CBD as a Treatment for Toxicosis in Dogs: Highlights from a Pending Case Report

A case report examined the effect of administering cannabidiol (CBD) to dogs with presumptive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) toxicosis. The report, “Case Report: Treatment of non-medical tetrahydrocannabinol toxicosis with transmucosal cannabidiol-infused dissolving sheets in six dogs,” was accepted for publication in October 2024 in Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine and is expected to be published soon. “This is the first report of treatment of canine THC toxicosis by administration of CBD,” the report abstract noted.

According to the article, the researchers studied the outcomes of six cases of toxicosis seen in a private primary care practice and a private emergency practice. In summary:

• Five of the cases used only transmucosal 0.4-2.6 mg/kg of CBD
• One case also involved injectable anti-emetic therapy
• Five cases saw clinical signs resolve within 45 minutes of the treatment and improvement of lethargy and ataxia

None of the cases needed follow-up measures for the toxicosis. The report suggested that the treatment method used was demonstrated to quickly resolve symptoms in a minimally invasive way, one that clients and veterinarians can access easily.

In a 2023 research overview on cannabis and pets, Ruth Fisher, PhD highlighted studies on cannabis toxicosis in pets, noting that the onset of signs of toxicosis in dogs usually occurs within 30-90 minutes of exposure, and recovery could take from 24–72 hours, or even up to five days. At the time of the study’s publication, no antidote for cannabis toxicosis had been described. Furthermore, 2022 was the first year for cannabis products to be listed in the top 10 of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) list of pet toxins.

CBD use for pets has seen increase in other areas as well. Research on CBD and other cannabinoids for therapeutic uses in pets is continuing to emerge, explained Robert Silver, DVM MS CVA, author of the book, Medical Marijuana and Your Pet, and founder of the Well-Pet Dispensary, in a recent interview with Cannabis Science and Technology. “We have had a couple of decent studies in epilepsy,” he stated. “One study used a blend of CBD and CBDA [cannabidiolic acid], and at fairly reasonably low dosages of about a milligram per each of those, or twice daily. And they were able to get reasonably good success, better success than the other study that was done at CSU by McGrath, in terms of treating dogs who have what we call ‘treatment resistant epilepsy;’ that's a very similar condition to what Charlotte Figi had, the child that got things started with Charlotte's Web and the whole interest in in CBD for these intractable epileptics.”

Dr. Silver also mentioned the need for effective and inexpensive treatments. “These are really very sad cases, because they could be on three different types of anti-convulsant drugs. They could be walking zombies, because many of these drugs create a sedation, and yet still have seizures. And the drugs are expensive, the dogs are miserable, so if we can find anything that can help with that – that's good that they were able to do that.”

Reference

1. Marsigliano, K.; Green, K.; DiGangi, BA. Case Report: Treatment of non-medical tetrahydrocannabinol toxicosis with transmucosal cannabidiol-infused dissolving sheets in six dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024 DOI:10.3389/fvets.2024.1448123