Assessing the effectiveness of cannabidiol additive supplementation on canine behavior and cortisol levels

Abstract

Highlights

1. Introduction

Animal welfare is a topic that garners substantial attention from consumers and is increasingly regarded as a crucial factor in society’s evaluation of the acceptability and sustainability of animal care and utilization practices [1,2]. The public’s perception of animal welfare is continually evolving and exerts a direct influence on legislation [3,4] as well as consumer purchasing decisions [5,6]. While discussions about animal experimentation [7,8] and livestock production [[9], [10], [11]] have received substantial attention, there has historically been relatively limited consideration given to the welfare of companion animals [12]. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift, with an increasing focus on the well-being of companion animals, marking it as a central theme in contemporary discussions [13]. Based on the estimation provided by FEDIAF (14), the European pet population is approximately 309 million, with cats (112 million) and dogs (92 million) comprising the largest proportion. In modern times, these animals have become an integral part of the human family unit [14], and their well-being is deemed highly significant by their owners [15,16]. As per the most recent EU report [17] on public attitudes towards animal welfare in Europe, a majority of EU citizens (74 %), including Italians (80 %), express the belief that the welfare of companion animals should receive enhanced protection. For this reason, the use of feed additives (particularly plant extracts) to enhance the well-being and health of domestic animals, including companion animals, is becoming increasingly widespread [[18], [19], [20]].

Cannabis, also known as hemp, has a long history of cultivation spanning thousands of years for various purposes, such as rope, food, and oils [21]. Moreover, it has also been recognized for its medical properties to treat different symptoms and diseases [22]. Different Cannabis varieties differ in plant structure and cannabinoids content [23]. The most well-known species are Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, along with their hybrid combinations [24]. Cannabis consists of over 750 different chemical compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, hydrocarbons, and phytocannabinoids, which collectively produce the so-called “entourage effect” [25,26]. Among these compounds, the two most recognized cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The THC has psychotropic effects and higher toxicity compared to CBD, which is a non-psychotropic compound with a higher safety threshold. Consequently, CBD has gained increasing usage in veterinary medicine in recent years [22]. In veterinary medicine, CBD has been used to address various conditions including pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety [22]. In this context, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a pivotal role in facilitating the interaction between CBD and the organism. The ECS encompasses two primary receptor types, CB1 and CB2, which interact with both endogenous cannabinoids [27] and exogenous compounds derived primarily from Cannabis, such as CBD and THC [28]. This system is essential for maintaining organismic homeostasis and regulates various physiological and pathological processes, such as the modulation of the nervous and immune systems, or the transmission and modulation of pain signals and inflammation [29]. Gamble et al. [30], for example, found that a CBD-based treatment leads to a decrease in pain and a rise in activity in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Considering animal behavior, there have only been a limited number of studies examining the effects of CBD-based treatment on dogs’ behavior. The CBD has been successfully used to control anxiety and stress conditions in animals [23,32]. Stress is a generalized response of the body to different factors that can disrupt individual homeostasis [31] and can lead to anxiety, fear, aggressiveness, and the development of displacement behaviors and stereotypies [32,33]. Stereotypies and displacement behaviors are considered indicators of poor welfare conditions, which can even lead to self-injury or self-mutilation, further compromising the animal’s quality of life [33,34]. Dog shelters can be a stressful environment due to a lack of social interactions and stimuli, resource competition, and overcrowding [35,36], potentially leading to chronic stress conditions, and a rise in cortisol levels. Prolonged high cortisol levels can result in increased adrenal and thymus size, weight loss, reduced activation of lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to infections and tumors [31].

Given the limited availability of literature about the effect of CBD on dog behavior, our objective was to assess the effects of CBD oil supplementation on dogs hosted in a shelter and affected by behavioral disorders. We hypothesize that this molecule will have an impact on dogs’ temperament, and we predict an improvement in the behavior of treated dogs, with a decrease in behaviors caused by a state of anxiety (e.g., aggressive or discomfort behaviors) and an increase in positive behaviors (e.g., sociability and curiosity) response to novel stimuli. Additionally, we investigated the chronic response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by measuring cortisol levels in hair, and we predicted a decrease in cortisol levels in treated dogs. This decrease is expected to be a result of reduced anxiety, which can cause hyperactivity, avoidance, and compulsive behaviors, and an improvement in their overall welfare state. This condition would also be a beneficial effect due to an improvement in the management of the animals and a rise in their possibilities to get adopted.

2. Materials and methods

The study involved non-invasive procedures, and the administration of cannabinoids was supervised by the veterinarian, who would have administered them for therapeutic purposes regardless of this research. The experimental procedures comply with the ethical standards on animal experimentation following EU Directive 2010/63/EU [37] for animal experiments and were submitted to the Ethics Committee of the University of Bologna (Protocol n. 4567).

3. Cortisol

To avoid the sedation of animals, only dogs who well tolerated the sampling procedure (7 dogs of the C group and 4 dogs of the CTR groups) underwent three different hair collections in the same area near the cervical region. We utilized a shave-reshaving technique and collected the hair using an electric shaver. The first sample collection was conducted 53 days before the second collection, and the third collection took place 64 days after the second. The second sample was taken 8 days before the initiation of the trial. After the collection, all samples were identified with the name of the dog and the date, each hair sample was placed in plastic containers and stocked at room temperature until the analysis.

Cortisol concentrations were determined by Radio Immuno Assays (RIA). Cortisol was extracted from hair by putting 60 mg of trimmed hairs (1–3 mm) in a glass vial with 5 ml methanol [40]. All samples were dried under an air-stream suction hood at 37 °C and the dry-residue was dissolved into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) 0.05 M, pH 7.5. The cortisol RIA was performed using an antiserum to cortisol-21-hemisuccinate-BSA (anti-rabbit), at a working dilution of 1:20000 and 3H-cortisol (30 pg/tube vial) as a tracer. Validation parameters of analysis were: sensitivity 0.19 pg/mg, intra-assay variability 5.9 %, and inter-assay variability 8.7 %. Radioactivity was determined using a liquid scintillation βcounter and a linear standard curve, ad hoc designed by a software program.

4. Results

5. Discussion

Our research aims to assess the effects of CBD oil supplementation on dogs hosted in a shelter and affected by behavioral disorders. None of the dogs involved in the study showed any symptoms of intolerance to MCT and CBD oils, indicating that the treatment was well tolerated by all dogs. After the first temperament test (T0), both the CTR and C groups did not exhibit any significant difference in the relative duration of the different behavioral categories observed during the test phases. This result is desirable as it indicates that there were no significant differences between the two groups before the treatment began, establishing their homogeneity.

After the 50-day treatment, the temperament test was conducted again, and similar to the pre-treatment test, the statistical analysis found the two groups to be homogeneous. The results of the two temperament tests were compared, and no significant differences were found between T0 and T1 in both groups. This finding is consistent with existing literature, which also reports no significant differences in aggressiveness, fear, or daily management of dogs after treatment with CBD [[44], [45], [46]]. However, it is important to note that this study has several limitations, including the inability, due to the shelter environment and organization, to constantly monitor each dog and evaluate individual responses to the treatment. As a result of these constraints, standard microdoses of CBD and CBG (<0.5 mg/kg BID) were employed to minimize side effects, and the dosage remained unchanged throughout the study period. Nonetheless, it would be beneficial to assess the treatment’s effectiveness and adjust the doses according to individual responses [47,48].

However, when considering the results of the temperament test for individual subjects treated with CBD oil, it appears that the response to the treatment varies among individuals. This finding aligns with the observations made by Corsetti et al. [46], who reported a reduction in aggression towards humans in only some dogs following the administration of a CBD-based oil. It is also consistent with the studies conducted by Hartsel [48] and Vaughn [47], which demonstrated individual sensitivity to cannabinoids in terms of side effects, plasma concentration, and half-life of the molecules. The dogs that appeared to be most responsive to the treatment were those that had comorbidities resulting in chronic pain and those that exhibited stereotypies. In some of these subjects, the results of the temperament tests revealed a decrease in aggressiveness towards humans and other dogs, as well as a reduction in discomfort behaviors such as stereotypies. Additionally, an increase in curiosity and social behaviors towards both humans and other dogs was observed. These positive outcomes could be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD and CBG. Research by Camps et al. [49] demonstrated that pain can lead to an increase in aggressive behaviors and impulsivity in dogs. Dogs who did not exhibit aggressive behaviors prior to experiencing pain were found to become more impulsive and display aggression and defensive postures more frequently when approached or manipulated [49]. Other studies have reported the beneficial effects of cannabinoids, specifically CBD and CBG, in managing chronic pain in dogs due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties [50,51]. Furthermore, research by Gamble et al. [52] showed that CBD oil administration can reduce pain associated with arthrosis. Moreover, CBD has been shown to have anxiolytic and anti-compulsive properties, as well as the ability to decrease unconditional fear, anxiety, and stress [53,54]. This could explain the observed reduction in anxiety-related behaviors and stereotypies in some subjects from the treated group.

Considering the concentration of HC in the two groups before and after the 50-day administration, we observed that the CTR group exhibited higher HC levels than the C group at T0. However, at the end of the treatment period, the only C group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in HC levels. Although these findings are only preliminary due to the limited number of dogs that were sampled, they partially align with various studies conducted on humans [55,56] and mice [[57], [58], [59], [60]]. These studies reported that acute administration of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in non-habitual users resulted in a significant increase in cortisol, corticosterone, and ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). THC can bind to cannabinoid receptors and activate the HPA axis, and chronic exposure to THC can lead to dysregulation of the HPA axis, chronically elevated basal cortisol and ACTH levels, and reduced activation of the axis during acute stress. This condition ultimately results in a decreased ability to cope with stress [61]. In addition, we cannot exclude the potential influence of chronic pain or stress on the hair cortisol levels of the three animals affected by chronic diseases, as demonstrated in human studies [62]. However, a study did not find a difference in hair cortisol concentration between dogs affected by various chronic diseases and healthy dogs [63]. Therefore, further research is necessary to investigate the correlation between chronic pathologies and hair cortisol concentration.

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, this study did not identify statistically significant changes in the behavior of dogs treated with CBD oil twice a day. However, it did reveal certain behavioral modifications in specific subjects that received cannabinoids, including a reduction in aggressiveness and discomfort, as well as an increase in curiosity and social behaviors. These preliminary findings highlight the importance of individualized treatment when employing cannabis-based supplementations and emphasize the need for further research to assess the use of cannabinoids in veterinary behavioral medicine.

Availability of data and materials

Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Giovanna Marliani: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Lucrezia Vaccari: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Damiano Cavallini: Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Software, Formal analysis, Data curation. Carmen Silvia Montesano: Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Giovanni Buonaiuto: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Supervision. Pier Attilio Accorsi: Supervision, Resources, Project administration, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

References