Giving dogs a dose of CBD could help counteract the ill effects of accidental THC consumption, according to a new study that authors are calling “the first report of treatment of canine THC toxicosis by administration of CBD.”
The paper, which is set to be published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine, looks at six cases of “non-medical, presumptive THC toxicosis” in dogs. Five of those were treated exclusively with transmucosal CBD—sheets that dissolve on a dog’s inner lips or gums.
In less than an hour, all of the clinical signs of THC intoxication had been “noticeably reduced” in five of six cases, the study says. Clinical signs of toxicosis, meanwhile, were “completely resolved for three of six cases within 28 [hours] of CBD administration.”
“CBD administration was well-tolerated with no reports of challenges administering the transmucosal dissolving sheet or adverse effects,” the report says.
The new paper is authored by three researchers in Florida—two from the Intracoastal West Veterinary Hospital in Jacksonville and one from the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida’s veterinary school.
The pair from the veterinary hospital, Kyra Marsigliano and Katie Green, are also co-owners of CBD Vet Products, maker of the dissolving CBD strips used in the study.
The products contain 10 milligrams of CBD from broad-spectrum hemp, the paper says, and are dosed based on a dog’s body weight. They retail for “about $2 per 10mg sheet,” which authors said could allow lower costs than typical treatment for THC toxicosis in dogs.
“The use of transmucosal CBD-infused dissolving sheets resulted in expedient resolution of clinical signs in a minimally invasive manner that is accessible to both clients and veterinary practitioners.”
“A survey of veterinarians in the United States and Canada reported treatment costs for THC toxicosis of up to $2,000,” the report says, though it adds that the most common cost was less than $500. By comparison, “In the clinics providing cases for this report, the client cost of a physical examination and administration of CBD, in the absence of additional diagnostics, was $150.”
In one of the six examined cases, the dog was additionally treated with “an injectable antiemetic therapy,” which treats nausea and vomiting.
Authors said reducing the cost of treating THC toxicosis is especially important given that cases of accidental marijuana exposure have been increasing in recent years and that the inability to afford emergency services is “a leading barrier to accessing veterinary care in both the United States and Canada.”
Notably, cases of THC toxicosis examined in the new paper “were relatively mild at the time of presentation and inpatient care was not indicated,” authors acknowledged.
Further, because the timeline of clinical recovery “in each of these cases is within the known period of recovery from THC toxicosis in the absence of specific medical therapy,” they said, “it is possible that the observed clinical regressions would have occurred naturally.”
The research comes as scientists continue to explore the complex relationship between cannabinoids, including the two most well-known in marijuana, THC and CBD. Conventional wisdom among many in the cannabis space is that CBD can help lessen a too-intense marijuana high by blocking THC’s interaction with the brain’s CB1 receptors.
However, a study published earlier this year suggests that at some level, CBD in fact begins to make the felt effects of cannabis more intense—at least in humans. That report looked at the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 37 healthy volunteers.
In that research, authors from the Netherlands and the U.S. were attempting to test the hypothesis that CBD would reduce the adverse effects of THC. Evidence showed the opposite effect.
“These results provide evidence against the hypothesis that CBD attenuates THC effects, highlight the potential for drug interactions even at low doses of CBD, and add to the understanding of THC analgesia,” authors wrote in the report, which focused on cannabinoid use in patients with chronic pain.
One author, Geert van Groeneveld, a professor at Leiden University Medical Center and the CEO of the Centre for Human Drug Research, was emphatic that the team’s findings refute the idea that CBD might lessen anxiety or otherwise ease the adverse effects of THC.
“CBD does not in any way alleviate psychomimetic effects of THC or reduce anxiety,” Groeneveld said at the time. “If anything, in higher dose levels it will enhance the effects of THC because the breakdown of THC in the liver is inhibited by CBD.”
Separate research published last year found that cannabis products with a more diverse array of natural cannabinoids produced a stronger psychoactive experience that lasts longer than the high generated by pure THC alone.
Another scientific review, published this past spring, found that the “complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches,” laying the groundwork for a new era of innovation in cannabis-based medicines.
That report, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, underscored the potential of whole-plant cannabis medicine—incorporating the variety of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds produced by the cannabis plant—rather than simply THC or CBD on their own.
Another study published earlier this year found that a terpene produced by marijuana, D-limonene, reduced anxiety and paranoia in people who took THC. Although the terpene modulated the anxiety-like effects, however, it seemed to have minimal effect otherwise on participants’ experiences.
Among veterinarians and pet owners alike, CBD has been growing in popularity. Earlier this year, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a new study that it said showed that CBD is “safe for long-term use” in dogs.
That study, also published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, found that a variety of cannabinoids, including CBD, CBDA and CBG, were “well-tolerated” in healthy dogs at a dose of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
“Cannabinoids were well tolerated when healthy male and female beagles were dosed for 90 consecutive days,” the study found. “Based on the data available it would be the conclusion of the authors that the substances do not pose significant risk to dogs in long-term use.”
Another recent case study found that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease—especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.
A study that was published in January found that dogs that receive daily doses of CBD see “significant reductions” in stress and anxiety related to car travel.
Other studies have demonstrated benefits of CBD such as reduced frequency of seizures among dogs who receive the cannabinoid. Also, a study published in 2018 found that dogs with arthritis see improvements with CBD treatment.
Last August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that cows that are fed hempseed cake retain very low concentrations of THC and CBD in their bodies, indicating that meat products from hemp-fed cattle are safe for human consumption.
Another federally funded study published in 2022 found that feeding cows hemp reduces their stress. Researchers have also looked into how CBD affects stress and pain in horses.
Separate from cannabis, researchers also recently published the results of what they say is the first study looking at the effects of low-dose LSD to treat anxiety in a dog, finding that the psychedelic caused no adverse effects and appeared to “significantly” attenuate the animal’s nervous symptoms.
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