SUN CITY WEST, ARIZ. — An unprecedented collaborative study by experts at the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and Guelph, Ontario-based Nutrasource Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Services has demonstrated the safety and tolerance of various hemp-derived cannabinoids in healthy dogs. This latest peer-reviewed data, paired with other historical evidence, suggests these products are well-tolerated by healthy dogs at doses of 5mg per kg of body weight per day.

The study involved 32 healthy Beagles randomly separated into four treatment groups. Over the course of 90 days, one group was orally administered a placebo of medium chain triglyceride oils, while the other three groups were orally administered either broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD), broad-spectrum CBD with cannabigerol (CBG), or broad-spectrum CBD with cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Each group receiving a CBD product was administered a daily dose of 5mg per kg of body weight.

Researchers noted the beagles that were fed CBD products tolerated the products well, and that no significant health risks were observed long-term, including during a 14-day recovery period.

“These data demonstrate that different cannabidiols are safe for long-term use in healthy dogs when given at the dose studied,” said Bill Bookout, president of the NASC. “With safety studies, no matter how well controlled or meticulously defined, it is impossible to account for everything that can occur when a product is commercialized. That is why this safety study includes not only data from a well-designed study protocol, but also 10 years of post-market surveillance data from the NASC Adverse Event Reporting Database (NAERS®), which is the most advanced monitoring system in the world for these types of products given to companion animals. No other study that we are aware of is as comprehensive and includes both data sets.”

The study was conducted by ClinVet USA LLC, an Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, and supported by several animal health experts. It was published in the March 2024 edition of Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

“There are many people to thank for their support in the completion of this study; however, it is the contributions of the NASC Board of Directors and NASC members, along with retailers and veterinarians who helped propel this landmark study forward,” Bookout said. “Special thanks go to study co-authors Margitta Dziwenka, Kaiti Valm, and Jennifer Kovacs-Nolan for their invaluable assistance with what has been a lengthy, but extremely rewarding process. Thanks also to Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine for his support and encouragement along the way as we completed this instrumental study.”

Find the full study here.

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