Behavioral observations, heart rate and cortisol monitoring in horses following multiple oral administrations of a cannabidiol containing paste (part 2/2).
Authors: Eichler Fabienne, Ehrle Anna, Machnik Marc, Jensen Katharina Charlotte, Wagner Sabrina, Baudisch Natalie, Bolk Julia, Pötzsch Magdalena, Thevis Mario, Bäumer Wolfgang, Lischer Christoph, Wiegard Mechthild
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Cannabidiol (CBD) products are increasingly marketed to equine professionals as anxiolytics and stress-management tools, yet robust evidence supporting their efficacy in horses remains scarce. This double-blinded, randomised controlled trial administered CBD paste (3 mg/kg twice daily) or placebo to twelve horses over 15 days, employing multiple validated assessment methods including daily sedation and facial expression scoring (FaceSed and Horse Grimace Scale), heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring, plus blood and salivary cortisol quantification via LC/MS/MS—one of the most rigorous analytical approaches available. Behavioural observations, movement patterns during novel object testing, trailer loading responses, cardiac parameters, and cortisol concentrations showed no statistically significant differences between CBD and control groups at any timepoint. These findings suggest that oral CBD at this dosage and administration frequency does not produce measurable anxiolytic or physiological stress-reducing effects in healthy horses, which has important implications for practitioners considering recommending such products to clients. The authors appropriately call for further investigation into appropriate dosing regimens, routes of administration, and specific clinical indications where CBD might prove beneficial—currently, claims about equine anxiety management remain largely unsupported by evidence-based data from controlled trials.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •CBD paste at the dose tested (3 mg/kg twice daily) did not reduce stress markers or behavioral signs of anxiety in healthy horses, suggesting current commercial products may be ineffective or require different dosing protocols
- •If using CBD for stress management, practitioners should be aware that evidence of efficacy is lacking and higher doses or alternative administration routes may be needed
- •Consider that individual horse variability and baseline anxiety levels may require dose optimization; this study used healthy horses without pre-existing anxiety disorders
Key Findings
- •CBD at 3 mg/kg BID for 15 days produced no statistically significant differences in behavioral observations between treatment and control groups
- •Cortisol levels in blood and saliva did not differ significantly between CBD-treated and control horses
- •Heart rate and heart rate variability parameters showed no significant differences between groups during novel object and trailer loading tests
- •Movement patterns and facial expressions (FaceSed and Horse Grimace Scale) were not significantly affected by CBD administration