are fed hempseed cake retain very low concentrations of THC and CBD in their bodies, indicating that meat products from hemp-fed cattle are safe for human consumption.
Another federally funded study published in 2022 found that feeding cows hemp reduces their stress. Researchers have also looked into how CBD affects stress and pain in horses.
Photograph courtesy Pexels
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