A study conducted by researchers from Colorado State University, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, evaluated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on dogs with mobility impairments.
The double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study involved 42 dogs, with 38 completing the trial.
For the study, dogs were randomly assigned to receive either CBD oil or a placebo over 45 days, with a 30-day washout period between treatments. Outcome measures included gait analysis, accelerometry, and clinical assessments.
The researchers found that dogs treated with CBD showed improvements in mobility based on veterinary evaluations and accelerometer data compared to baseline. However, there was no significant difference in objective measures between CBD and placebo groups.
The study also raised concerns about liver enzyme elevations, particularly ALP and ALT, when CBD was administered alongside NSAIDs. While there was no clear evidence of liver damage, the findings suggest the need for further investigation into the long-term safety of CBD, especially in combination with NSAIDs.
The researchers conclude by stating:
These results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit in the administration of CBD for the management of mobility impairments, but greater ALP elevations were seen when administered with NSAIDs. While the sample size of dogs that received further hepatic work-up for liver enzyme elevations is small, chosen diagnostics varied, and liver biopsies were not performed, there did not appear to be clinically apparent liver damage. Further research is needed to better understand the efficacy of CBD in a larger population of dogs and patient tolerance and safety when administered with NSAIDs or other medications long term.
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