Researchers in the United States have conducted a large-scale research project on the potential health benefits of cannabinoid (CBD) use in aging dogs.
CBD is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis and has gained popularity in recent decades as a legalised treatment for humans for issues such as chronic pain, nausea, and inflammation. Since early 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has allowed the sale of low-dose CBD preparations over the counter at Australian pharmacies, though the logistics and cost of getting a medication approved for sale in Australia has made it prohibitive to local developers.
While laws vary by state in the US, federally, hemp-derived CBD is legal if it contains less than 0.3%, and is much more widely used, with recent statistics showing that 60 per cent of US adults either use or have tried a CBD product.
Researchers analysed tens of thousands of dogs from the Dog Aging Project, a long-term community science initiative, and found that CBD supplements are commonly used in older, ailing pets, especially those with dementia, arthritis, or cancer.
A total of 47,355 dogs were included, with data collected through annual surveys between 2019 and 2023.
Maxwell Leung, an assistant professor and the director of Cannabis Analytics, Safety and Health Initiative at Arizona State University said the data showed a breakdown of the types of dogs being given CBD products, as well as for what health issues.
“In our sample, 7.3 per cent of the companion dogs in the US have been given CBD and hemp products,” Leung said.
Of these, 2,759 dogs (5.8 per cent) were frequent users, receiving a supplement every day. Dogs receiving the supplements tended to be older; on average, they were three years older than dogs that did not receive CBD.
Several health issues were linked to higher CBD use. The strongest association was seen in dogs with dementia (18.2 per cent), followed by those with osteoarthritis joint problems (12.5 per cent) and those diagnosed with cancer (10 percent).
The study also documented behavioural differences. Dogs that received CBD for extended periods were described as having lower-than-average aggression levels compared to dogs with no CBD use. While this pattern suggests that CBD could play a role in reducing aggressive behaviours, the study also found that, initially, there is evidence CBD can have the opposite effect.
“Behaviourally, 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,” Leung said.
The report’s co-author, Julia Albright, an associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee agreed.
“This long-term behavioural change highlights the potential of CBD as a therapy for canine behavioural issues,” Albright said.
Interestingly, other behavioural traits, such as agitation or anxiety, did not show the same association. “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 behaviours seemed to be improved with CBD treatment,” Albright said.
The research team said the study provides an early framework for examining how CBD might help address health and behaviour problems in older dogs, noting that it has its limitations, as it did not explore the biological reasons behind the behavioural shifts, and controlled research will be necessary to confirm CBD’s calming potential.
There were several other limitations in the available data, including possible owner bias and the lack of detailed information about CBD dosage, product formulations, administration methods, and sources. “At this point, we do not have a complete picture about the behavioural treatment plan,” Albright said.
Despite this, the researchers believe CBD usage is worth further study. “There are many similarities in how CBD can benefit dogs and humans medically,” Leung concluded.
Julia Gardiner
