Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Safety of increasing cannabis oil doses in healthy cats
By Kulpa, Justyna E et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2021·Canopy Animal Health, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Safety and tolerability of escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy adult cats was given different doses of cannabis oils containing either CBD, THC, or a combination of both to see how safe they were. The study found that all cats tolerated the maximum doses well, with only mild and temporary side effects like lethargy and gastrointestinal upset, especially with certain oil types. There were no serious health issues noted in blood tests. This research helps veterinarians understand the safety of using cannabinoids in cats, which could be important for potential treatments or accidental exposures.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of orally delivered cannabis oils predominant in cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or both CBD and THC in healthy cats. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, blinded study, 20 healthy adult cats were randomized to one of five treatment groups (n = 4 per group): two placebo groups (sunflower oil [SF] or medium-chain triglyceride oil [MCT]), or three plant-derived cannabinoid oil groups (CBD in MCT, THC in MCT or CBD/THC [1.5:1] in SF). Up to 11 escalating doses of each formulation were delivered orally via syringe to fasted subjects, with at least 3 days separating doses. Safety and tolerability were determined from clinical observations, complete blood counts (CBCs) and clinical chemistry. Plasma cannabinoids (CBD, THC) and metabolites (7-COOH-CBD, 11-OH-THC) were assessed. RESULTS: Titration to maximum doses of 30.5 mg/kg CBD (CBD oil), 41.5 mg/kg THC (THC oil) or 13.0:8.4 mg/kg CBD:THC (CBD/THC oil) was safely achieved in all subjects. All observed adverse events (AEs) were mild, transient and resolved without medical intervention. Gastrointestinal AEs were more common with formulations containing MCT. Constitutional (lethargy, hypothermia), neurologic (ataxia) and ocular (protrusion membrana nictitans) AEs were more common with oils containing THC (CBD/THC and THC oils). There were no clinically significant changes in CBC or clinical chemistry across treatment groups. Higher plasma levels of the cannabinoids and their metabolites following administration of the CBD/THC combination product are suggestive of a pharmacokinetic interaction. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This is the first feline study to explore the safety and tolerability of CBD and THC, alone and in combination, in a controlled research setting. These findings will inform veterinarians of the safety profile of cannabinoids, particularly when considering the potential therapeutic use of CBD in cats or recognizing clinical signs associated with accidental exposure to THC-containing products.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33769105/