Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs

Cannabidiol (CBD) containing dog food and treats are widely commercially available, mirroring the growing popularity of CBD as a supplement for humans. Despite this, experimental evidence of the safety and efficacy of long-term oral exposure in dogs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to addre...

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Main Authors: Sophie Bradley, Scott Young, Anne Marie Bakke, Lucy Holcombe, Daniel Waller, Alysia Hunt, Kathleen Pinfold, Phillip Watson, Darren W. Logan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.977457/full
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author Sophie Bradley
Scott Young
Anne Marie Bakke
Lucy Holcombe
Daniel Waller
Alysia Hunt
Kathleen Pinfold
Phillip Watson
Darren W. Logan
author_facet Sophie Bradley
Scott Young
Anne Marie Bakke
Lucy Holcombe
Daniel Waller
Alysia Hunt
Kathleen Pinfold
Phillip Watson
Darren W. Logan
author_sort Sophie Bradley
collection DOAJ
description Cannabidiol (CBD) containing dog food and treats are widely commercially available, mirroring the growing popularity of CBD as a supplement for humans. Despite this, experimental evidence of the safety and efficacy of long-term oral exposure in dogs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to address the gap in knowledge around the longer-term suitability and tolerance of a broad-spectrum CBD (THC-free) distillate in clinically healthy dogs. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, and blinded study where one group of twenty dogs received daily CBD capsules at a dose of 4 mg/kg of body weight (BW) for a period of 6 months. The control group of twenty dogs received placebo capsules. A comprehensive suite of physiological health measures was performed throughout the study at baseline, and after 2, 4, 10, 18, and 26 weeks of exposure, followed by 4 weeks of washout. CBD concentrations were measured at the same cadence in plasma, feces and urine. Health measures included biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, in addition to fortnightly veterinary examinations, twice daily well-being observations, and a daily quality-of-life survey. Biochemistry and hematology showed no clinically significant alterations apart from a transient elevation in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in just over half of the dogs receiving CBD. This elevation was observed in the absence of concurrent elevations of other liver parameters, and without any adverse effects on health and wellbeing. Furthermore, bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) was simultaneously elevated with a significant, strong (r > 0.9) positive correlation between the two measures, suggesting that the elevation of total ALP was at least partly due to the bone-derived isoform. This study provides evidence that a once-daily oral dose of 4 mg CBD/kg BW is well tolerated in clinically healthy dogs for a duration of 6-months.
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spelling doaj.art-ad066c1b703b458297a9e4a3ac9de5762022-12-22T04:30:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-09-01910.3389/fvets.2022.977457977457Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogsSophie BradleyScott YoungAnne Marie BakkeLucy HolcombeDaniel WallerAlysia HuntKathleen PinfoldPhillip WatsonDarren W. LoganCannabidiol (CBD) containing dog food and treats are widely commercially available, mirroring the growing popularity of CBD as a supplement for humans. Despite this, experimental evidence of the safety and efficacy of long-term oral exposure in dogs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to address the gap in knowledge around the longer-term suitability and tolerance of a broad-spectrum CBD (THC-free) distillate in clinically healthy dogs. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, and blinded study where one group of twenty dogs received daily CBD capsules at a dose of 4 mg/kg of body weight (BW) for a period of 6 months. The control group of twenty dogs received placebo capsules. A comprehensive suite of physiological health measures was performed throughout the study at baseline, and after 2, 4, 10, 18, and 26 weeks of exposure, followed by 4 weeks of washout. CBD concentrations were measured at the same cadence in plasma, feces and urine. Health measures included biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, in addition to fortnightly veterinary examinations, twice daily well-being observations, and a daily quality-of-life survey. Biochemistry and hematology showed no clinically significant alterations apart from a transient elevation in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in just over half of the dogs receiving CBD. This elevation was observed in the absence of concurrent elevations of other liver parameters, and without any adverse effects on health and wellbeing. Furthermore, bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) was simultaneously elevated with a significant, strong (r > 0.9) positive correlation between the two measures, suggesting that the elevation of total ALP was at least partly due to the bone-derived isoform. This study provides evidence that a once-daily oral dose of 4 mg CBD/kg BW is well tolerated in clinically healthy dogs for a duration of 6-months.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.977457/fullfood safetypet food ingredientscannabinoidscaninedogCBD
spellingShingle Sophie Bradley
Scott Young
Anne Marie Bakke
Lucy Holcombe
Daniel Waller
Alysia Hunt
Kathleen Pinfold
Phillip Watson
Darren W. Logan
Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
food safety
pet food ingredients
cannabinoids
canine
dog
CBD
title Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
title_full Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
title_fullStr Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
title_full_unstemmed Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
title_short Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well-tolerated by healthy dogs
title_sort long term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well tolerated by healthy dogs
topic food safety
pet food ingredients
cannabinoids
canine
dog
CBD
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.977457/full
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