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 higher aggression, their aggression decreased below average levels with long-term use.
The strongest links to CBD use were found in dogs with dementia, joint disease, and cancer. Researchers stress that while the findings are promising, proper dosing, product quality, and controlled clinical trials are still urgently needed.
Key Facts
- Widespread Use: Over 47,000 dogs were analyzed, with 7.3% reported to have used CBD or hemp supplements.
- Behavior Shift: Long-term CBD use was associated with a measurable reduction in aggressive behavior.
- Health-Driven Use: Dogs with cognitive decline, arthritis, and cancer were most likely to receive CBD.
Source: Frontiers
In humans, CBD is thought to have therapeutic effects for some conditions including chronic pain, nausea, or inflammation. Now, dogs may be reaping some of the benefits, too, according to a new study.
Researchers in the US have used data from the Dog Aging Project to characterize demographics, health status, and behavior of dogs that used CBD or hemp supplements.
They published their results in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
“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.
Older, ailed, and male
The study is the largest to examine CBD use of 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’ diets, lifestyles, health, and environment over multiple years. Data from 47,355 dogs was used. Between 2019 and 2023, owners completed annual surveys concerning health and life experiences of their pets.
The 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 often than once a day. If dogs had never been given CBD supplements, owners could report no use.
The team found several links between dog demographics and CBD use. “In our sample, 7.3% of the companion dogs in the US have been given CBD and hemp products,” said Leung. 2,759 of those dogs (5.8%) were frequently given supplements. These dogs were on average three years older than those who didn’t 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%).
Dogs receiving 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 be given CBD supplements; a 9% increase compared to female dogs. Dogs’ physical activity level did not differ between those who received CBD and those who didn’t.
Docile dogs
The team also found that CBD use resulted in behavioral change. After prolonged use, dogs that received supplements were reported to have below-average aggression levels, compared to dogs with no CBD use, which could point to 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 kicks in. It is unclear why only aggression but not other types of anxious or agitated behaviors seemed to be improved with CBD treatment,” Albright said.
In the current study, the team did not look into the mechanism of behavioral changes, and further studies are needed to confirm the calming effects of CBD products, they said.
The data used may also have been subjected to owners’ bias, and no information on dosage, formulations, administration routes, and product sources was collected. “At this point, we do not have a complete picture about the behavioral treatment plan,” Albright pointed out.
For owners who might consider giving their dogs CBD supplements, choosing a reputable brand is critical, the team said. They should also be mindful of the dosage, as CBD products can have adverse effects, including gastrointestinal issues and diarrhea.
The team said the study serves as a starting point to better understand how CBD products can help alleviate behavioral and health issues that affect aging populations, companion animals and humans alike. “There are many similarities in how CBD can benefit dogs and humans medically,” Leung concluded.
Key Questions Answered:
A: About 7% of companion dogs in the U.S. have been given CBD or hemp supplements, with daily use reported in nearly 6%.
A: Long-term use was linked to reduced aggression over time, though effects on anxiety and agitation were not clearly observed.
A: Older, male dogs and those with conditions like dementia, arthritis, or cancer were most likely to be given CBD.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- Journal paper reviewed in full.
- Additional context added by our staff.
About this aggression and CBD research news
Author: Deborah Pirchner
Source: Frontiers
Contact: Deborah Pirchner – Frontiers
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Demographic Features, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes Associated with Cannabidiol Use in the Dog Aging Project” by Maxwell Leung et al. Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Abstract
Demographic Features, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes Associated with Cannabidiol Use in the Dog 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 companion dog supplements.
Methods: Using survey data from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), we characterized how human decisions around administering CBD and hemp products are informed by owner and dog demographics, the legal status of medical cannabis in their state, and the dog’s health status. Furthermore, in a subset of longitudinal data, we investigated if frequent CBD use over time was associated with behavioral changes in the dogs.
The patterns of canine CBD use were first categorized by sorting owner responses into frequent use, infrequent use, and no use. They were then analyzed for associations with location and general demographic features. Further cross-sectional analyses 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 as compared to dogs with no use.
Results: Cannabidiol use tended to be higher in states with legalized medical cannabis. Dogs with dementia, osteoarthritis, cancer, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, clinical sign–based gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic diarrhea were more likely to use CBD as compared to dogs without those conditions. Dogs with consistent CBD use showed a decline in the intensity of aggressive behaviors over time compared to a more steady trend among non-use dogs.
Discussion: The use of CBD in dogs is linked to owner perceptions of what CBD could treat or alleviate. The decline 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 the mechanistic, clinical, and population levels. This will benefit the health of humans and dogs alike.
