CBD has become a popular supplement for humans looking for relief from chronic pain and inflammation – and many dog owners wonder if it can have the same benefits for their prized pets.
While we've reported before that veterinary professionals do not recommend using CBD to ease behavioural conditions in dogs as they are not licensed in the UK and the long-term effect is unknown, studies continue to be undertaken.
A new US study, drawing on data from the nationwide Dog Aging Project, has explored how CBD and hemp products are used in dogs. Findings were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Researchers analysed information from more than 47,000 dogs, reported by their owners over several years. They looked at which dogs were given CBD or hemp supplements, how often, and whether long-term use appeared to influence behaviour.
“Behaviorally, dogs given CBD products for multiple years are initially more aggressive compared to dogs not receiving those products, but their aggression becomes less intense over time,” said senior author Dr Maxwell Leung, an assistant professor and the director of Cannabis Analytics, Safety and Health Initiative at Arizona State University.
“This long-term behavioral change highlights the potential of CBD as a therapy for canine behavioral issues,” added co-author Dr Julia Albright, an associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee.
Around 7.3% of dogs in the dataset had been given CBD or hemp supplements, with 2,759 dogs receiving them daily. Dogs with dementia were most likely to be given CBD (18.2%), followed by those with osteoarthritis (12.5%) and cancer (10%).
Calmer canines?
One of the most intriguing findings concerned behaviour. Over time, dogs receiving CBD supplements were reported to show lower-than-average aggression compared with dogs who had never taken them. But the same calming effect wasn’t observed for other behaviours linked to anxiety or agitation.
“Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety — a fight-or-flight response,” Albright explained. “It is unclear why only aggression, but not other anxious behaviours, seemed to be improved.”
The researchers emphasise that more work is needed. The study did not investigate the biological mechanisms behind the behavioural changes, nor did it collect details on dosage, product type or formulation.
Veterinary surgeon Graham Lewis says: "I would welcome further studies on the use and potential effects of CBD in dogs, I believe in evidence based treatments and first we need to confirm it has little or no unwanted side effects, but there are early signs it could have beneficial effects in treating some conditions in pets
Always seek veterinary advice before giving your pets medication or supplements
[Vet quote to come]
Main image: Getty
