New research on dogs has delved into the safety of using CBD at more moderate levels. The studies explored various CBD concentrations, ranging from 2 mg/kg BW daily to as high as 20 mg/kg daily. Additionally, they even tested escalating one-time doses of CBD up to 62 mg/kg. Remarkably, all of these doses were found to be well-tolerated when administered orally to dogs.
Although a few mild adverse effects were reported, such as gastrointestinal upset, hypersalivation, and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, overall, the dogs handled the CBD quite well. That’s not to say it’s safe for all dogs, however, these data show it’s likely safe when monitored as described.
Extensive research has been conducted on the pharmacokinetic profile of CBD in dogs, primarily focusing on a 24-hour analysis after a single dose. However, there are still gaps in our understanding of the long-term effects of CBD administration in dogs. To address these gaps in knowledge, researchers aimed to determine the tolerance of dogs to a daily oral dose of 4 mg/kg BW of a THC-free broad-spectrum CBD distillate over a period of 6 months.
These data provided valuable evidence in support of establishing a NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level). Secondly, the researchers evaluated the concentrations of CBD in fasted plasma, fecal samples, and urine at regular intervals throughout the 6-month study. By doing so, a comprehensive understanding of how CBD is processed and eliminated from the body will be gathered over an extended period of time.
All 40 dogs successfully completed the study without any rejections of CBD or placebo capsules. Throughout the study, the dogs were fed to maintain a healthy body weight and body condition score, and no deviations were observed. The CBD dosage was targeted at 4 mg/kg BW/day, with a dosing range of 3.38–4.44 mg/kg/BW. On average, the dogs received a concentration of 3.99 mg/kg/BW/day.
There were no adverse effects detected during the twice daily health checks or fortnightly veterinary examinations. Additionally, a daily quality of life survey completed by the dog’s caregivers (37) revealed no significant differences between the CBD and placebo groups in any of the five domains assessed. This indicates that the overall well-being of healthy dogs was not negatively affected by the administration of CBD.