CBD Can Help Aggressive Dogs Chill Out, New Study Shows

*“There are many similarities in how CBD can benefit dogs and humans
medically.”*

*By Deborah Pirchner, Frontiers*

Cannabis derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD), have been becoming
more popular for humans—and it might not be any different for dogs.

Researchers now have used multi-year data reported by dog owners who did or
did not feed their dogs CBD supplements and showed that dogs who received
CBD had distinct demographics: they were older and more likely to have
health issues. The findings also showed that over time, dogs who received
CBD supplements showed less aggressive tendencies. This behavioral change
may be an important therapeutic finding for both dog welfare and human
safety, the team said.

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
U.S. 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
U.S. 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 percent of the companion dogs in the U.S. have been
given CBD and hemp products,” said Leung.

2,759 of those dogs (5.8 percent) 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 percent), followed by
dogs with osteoarthritis joint problems (12.5 percent), and those with
cancer (10 percent).

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 percent
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.

“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.”

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.

*This story was first published by Frontiers.*

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