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Equine Research on the Short-Term Effects of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Dated: January 1, 2020 - John Hopkins University


1. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of CBD increase movement and promote calmness in horses. CBD was studied in horses after the administration of two oral doses (50 mg each) each day over a two-week timeframe. Forty-one horses were studied across the United States and participants were obtained through relationships with horse shelters, rescues, farms with retired show and racehorses, and general pleasure horse farms. In all of the cases, the horses were evaluated and determined, at the outset, to have impaired movement & presentation and/or demonstrated common vices of anxiety-like cribbing, pacing or reluctance to load to trailers or gates.


2. Forty-one (41) horses with clinical evidence of osteoarthritis or other chronic pain as a result of musculoskeletal injuries were selected. The majority of patients enrolled were not currently receiving treatment for their osteoarthritis or injuries. Participating horses received the cannabidiol product at an approximate dose of 1 mg CBD/10 kg of body weight, with a select group receiving 1 mg CBD/5 kg of body weight, twice daily for 2 consecutive weeks. Horse owners or caregivers were asked to use a specifically designed inventory questionnaire to assess pain in the animals receiving CBD.


3. Statistical Results Totals Counts Percent Data Reported:

  • Overall Results- 41 Horses total

  • Horses Improved 29- 71%

  • Horses Remained 10- 24%

  • Horses Regressed 2- 5%

By Condition- Anxiety - 9 Horses total

  • Horses Improved 2- 22%

  • Horses Remained 6-67%

  • Horses Regressed 1-11%

By Condition- Pain - 32 Horses total

  • Horses Improved 27- 84%

  • Horses Remained 4-13%

  • Horses Regressed 1- 3%

4. Author’s conclusion for pain management: Although the treatment protocol for the control group is not clear, there is a statistically significant improvement in the CBD treatment groups. This report attempted to find evidence for a causal relationship between use of CBD and pain management and anxiety support in horses. Based on the data gathered these conclusions were made: There is significant evidence of an association of CBD with an improvement in health and a reduction of pain observed in horses.


Safety and tolerability of escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats

Dated: March 26, 2021


  1. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of orally delivered cannabis oils predominant in cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or both CBD and THC in healthy cats.

  2. In this placebo-controlled, blinded study, 20 healthy adult cats were randomized to one of five treatment groups (n = 4 per group): two placebo groups (sunflower oil [SF] or medium-chain triglyceride oil [MCT]), or three plant-derived cannabinoid oil groups (CBD in MCT, THC in MCT or CBD/THC [1.5:1] in SF). Up to 11 escalating doses of each formulation were delivered orally via syringe to fasted subjects, with at least 3 days separating doses. Safety and tolerability were determined from clinical observations, complete blood counts (CBCs) and clinical chemistry. Plasma cannabinoids (CBD, THC) and metabolites (7-COOH-CBD, 11-OH-THC) were assessed.

  3. Titration to maximum doses of 30.5 mg/kg CBD (CBD oil), 41.5 mg/kg THC (THC oil) or 13.0:8.4 mg/kg CBD:THC (CBD/THC oil) was safely achieved in all subjects. All observed adverse events (AEs) were mild, transient and resolved without medical intervention. Gastrointestinal AEs were more common with formulations containing MCT. Constitutional (lethargy, hypothermia), neurologic (ataxia) and ocular (protrusion membrana nictitans) AEs were more common with oils containing THC (CBD/THC and THC oils).

  4. The findings support the safety and tolerability of CBD in the formentioned species. This placebo-controlled escalating dose study, which delivered up to 30.5 mg/kg CBD in an MCT oil matrix, showed oral administration of CBD to be generally well tolerated by cats with no detrimental changes in CBC and clinical chemistry. Importantly, as compared with formulations containing THC, CBD oil was associated with the fewest number of constitutional, neurologic and ocular AEs and the fewest number of behavioral changes.


The effect of cannabidiol on canine neoplastic cell proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kina

Dated: November 28, 2020


  1. The objectives of this study was to explore the anti-proliferative and cell death response associated with in vitro treatment of canine cancer cell lines with CBD alone and combination with common chemotherapeutics, as well as investigation into major proliferative pathways (eg, p38, JNK, AKT and mTOR) potentially involved in the response to treatment with CBD.

  2. Five established canine neoplastic cell lines were obtained and used for all experiments; a cell line of epithelial mammary gland carcinoma cell line—CMT12 (provided by Dr Curtis Byrd), a B cell lymphoma lineage—17-71 (provided by Dr Angela Wheeler), and three mesenchymal osteosarcoma lines HMPOS (provided by Dr Rodney Page), D17 (#CCL-183; ATCC, Manassas, Virginia) and Abrams (provided by Dr Angela Wheeler). All cell lines were deemed mycoplasma free by polymerase chain reaction from the Animal Health and Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University.

  3. All statistical analysis regarding percent proliferating cells as measured by MTT assay and Annexin-FITC assay were performed using JMP Pro (v. 11.2.1; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina).

  4. CBD is effective at hindering cell proliferation and induction of autophagy and apoptosis rapidly across neoplastic cell lines and further clinical trials are needed to understand its efficacy and interactions with traditional chemotherapy. This study demonstrated the in vitro anti-neoplastic properties of CBD on five canine cancer cell lines representative of all three major cancer lineages when used as a single agent, as well as in combination with commonly utilized chemotherapeutics. Our results are in accordance with other cannabinoid based research and offers initial insights into this field of research in veterinary medicine. Pending additional research, CBD and other cannabinoids may be utilized as adjuvant therapy for canine cancer patients, but must take into account the current chemotherapeutic protocol with trepidation because of potential drug-drug interactions.



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