DOG-SPECIFIC CANNABINOID STUDIES

*The Dr.Hempdog Science Team updates this list regularly with the latest findings and publications. Certain ongoing, unpublished studies may be absent from this database. If we've missed something, please email us at scienceteam@drhempdog.com

This is our resource detailing every clinical study thus far related to cannabinoid usage in dogs, which we provide freely to scientists, veterinarians, canine health professionals, behavioral therapists, and animal caregivers upon request.

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This is our resource detailing every clinical study thus far related to cannabinoid usage in dogs. We've summarized all of these studies in as fair and impartial a way as possible, but of course, we also provide all the links to the original studies for those who want to do more research.

For your convenience, we've sorted these studies into these key categories, all of which explicitly involve dogs:

General Cannabinoid Studies: Studies that involve the administration of plant cannabinoids to dogs, typically to test efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics.
Endocannabinoid System Studies: Studies that pertain to the endocannabinoid systems of dogs, but don't involve the direct administration of plant cannabinoids.
Clinical Reviews: Well-founded academic reviews of prior studies by veterinary professionals, which draw upon both human and veterinary trials to compose broader scientific conclusions
Competitor Studies: Studies from competing CBD companies exploring the effectiveness of different formulations of CBD.
Dr.Hempdog's Cannabinoid Trials: Our studies exploring the canine health benefits of numerous cannabinoids.

GENERAL CANNABINOID STUDIES

This is the bulk of relevant research regarding the use of cannabinoids in dogs, and covers most of the information we have thus far on the safety and efficacy of CBD and other cannabinoids.

STUDY TITLE & LINK	DATE	CONDUCTED BY	KEYWORDS	SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
A Dose Finding Study of Cannabidiol in Dogs with Intractable Epilepsy	ONGOING	Colorado State University	Seizures	Aims to find an effective dose of CBD to reduce seizure frequency in epileptic dogs by 50% (or more). Slated to end 5/31/22.
Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol, Cannabidiolic Acid, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid and Related Metabolites in Canine Serum After Dosing With Three Oral Forms of Hemp Extract	Sep 2020	Collaborative study	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, THCA, CBDA, CBC, CBGA, Safety	Multiple full-spectrum CBD products (two oils and one chew) caused no health or behavior changes at any dose tested.
The Impact of Feeding Cannabidiol (CBD) Containing Treats on Canine Response to a Noise-Induced Fear Response Test	Sep 2020	Lincoln Memorial University & University of Kentucky	CBD Isolate, Anxiety, Safety	CBD isolate did not significantly alleviate fear-responses in dogs, and may have interfered with trazodone (a sedative); however, no notable side effects were measured.
Pharmacokinetic and Safety Evaluation of Various Oral Doses of a Novel 1:20 THC:CBD Cannabis Herbal Extract in Dogs	Sep 2020	University of Saskatchewan	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, CBC, CBG, Safety	Full-spectrum CBD was generally well received by dogs, but neurological symptoms did manifest when the highest tested dosage was presented (CBD 10mg/kg, THC 0.5mg/kg).
Preliminary Investigation of the Safety of Escalating Cannabinoid Doses in Healthy Dogs	Feb 2020	Canopy Animal Health (Research Company)	CBD Isolate, Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, Safety	Isolated CBD was found to be generally safe in dogs (equivalent to placebo), with only mild adverse effects reported with escalating dosages; THC and CBD/ THC mixtures caused ataxia, lethargy, and hypothermia in higher doses
Pharmacokinetics of Sativex® in Dogs: Towards a Potential Cannabinoid-Based Therapy for Canine Disorders	Feb 2020	Complutense University of Madrid	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, Safety	Sativex (a full-spectrum CBD drug approved in many non-American countries for multiple sclerosis) caused no adverse effects or ataxia in any subjects tested.
Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Safety Assessment with Use of CBD-Rich Hemp Nutraceutical in Healthy Dogs and Cats	Oct 2019	Collaborative study	Full-Spectrum CBD, Safety, Cats	Full-spectrum CBD was shown to be safe and bioavailable in healthy adult dogs. Cats, conversely, demonstrated several neurological symptoms while having less CBD bioavailability, suggesting potential unique risks and considerations for them.
Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy	Jun 2019	Colorado State University	CBD (Extract Type Unknown), Seizures	When used alongside normal anti-epileptic treatment, CBD significantly reduced seizure frequency in dogs with ideopathic epilepsy, though two dogs did develop ataxia. CBD seemingly mostly helped dogs who were already responsive to traditional anticonvulsants.
Species-specific susceptibility to cannabis-induced convulsions	May 2019	University of Reading	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, Safety, Seizures	Increasing doses of full-spectrum CBD only caused side effects in higher, sustained doses. Unlike rats, high doses of CBD did not induce seizures in dogs.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs	Jul 2018	Cornell University	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, CBDA, CBC, CBG, Safety, Arthritis, Pain	Full-spectrum CBD oil alleviated pain and increased activity in osteoarthritic dogs without any side effects, although an increase in alkaline phosphatase was reported with an unclear source. No changes in weight-bearing capability or actual arthritic conditions were reported.
Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered by 3 delivery methods at 2 different dosages to healthy dogs	Jul 2018	Colorado State University	CBD Isolate, Safety	CBD was found to be most bioavailable when administered as an oral oil, rather than by transdermal or bead-based methods.
Effect of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on the triggering of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations in dogs and humans	Jan 2009	Collaborative study	THC, Gastrointestinal	THC reduced acid reflux and spontaneous swallowing in 4 dogs, though it did so less effectively than in humans.
Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in dogs	May 1988	Hebrew University	CBD (Extract Type Unknown)	Intravenous administration of CBD was linked to especially high bioavailability, while oral CBD was shown to hardly be bioavailable (and wasn't detected at all in half of participants), demonstrating very low absorption of oral CBD in dogs.

ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM STUDIES

These studies pertain directly to the endocannabinoid systems of dogs, and do not involve the administration of any of the plant cannabinoids found in hemp. In humans, CBD is known to increase anandamide levels in the body, in addition to the fact that cannabinoids can all activate the endocannabinoid system to varying effect.

STUDY TITLE & LINK	DATE	CONDUCTED BY	KEYWORDS	SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Cellular Distribution of Canonical and Putative Cannabinoid Receptors in Canine Cervical Dorsal Root Ganglia	Sep 2019	University of Bologna	Neuroprotection	Numerous cannabinoid receptors and similar cannabinoid-activated receptors (CB1, CB2, GPR55, PPARalpha, and TPRV1) were found in the spine and central nervous system of dogs, demonstrating potential neuroprotective roles of the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system in canine Steroid-Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis and Intraspinal Spirocercosis	Feb 2018	University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover	Anandamide, 2-AG, Inflammation	Dogs with inflammatory diseases had significantly more anandamide, 2-AG, and CB2 receptors at sites of inflammation, demonstrating the link between the endocannabinoid system and inflammatory processes.
Localization of cannabinoid receptors CB1, CB2, GPR55, and PPARα in the canine gastrointestinal tract	Jun 2018	University of Bologna	Gastrointestinal, Inflammation	CB1, CB2, GPR55, and PPARalpha cannabinoid receptors were found within the gastrointestinal tract of dogs, demonstrating that cannabinoids could activate these receptors to aid with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and a variety of gastrointestinal conditions.
Characterization of endocannabinoids and related acylethanolamides in the synovial fluid of dogs with osteoarthritis: a pilot study	Nov 2017	University of Bari Aldo Moro	Anandamide, 2-AG, Entourage Effect, Arthritis	Anandamide, 2-AG, and multiple entourage compounds were found in increased concentrations within the synovial fluid and joints of osteoarthritic dogs, demonstrating the endocannabinoid system's involvement in the management of arthritis.
Spatial distribution of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) in normal canine central and peripheral nervous system	Jul 2017	University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover	Neuroprotection	Researchers found CB1 receptors densely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems (brain, spine, etc.) of dogs of all ages.
Upregulation of CB 2 receptors in reactive astrocytes in canine degenerative myelopathy, a disease model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis	Jan 2017	Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (Translated; Madrid)	Neuroprotection	CB2 receptors were shown to be present in higher concentrations in the spines of dogs afflicted with nervous system/ spinal cord diseases, implying that the endocannabinoid system could be activated for neuroprotective effects.
Immunohistochemical distribution of the cannabinoid receptor 1 and fatty acid amide hydrolase in the dog claustrum	Jul 2016	University of Pisa	Safety	The presence of CB1 receptors and FAAH (the breakdown enzyme for anandamide) were described in the claustrum (a poorly studied portion of the brain) of dogs, proving endocannabinoid system activity in this region.
High-Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance Does Not Increase Plasma Anandamide Levels or Potentiate Anandamide Insulinotropic Effect in Isolated Canine Islets	Apr 2015	Cedars-Sinai Medical Center & University of Southern California	Anandamide, Gastrointestinal, Obesity	After inducing insulin resistance in dogs via a high-fat diet, no increase in anandamide levels was detected, demonstrating that anandamide likely only plays a secondary role in obesity in dogs. (For context, anandamide has been linked to insulin production in humans and is often found in high concentrations in obese subjects).
Preferential epithelial expression of type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) in the developing canine embryo	Dec 2015	University of Pisa	Safety	CB1 receptors were found to be present in 30-day-old canine embryos in the same general locations as in adult dogs, presenting a need for study into the effects of cannabinoids on canine pregnancy in order to avoid a risk of developmental conditions or miscarriage.
Alterations of endocannabinoids in cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with epileptic seizure disorder	Dec 2013	Hannover Medicine School	Anandamide, 2-AG	Dogs with ideopathic epilepsy were found to have much higher concentrations of anandamide within their cerebrospinal fluid, alongside a seemingly higher concentration of 2-AG. The exact mechanisms and causes of this correlation were not discovered, but nonetheless do demonstrate a link between the endocannabinoid system and seizure activity in dogs.
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 and 2 expression in the skin of healthy dogs and dogs with atopic dermatitis	Jul 2012	University of Pisa	Topical, Inflammation, Immune System	Dogs with dermatitis had an even spread of CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout all layers of the skin, with more receptor activity than in dogs without dermatitis. In a related test, CB1 activity was found in the hippocampus of the brain, and CB2 activity was found in lymph nodes in the immune system; together, these strongly suggest that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in a variety of inflammatory and immune-system related conditions.
Identification of an endogenous 2-monoglyceride, present in canine gut, that binds to cannabinoid receptors	Jun 1995	Collaborative study	2-AG, Pain	2-AG was found and isolated from canine intestines, and upon testing with mice, was found to bond to CB1 and CB2 receptors and exert many of the same effects as THC (inhibiting adenylate cyclase, reducing pain, inhibiting motion, and acting as a general depressant).

CLINICAL REVIEWS

These are thorough clinical reviews summarizing veterinary experiences and a wide array of prior studies in dogs, humans, and a variety of other domesticated species.

STUDY TITLE & LINK	DATE	CONDUCTED BY	KEYWORDS	SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Hemp in Veterinary Medicine: From Feed to Drug	Jul 2020	Università degli Studi di Perugia	CBD, THC, Endocannabinoid System, Pain, Seizures, Safety	Discusses the nutritional and pharmaceutical value of hemp in veterinary contexts, citing reasonable safety expectations and current scientific precedents among different species.
Does the addition of cannabidiol alongside current drug treatments reduce pain in dogs with osteoarthritis?	May 2020	University of Nottingham	CBD, Inflammation, Arthritis	Examines whether co-administration of CBD and traditional NSAIDs seems to attenuate arthritic pain, finding that, while owners may commonly result a reduction in pain, vets often don't notice the same pain reduction in practice; more study is necessary to be sure.
Does the addition of cannabidiol to conventional antiepileptic drug treatment reduce seizure frequency in dogs with epilepsy?	May 2020	University of Nottingham	CBD	Examines the ability CBD may have to alleviate epilepsy and seizures in dogs, concluding that, while very promising, evidence is insufficient at this time to be sure.
The Endocannabinoid System of Animals	Sep 2019	Dr. Robert J. Silver, DVM, MS	CBD, THC, Entourage Effect, Endocannabinoid System, Inflammation, Pain, Anxiety, Cancer, Neuroprotection, Cancer	Looks at the endocannabinoid system through a veterinary lens, discussing present data on its presence in dogs and precedent for modulation of pain, cancer, neuroprotection, inflammation, anxiety, and cardiovascular health, with mention of several terpenes for similar uses.
Clinical Reports: Two Hundred and Thirteen Cases of Marijuana Toxicoses in Dogs	Mar 2004	Poznan University of Life Sciences	THC, Marijuana, Safety	An older look at the symptoms, onset, treatment, and likelihoods of marijuana overdose in dogs and animals, marking several trends over time and clearly depicting signs of static ataxia and THC overdose.

COMPETITOR STUDIES

This section includes studies conducted or sponsored by other CBD-for-animals companies. If you compare Dr.Hempdog's lab work to any of the products used in these studies, you will find that Dr.Hempdog contains more anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety compounds and is more rigorously tested for purity than any of these products. You can verify the contents of our lab work here.

STUDY TITLE & LINK	DATE	CONDUCTED BY	KEYWORDS	SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The Use of Cannabidiol-Rich Hemp Oil Extract to Treat Canine Osteoarthritis-Related Pain: A Pilot Study	2020	HempMyPet/ Colorado State University	Full-Spectrum CBD, Safety, Pain	Note: HempMyPet's lab work demonstrates a lack of CBDV, and also does not include tests for terpenes or contaminants. Full-spectrum CBD successfully reduced pain in 30 of 32 dogs, 23 of which who were on Gabapentin. Nearly all of the dogs on Gabapentin could either discontinue its usage or reduce their dose.
CBD Substantially Improves Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in Dogs	Jul 2020	CannPal Animal Therapeutics	CBD, Topical	Note: CannPal's cannabinoid extracts (and lab work) are currently not publicly available. Topical CBD significantly reduced skin inflammation in dogs, without any notable side effects.
Serum cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and their native acid derivatives after transdermal application of a lowTHC Cannabis sativa extract in beagles	Jul 2020	ElleVet Sciences / University of Florida	Full-Spectrum CBD, THC, CBDA, THCA, Topical	Note: ElleVet's lab work demonstrates a lack of CBDV, and also does not test for contaminants. CBDA and THCA alike were found to be more readily absorbed by canine skin than THC or CBD.
The Use of ElleVet Sciences Calm and Comfort Acute Strength CBD+CBDA Chews for Anxiety Inducing Events in Dogs	Jun 2020	ElleVet Sciences / University of Pennsylvania or Cornell	Full-Spectrum CBD, CBDA, THC, THCA, CBC, CBGA, CBG	Note: ElleVet's lab work demonstrates a lack of CBDV, and also does not include tests for contaminants. A full-spectrum CBD chew successfully alleviated anxiety in 83% of dogs. Little to no side effects were experienced overall, except for vomiting in 4 dogs that ingested the chew on an empty stomach.

DR.HEMPDOG'S CANNABINOID TRIALS

Our ongoing, in-house studies into the potential of various cannabinoids to be used in veterinary contexts.

STUDY TITLE & LINK	DATE	CONDUCTED BY	KEYWORDS	SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The Efficacy of Full-Spectrum CBN Extracts in Dogs with Moderate to Severe Anxiety	ONGOING	Dr.Hempdog Science Team	CBN, Full-Spectrum CBD, Safety, Anxiety	An ongoing study exploring the potential of CBN-dominant mixtures to alleviate anxiety in dogs.

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