According to a new study the use of cannabidiol (CBD) may be effective in mitigating stress in dogs who have to routinely travel via motor vehicle.
The study, titled Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel, was published in the Journal of Animal Science. It was conducted by researchers at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute.
“Dogs are routinely exposed to events that may elicit stress and result in negative emotional states which can impact pet dog welfare”, states the study’s abstract. “One event many dogs living with people are routinely exposed to is car travel, with many dogs displaying behaviors, along with corresponding physiological responses, that are indicative of stress and anxiety.”
The study notes that there are “a range of management and treatment options that exist from behavior modification, drug therapy and supplements, often with varying results.”
The aim of this study “was to evaluate whether multiple doses of a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-free cannabidiol (CBD) distillate over a period of six months could positively influence measures of stress in dogs.”
In a blinded, parallel design study, 19 dogs underwent a series of short car journeys (test) where a range of physiological and behavioral measures were collected pre, during and post-test. The car journeys elicited stress in this population of dogs, “as indicated by significant changes in several stress-related measures (serum cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, whining, lip licking, yawning and qualitative behavioral ratings) observed from baseline to test, which persisted over repeated car travel events.”
Researchers found that the “mitigating effect of CBD treatment varied by measure, with cortisol, whining, lip licking and qualitative behavioral ratings indicating a significant (p<0.05) reduction in canine stress compared to the placebo group for at least one timepoint.”
Researchers conclude that “Additional research investigating a range of dog populations and stressors, is required to fully understand the complex effect of CBD on canine emotional wellbeing.”
