Subtitle: The largest-ever study on dogs suggests a link between long-term CBD use and reduced aggression in aging pets.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, has become a buzzword in health circles—touted for its therapeutic effects in humans, from easing chronic pain to alleviating anxiety. But what about its impact on our four-legged companions? A groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science provides some fascinating answers, suggesting that CBD might help calm aggressive behavior in dogs over time, especially those challenged by age-related conditions.
Unpacking the Study: Over 47,000 Dogs Analyzed
The findings stem from the Dog Aging Project, an ambitious community-science initiative in which pet owners across the U.S. chronicle their dogs’ diets, lifestyles, and health over multiple years. By analyzing surveys from 47,355 dogs collected between 2019 and 2023, researchers set out to answer a simple but pressing question: How, and why, are people giving CBD supplements to their dogs? And what are the effects?
The numbers are telling. Roughly 7.3% of surveyed dogs—over 3,400 animals—were given CBD or hemp products by their owners. Of these, nearly 6% received the supplements on a daily basis. Most revealing was the profile of the dogs receiving these supplements: they tended to be older, more likely male, and suffering from conditions like dementia, arthritis, or cancer.
The Aggression Angle: An Unexpected Behavioral Shift
One of the study’s key discoveries is the remarkable behavioral change in dogs consistently receiving CBD. Dr. Maxwell Leung, an assistant professor and lead author of the study, notes that dogs starting on CBD were initially more aggressive compared to dogs never given the supplement. However, with long-term use—spanning years—the aggression in these dogs actually fell below average, indicating a calming effect that grew over time.
Dr. Julia Albright, a co-author and veterinary behavior specialist, finds this trend especially intriguing. “This long-term behavioral change highlights the potential of CBD as a therapy for canine behavioral issues,” she remarks. And yet, the effect appears specific: only aggression showed measurable improvement, while common complaints like anxiety and general agitation did not clearly respond to CBD use in this vast dataset.
Who’s Using CBD—and Why?
The link between aging, illness, and CBD use is robust. Dogs diagnosed with dementia had the highest rates of CBD supplementation (18.2%), while joint problems (12.5%) and cancer (10%) followed. That suggests many owners turn to CBD as a kind of last-resort supplement when their pets face chronic, hard-to-treat conditions.
Geography and human behavior also played a role. Owners living in states legalizing medical cannabis for people were more likely to give CBD to their dogs, hinting that societal attitudes around cannabis could influence pet care choices.
Interestingly, male dogs were about 9% more likely to be given CBD supplements than females—a detail without a clear explanation, but one worth exploring in future studies.
What About Other Behaviors?
While the decline in aggression is notable, the study didn’t find meaningful improvements in anxiety or agitation. Most canine aggression is believed to stem from stress or anxiety—a classic “fight or flight” response. So, why wouldn’t CBD help with all stress behaviors?
Dr. Albright offers a possible explanation: “It is unclear why only aggression but not other types of anxious or agitated behaviors seemed to be improved with CBD treatment.” It’s possible that aggression and anxiety, though related, are governed by different brain pathways or that survey data isn’t sensitive enough to capture subtler behavioral shifts. More controlled research will be needed to unravel these nuances.
Caution: It’s Not a Cure-All—Yet
The researchers stress critical limitations to their study. The data comes from owner-reported surveys—not clinical experiments. Key details, such as exact dosages, product quality, administration methods, and even potential placebo effects, were not controlled for.
Moreover, CBD supplements—like any active molecule—aren’t risk-free. Owners sometimes reported gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea. With no standardized dosing or industry oversight, there’s genuine concern about product safety and efficacy.
Dr. Albright urges owners considering CBD for their pets to use reputable products only and consult with their veterinarian before starting any supplement regimen.
Where Do We Go from Here?
Despite its caveats, this research marks a significant step in validating what many owners already believe: that CBD has the potential to improve the well-being not just of aging humans, but our beloved dogs as well. The authors hope their findings will spur better-controlled clinical trials, helping to pinpoint who benefits most, how, and why.
“There are many similarities in how CBD can benefit dogs and humans medically,” Dr. Leung observes. As more data emerges, owners and veterinarians alike will be better equipped to make safe, informed decisions about using this increasingly popular supplement.
Reference
Leung, M., Albright, J., & Dog Aging Project Consortium. (2024). Demographic Features, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes Associated with Cannabidiol Use in the Dog Aging Project. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.29991
