- Study, carried out by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, is published today in Frontiers in Veterinary Science
BRUSSELS, Belgium (September 21, 2022) - Mars Petcare today announced results from a safety study that demonstrated that a daily oral dose of cannabidiol (CBD) at the studied concentration and duration was well-tolerated by a cohort of clinically healthy adult dogs.
The study was run by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, part of Mars Petcare, and was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science(Opens a new window), adding to a growing body of evidence around the safety of CBD for dogs.
The aim of the randomized, placebo-controlled, and blinded study was two-fold:
- To demonstrate tolerance of a once-daily oral dose (4 mg/kg of body weight) well characterized, broad-spectrum THC-free CBD distillate over a six-month period to healthy adult dogs.
- To quantify the level of CBD in the dogs’ fasted plasma, urine, and feces over the same period.
Study participants included 40 healthy dogs – 17 Labrador Retrievers; 8 Beagles; and 15 Norfolk Terriers – randomised and balanced across two parallel treatment groups: CBD and placebo. Researchers assessed a broad range of health measures, including biochemistry, haematology and urinalysis, in addition to monthly veterinary examinations, twice daily wellbeing observations, and a daily quality-of-life survey. These measures were taken before, then after two, four, 10, 18, 26 weeks of CBD feeding, followed by four weeks of washout. CBD concentrations were measured at the same intervals in plasma, feces and urine.
“I’m heartened to see this study on the safety of CBD for dog health. We continue to receive questions from pet owners on whether it’s safe to give their pets CBD. We hope, with continued research, to be able to provide science-based guidance our clients expect and rely on.” said Dr. Jennifer Welser, Chief Medical Officer of Mars Veterinary Health.
This CBD safety study is part of Mars Petcare’s long-standing commitment to investing in science, technology and innovation. The company has a well-established history in driving transformative pet health innovation through the Waltham Petcare Science Institute,(Opens a new window) which has focused on pet health for over 50 years; and through Mars Veterinary Health(Opens a new window), a network of 2,500 veterinary clinics and Antech diagnostic labs across more than 20 countries.
About Mars Petcare
Mars Petcare is part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. Our almost 100,000 Associates across 130 countries are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets – including brands PEDIGREE(Opens a new window)®, WHISKAS(Opens a new window)®, ROYAL CANIN(Opens a new window)®, SHEBA(Opens a new window)®, CESAR(Opens a new window)®, GREENIES(Opens a new window)™, IAMS(Opens a new window)™ and EUKANUBA(Opens a new window)™ as well as the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute(Opens a new window) which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of more than 2,500 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including AniCura(Opens a new window), AntechAsia Veterinary Diagnostics(Opens a new window), BANFIELD(Opens a new window), BLUEPEARL(Opens a new window), Linnaeus(Opens a new window), Mount Pleasant(Opens a new window), VCA(Opens a new window), VES(Opens a new window), and VSH(Opens a new window). We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL(Opens a new window)™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE(Opens a new window)™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO(Opens a new window) accelerator and COMPANION FUND(Opens a new window)™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business(Opens a new window) and guided by our principles(Opens a new window), we are building a thriving and inclusive workforce reflective of the many pets and communities we serve, privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in. And we choose to fight for our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
PRESS CONTACT:
Silvia Alexe(Opens a new window)
