CBD products for animals are increasingly being marketed, but researchers are urging caution due to the lack of formal regulation.
CBDpet products are increasingly being marketed to promote the health of these animals. However, its safety and efficacy are limited.
In some countries, owners of horses, dogs or cats have probably noticed that there is an abundance of cannabinoid (CBD) products on the market. Pet stores offer a variety of CBD-infused oils, edibles, topicals, and gels to treat pain, anxiety, or immobility.
Legislative changes for CBD
The market is driven by both legislative changes allowing the production of recreational and medical uses of cannabis, as well as findings that CBD may help with chronic pain, nausea, seizures, and mood, sleep and eating disorders in humans.
Research has shown that pet owners who use cannabis products themselves are more likely to purchase CBD products for their pets. As a result, the global pet CBD market was valued at $2020 million in 125 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 58,9% from 2021 to 2028.
However, there is controversy surrounding animal CBD products as there are no formally approved veterinary drugs containing CBD. Conflicting laws and limited scientific studies regarding therapeutic efficacy and safety in animals limit the market.
Does CBD have any benefits for animals?
Providing pain relief, reducing inflammation and alleviating anxiety were the top three reasons people cited for purchasing cannabis products for pets in studies of the use and perception of cannabis products by American and Canadian dog owners. Online sellers mainly use anecdotal evidence from pet owners to apply CBD. Scientific research is very limited although research is growing in the US and the EU now hemp is legal.
Currently, there are only six published studies on CBD and pain relief in companion animals. All six were performed in dogs with osteoarthritis, a common problem with advanced age and high body weight. In five of the six studies, pain decreased and mobility improved. Such consistent results are remarkable because the studies varied by CBD form (oil or edible), dose (0,3 to 4 mg/kg), dosing schedule (once or twice a day), and duration of treatment (one to three months). ). Side effects were relatively minor (eg drowsiness or incoordination), although increased serum alkaline phosphatase - a marker of possible liver damage - was found with prolonged use. Comparable studies in cats and horses have not been done.
To date, there are no published clinical studies of CBD and inflammation in dogs and cats. However, because high-performing horses are at increased risk for injury and inflammation, a well-controlled study of CBD metabolism and inflammation was conducted in Thoroughbreds. The horses tolerated CBD well and changes were seen. Therefore, the authors suggest that further studies are warranted.
Animal CBD products are highly promoted for relieving anxiety and reducing stress. While CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety in rats, mice and humans, no published scientific studies confirm the same for companion animals. Of the two published dog studies, neither support CBD as an anxiolytic agent — a drug to prevent or treat anxiety symptoms.
Dogs exposed to the sound of fireworks after receiving CBD for seven days had no reduced anxiety as evidenced by their activity or cortisol levels. Shelter dogs given CBD had less aggression towards humans, but a similar response was seen in control dogs. To date, there are no clinical studies examining the effects on anxiety in cats or horses.
There is also interest in using CBD to treat epilepsy in animals, as CBD-based Epidiolex has been approved in Europe and North America to treat rare forms of epilepsy in humans. A reduced frequency of seizures was found in two dog studies investigating the effect of CBD against epilepsy. However, the effect was inconsistent in all dogs.
Which laws and regulations apply?
Despite the high demand for CBD animal health products, they are not regulated or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency or the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate/Food Standards Agency.
Therefore, vets cannot provide advice to clients unless permitted by local law. For example, California state law allows veterinarians to discuss cannabis use with clients, but other US states prohibit it. This can be frustrating for veterinarians and customers due to concerns about dosage, efficacy and safety. For example, while CBD appears to be well tolerated by animals, it is not without side effects, including sedation, dizziness, confusion, excessive saliva or licking.
There are also differences between animals. Dogs absorb more and take longer to process CBD than cats. CBD interactions with other prescription veterinary drugs are not fully understood. A lack of product regulation has been found in a study of 29 over-the-counter CBD products. Only ten products had CBD concentration within 90-110 percent of the label claim. Two products had unsafe levels of arsenic and lead. Other studies have found high levels of pesticides sometimes used in marijuana fields.
Read more horsetalk.co.nz (Source, EN)
