Researchers have begun exploring the adverse effects that CBD has on our pets. As the use of cannabidiol (CBD) continues to gain traction in human and veterinary medicine, this leaves us with one interesting question: does CBD work better for dogs than cats?
Well, now that federal legislative changes have opened the door for hemp distribution, as long as CBD products contain less than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), this allows researchers to conduct more studies involving the different effects of CBD in dogs and cats. According to an uncontrolled study recently published in Animals, CBD oil appears to be relatively safe in healthy pets, but it was found that dogs generally absorb CBD better than cats.
More research is still needed to have a clear understanding of the safety, metabolism and advantage of CBD in dogs and cats. In the following article, we will cover the dosing effects, the data and the overall findings recorded in this recent CBD study.
Effects of CBD in Dogs and Cats: Dosing Effects
The objective of this study was to determine the single-dose oral pharmacokinetics of CBD and provide a preliminary assessment of safety and adverse affects during a 12-week period using hemp products in healthy adult dogs and cats.
A dosage of 2mg/kg total CBD concentration was given orally to 8 purpose-bred beagles and 8 purpose-bred domestic shorthair cats twice a day for 12 weeks. The dogs were administered CBD-infused soft chews while the cats were given CBD-infused fish oil capsules.
The veterinarian performed thorough physical examinations from the beginning of the study and every week under the end, noting any adverse events, such as distress, loose stool, pain and vomiting. A complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry were also performed on each species prior to the start of the trial and every 4 weeks after.
Additionally, six dogs and cats were selected from each species to be screened for a separate pharmacokinetics analysis.
Effects of CBD in Dogs and Cats: Understanding the Data
There were no abnormalities or weight alterations shown in the physical exams, nor did the dogs or cats have a lack of appetite or show any behavioral changes during the 12-week study.
However, there was a significant difference in adverse events between the two species. 53 adverse events, including 44 episodes of soft stool and 6 episodes of vomiting, were reported in dogs and over 1,100 adverse events occurred in the cats, including the following:
- Licking
- Head shaking
- Chomping
- Pacing
- Gagging
- Salivating
- Vomiting
The overall acceptance rate of CBD-infused chews was 96.7% in dogs.
It’s important to note that there were no significant changes in blood chemistry values. Although, both species experienced a similar rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), while only cats had a decrease from baseline in blood urea nitrogen, creatine kinase and triglycerides.
The pharmacokinetics data was found in 5 dogs – the sixth dog did not consume the entire CBD chewy by time 0 and was taken out of this portion of the study. 2 of the cats were also dropped from this part of the study after salivating heavily following administration.
It was also reported that the dogs absorbed the CBD more rapidly and thoroughly than the cats. Dogs metabolized the CBD in 1 hour, while it took 1.5 hours for the cats, whereas the retention time in dogs was 1.4 hours and 3.5 hours for cats.
Effects of CBD for Dogs and Cats: Overall Findings
The overall findings show that cats do appear to absorb or eliminate CBD differently than dogs, showing lower serum concentrations by showing excessive licking and head-shaking during oil administration.
Researchers conclude that CBD appears to be safe in healthy dogs and cats with mildly adverse effects seen in both species. However, the trial was uncontrolled and more investigation must be completed to attribute these differences to delivery method.
Want More Information About CBD for Pets? Contact Us Below!
Everyone wants their pet to feel happy and healthy, and CBD may be the perfect solution for your little critter. If you have more questions or concerns about CBD for pets, please feel free to contact us below:
- Call – 502-209-8808
- Email – wellness@anaviimarket.com
- Message us on social media – @anaviimarket
