IMAGING
Laying the Groundwork for
Evidence-Based CBD in Horses As cannabidiol (CBD) continues its ubiquitous spread from pharmacies to gas stations to pet stores, it’s natural that owners are considering it for their horses. The products are marketed to reduce anxiety and pain, but human data about the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of these treatments are limited, and there are even fewer data about its use in horses. CBD is also banned by most horse shows and equine governing bodies, but clients continue to use it in their horses. Alicia F. Yocom, DVM, and colleagues at the Colorado State University are helping the science catch up with the hype. “When we started, there were no published scientific studies looking at the use of CBD in the horse, except for a single case report of mechanical allodynB
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Issue 4/2022 | ModernEquineVet.com
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ia in a horse,” Dr. Yocom said during a presentation at the 67th Annual AAEP Convention in Nashville. “CBD is heavily marketed to our clients and to veterinarians at various doses and in various formulations, but we do not know what a clinically effective dose is at this point.” CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are 2 of more than 120 compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. THC is the psychotropic compound responsible for marijuana’s well-known effects at getting people high, but CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC—and it must be made from hemp. Currently, there is only 1 FDA-approved CBD product, which is indicated for epilepsy and seizure disorders in children 12 months of age or older. “Studies that have looked at behavior and arthritis are inconclusive at this point,” she added. “There are some
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Trying to determine how it works in horses.
