Researchers have carried out the first study looking at the effects of low-dose LSD to treat anxiety in a dog, finding that the psychedelic caused no adverse effects and appeared to “significantly” attenuate the animal’s nervous symptoms.
The case study, published in the journal Veterinary Research Communications, involved a 13-year-old dog that suffers from separation anxiety. A single dose of 1cp-LSD was administered, after which point the dog was observationally assessed over the course of five hours.
The researchers from the Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria exposed the dog to anxiety-inducing stimuli (i.e. having the owners leave the house) in intervals throughout the study. While the drug didn’t appear to affect her normal behavior for the first two hours after administration, the team said a “significant change in the animal’s behavior was observed” over the subsequent hours, “with no signs/mild signs of anxiety.”
“The trial concluded without any adverse effects on the animal. The patient did not show signs of having a psychedelic experience,” the study says. “This is the first time that a study of this nature has been conducted and reported in the canine species. 1cp-LSD proved to be safe and exerted the desired effect on the animal’s behavior, significantly reducing the patient’s anxiety.”
Given that upwards of 20 percent of dogs are estimated to experience anxiety—and commonly prescribed pharmaceutical treatments such as anti-depressants and benzodiazepines have limited efficacy with sometimes serious side effects—the researchers said the initial findings offers promising data on the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic compound as an alternative.
To assess anxiety levels in the subject, the team measured common signs of stress such as barking, salivation, and “compulsive behaviors such as self-mutilation or object destruction.” The owner identified common triggers for Lola—namely leaving the house—and the researchers applied such stimuli at different hours of the experiment.
“After two hours, exhibiting a temporal pattern of the effect similar to that observed in humans exposed to this substance, Lola appeared calm,” the study says. “She climbed into the chair by herself. At that moment, specific music for the psychedelic experience was played. The animal appeared relaxed and showed no signs of discomfort or aversion to the sound.”
When researchers introduced the anxiety-inducing stimuli again at the two-hour interval, by having the owner leave the house, Lola “did not follow her, did not bark or vocalize.”
“Minutes later, she came back. The dog recognized her, wagging her tail, and greeted her calmly without leaving the couch. Lola’s behavior had changed, something very evident to her owner, who expressed it,” they said. “The researchers present at the trial did not observe mydriasis, which is one of the most evident signs of an LSD toxic effect.”
The dog also typically presents anxiety when the owner is preparing food, so after five hours post-administration, they had her cook a meal and then eat it. “No anxious behaviors related to the owners’ mealtime, which frequently happened, were observed,” they said.
“Despite the slightly higher dose than that typically used for microdosing, the animal did not show signs of having had psychedelic experience (stumbling, howling, restlessness, fear), not even at a physical level (mydriasis). Consistent communication was maintained with the animal’s owner for the following 24 h, ensuring that cognitive recovery was ongoing and no veterinary intervention was required. No clinically significant events were reported.”
The researchers also concluded that their “case study also suggests that research on animal altered experiences could shed light on fundamental aspects of animal consciousness.”
“Understanding how such substances influence the canine cognition and behaviour could offer insights into the broader field of animal experience, bridging the gap between neurophysiological changes, observable behavioural outcomes, and the difficult topic of animal consciousness,” they said.
“The 1cp-LSD proved to be safe under these conditions (appropriate setting) and exerted the desired effect on the animal’s behaviour, significantly reducing the patient’s anxiety… These findings will allow for the safe conduct of future studies investigating the potential utility of 1cp-LSD microdosing for the treatment of dogs with separation related behavioral problems.”
While the study is novel in a variety of ways, there’s been growing interest within the scientific community about potential treatment alternatives for pets and other animals, including with cannabis.
For example, earlier this year the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a study that it says shows CBD is “safe for long-term use” in dogs—a significant finding given emerging research that cannabis can effectively treat conditions such as anxiety and certain skin diseases among canines.
Another case study this year found that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease, especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.
Research that was published in January found that dogs that receive daily doses of CBD see “significant reductions” in stress and anxiety related to car travel.
Other studies have demonstrated benefits of CBD such as reduced frequency of seizures among dogs who receive the cannabinoid. Also, a study published in 2018 found that dogs with arthritis see improvements with CBD treatment.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that cows that are fed hempseed cake retain very low concentrations of THC and CBD in their bodies, indicating that meat products from hemp-fed cattle are safe for human consumption.
Another federally funded study published in 2022 found that feeding cows hemp reduces their stress. Researchers have also looked into how CBD affects stress and pain in horses.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to a series of businesses marketing CBD products for animals in 2022, cautioning that there’s a “lack of data on what levels of potential residues are safe for a person consuming the foods that come from CBD-treated animals.”
Meanwhile, late last year, the governor of New York vetoed a pair of bills that would have allowed hemp seeds to be included in animal feed for pets, horses and camelids such as llamas and alpacas—citing a lack of information about the safety of such uses, which she wants the state to study in an “expeditious manner.”
Photo courtesy of Pexels.
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