Summary: A massive multi-year analysis of tens of thousands of dogs reveals that CBD use is becoming increasingly common among aging companion animals. While dogs given CBD initially showed increased aggression, their aggression decreased below average levels with long-term use.
The strongest links to CBD use were found in dogs with dementia, joint diseases and cancer. The researchers emphasize that while the findings are promising, adequate dosing, product quality and controlled clinical trials are still urgently needed.
Key facts
Widespread use: More than 47,000 dogs were analyzed, and 7.3% were reported to have used CBD or hemp supplements. Behavior change: Long-term CBD use was associated with a measurable reduction in aggressive behavior. Health-driven use: Dogs with cognitive impairment, arthritis, and cancer were more likely to receive CBD.
Source: Borders
In humans, CBD is believed to have therapeutic effects for some conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea or inflammation. Now, dogs may also be reaping some of the benefits, according to a new study.
US researchers have used data from the Dog Aging Project to characterize the demographics, health status and behavior of dogs that consumed CBD or hemp supplements.
They published their results in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
“Behaviorally, dogs receiving CBD products for several years are initially more aggressive compared to dogs not receiving those products, but their aggression becomes less intense over time,” said lead author Dr. Maxwell Leung, assistant professor and director of the Cannabis Analytics, Safety and Health Initiative at Arizona State University.
“This long-term behavior change highlights the potential of CBD as a therapy for canine behavioral problems,” added co-author Dr. Julia Albright, associate professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Old, sick and man
The study is the largest examining CBD use in companion animals in the US to date. The data comes from the Dog Aging Project, a community science project where dog owners report on their pets’ diet, lifestyle, health and environment over several years. Data from 47,355 dogs were used. Between 2019 and 2023, owners completed annual surveys about their pets’ health and life experiences.
Owners also reported how often they gave their dogs CBD or hemp supplements. Frequent use meant a daily supplement, infrequent use meant a supplement given less than once a day. If the dogs had never been given CBD supplements, the owners could report that they had not used them.
The team found several links between dog demographics and CBD use. “In our sample, 7.3% of companion dogs in the US have been given CBD and hemp products,” Leung said. 2,759 of those dogs (5.8%) received supplements frequently. These dogs were on average three years older than those who did not receive them.
Some health conditions were especially associated with CBD use. The highest prevalence was found among dogs with dementia (18.2%), followed by dogs with osteoarthritis joint problems (12.5%) and those with cancer (10%).
The dogs that received the supplement were also more likely to live in states where medical cannabis is legalized for humans. This could indicate the influence of the bond between humans and their pets on owners’ decision-making about CBD use.
Male dogs were more likely to receive CBD supplements; a 9% increase compared to female dogs. The dogs’ physical activity level did not differ between those who received CBD and those who did not.
docile dogs
The team also found that using CBD caused a behavioral change. After long-term use, dogs receiving supplements were reported to have below average levels of aggression, compared to dogs not using CBD, which could indicate a direct effect. For other behaviors, including agitation or anxiety, no similar effect was observed.
“Most canine aggression is related to underlying stress or anxiety, a fight-or-flight response that is activated. It is unclear why only aggression, but not other types of anxious or agitated behaviors, appeared to improve with CBD treatment,” Albright said.
In the current study, the team did not investigate the mechanism of the behavioral changes and more studies are needed to confirm the calming effects of CBD products, they said.
The data used may also have been subject to owner bias and information on dosages, formulations, routes of administration and product sources was not collected. “Right now, we don’t have a complete picture of the behavioral treatment plan,” Albright said.
For owners who might consider giving CBD supplements to their dogs, choosing a trusted brand is key, the team said. They should also take dosage into account, as CBD products can have adverse effects, including gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea.
The team said the study serves as a starting point to better understand how CBD products can help alleviate health and behavioral issues affecting aging populations, companion animals and humans alike. “There are many similarities in how CBD can medically benefit dogs and humans,” Leung concluded.
Key questions answered:
A: About 7% of pet dogs in the US have received CBD or hemp supplements, and almost 6% use them daily.
A: Long-term use was associated with a reduction in aggression over time, although effects on anxiety and agitation were not clearly observed.
A: Older male dogs and those with conditions such as dementia, arthritis or cancer were more likely to receive CBD.
Editorial notes:
This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor. Magazine article reviewed in its entirety. Additional context added by our staff.
About this aggression and news about CBD research
Author: Deborah Pirchner
Source: Borders
Contact: Deborah Pirchner – Borders
Image: Image is credited to Neuroscience News.
Original research: Open access.
“Demographic characteristics, health status and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the canine aging project” by Maxwell Leung et al. Frontiers in veterinary science
Abstract
Demographic characteristics, health status, and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the Canine Aging Project
Introduction: In recent years, there has been an increase in access to and interest in cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products, including use in supplements for companion dogs.
Methods: Using survey data from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), we characterize how human decisions about administering CBD and hemp products are based on the demographics of the owner and the dog, the legal status of medical cannabis in their state, and the health status of the dog. Additionally, in a subset of longitudinal data, we investigated whether frequent CBD use over time was associated with behavioral changes in dogs.
Canine CBD use patterns were first categorized by classifying owner responses into frequent use, infrequent use, and no use. They were then analyzed for associations with location and general demographic characteristics. Additional cross-sectional analyzes identified the association of CBD use with different medical conditions as well as age-associated behavioral changes in dogs with consistent CBD use for at least 2 years compared to dogs without CBD use.
Results: Cannabidiol consumption tended to be higher in states with legalized medical cannabis. Dogs with dementia, osteoarthritis, cancer, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, gastrointestinal disorders based on clinical signs, and chronic diarrhea were more likely to use CBD compared to dogs without those conditions. Dogs with consistent CBD use showed a decrease in the intensity of aggressive behaviors over time compared to a more consistent trend among dogs without CBD use.
Discussion: CBD use in dogs is related to owners’ perceptions of what CBD might treat or alleviate. The decrease in the intensity of aggressive behaviors suggests the potential use of CBD in dog training. Further studies are needed to advance our understanding of this novel supplement at mechanistic, clinical, and population levels. This will benefit the health of both humans and dogs.
