Dogs are routinely exposed to events that may elicit stress and result in negative emotional states which can impact pet dog welfare. 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. 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-free cannabidiol (CBD) distillate over a period of 6 mo could positively influence measures of stress in dogs. In a blinded, parallel design study, dogs (n = 19) 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 (P < 0.05) 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. 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 time point. Additional research investigating a range of dog populations and stressors is required to fully understand the complex effect of CBD on canine emotional wellbeing.
Keywords: CBD; anxiety; cannabidiol; dog; stress; transportation.
Pet dogs often experience stress during routine car travel which can negatively affect both dogs and humans. A range of management and treatment options exist to address this, such as behavior modification, drug therapy, and supplements, yielding mixed results. Dog owners often seek strategies that are easy to administer and are effective in improving their pet’s well-being. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) over a 6-mo period, had on measures of stress in dogs. In a parallel design study, dogs experienced short car journeys (test) and a range of physiological and behavioral measures were collected pre, during, and post-test. Significant changes in several stress-related measures including serum cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, whining, lip licking, yawning, and qualitative behavioral ratings were observed from baseline to test, indicating that car travel was stressful in this population. The impact of CBD treatment varied across these measures, with certain indicators showing a marked reduction in canine stress when compared to a placebo group. Additional research is required to fully understand the complex effect CBD has on the emotional well-being of dogs.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.