A new trial studying CBD in dogs has found it can help reduce pain and improve functional performance.
Liberty Leaf announced the completion of its first CBD trial on pain medication for dogs on Monday (Aug. 20).
The focus of this first study was on treating dogs with chronic osteoarthritic pain, one of the most common diseases in dogs, characterized by pain, stiffness, lethargy and decreased mobility, which leads to reduction in their quality of life.
The trial looked at large mixed-breed dogs, which received a proprietary CBD-infused oil formulation or placebo in the active phase of study. It concluded that oral CBD-infused oil provided the most effective means of delivery of CBD to dog.
Results from the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial demonstrated that dogs with clinically diagnosed OA receiving a daily dose of only 0.3 mg/kg of proprietary CBD-infused oil formulation for four weeks exhibited significantly reduced pain and improved functional performance.
Daily CBD dosages for dogs have generally and arbitrarily been recommended in the range of 2-20 mg/kg.
“The ability to effectively manage pain with such a low CBD dosage as used in this study and over such a short treatment period is statistically significant,” said Robert Jackman, Scientific Project Manager for Liberty Leaf.
See also: CBD and pets: Does the future look friendly?
According to Jackman, of the 16 dogs included in the study, only one did not benefit from the CBD treatment.
The proprietary CBD-infused oil formulation used in the study was well tolerated, with no adverse or side effects reported by dog owners.
“This project was operated in multiple locations by a few different groups of researchers and project managers,” noted Golan Vaknin, Executive Director for ESEV. “The study was conducted productively and efficiently, and we are happy with the promising results showing positive effects of CBD for chronic pain in dogs.”
Liberty Leaf notes CBD offers a potential solution for both owner and pet.
See also: New study exploring effects of CBD for chronic pain, anxiety, depression
“In fact, dogs should be able to take advantage of the pain management capabilities of CBD even more so than humans since dogs have a more extensive endocannabinoid system with which CBD can interact,” a release states. “This interaction helps to reduce pain and other symptoms linked to the endocannabinoid system.”
Reports of cannabis use in pets have to-date been primarily observational and uncontrolled.
“This anecdotal evidence seems to be enough for a growing number of pet owners to use CBD to treat their pets for various conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, and epilepsy, as well as for a range of other afflictions,” noted Liberty Leaf in a release.
Liberty Leaf has a collaborative agreement with ESEV Research Development, a leading Israeli-American research and development company, for them to conduct research into the efficacy of CBD-containing products for treating specific medical conditions in pets.
Future trials are being planned under the collaborative agreement, including effective delivery options and dosing of CBD for treatment of pain in cats with OA.
“We’re excited about the progress of this initiative and the opportunities that it provides to Liberty Leaf in terms of being able to potentially license out our formula and/or to develop and market our own brand,” said Will Rascan, President and CEO of Liberty Leaf.
