Dr. Maxwell Leung, an assistant professor and the director of Cannabis Analytics, Safety and Health Initiative at Arizona State University and his team studied 47,000 dogs to determine the behavior changes CBD caused.
They found that dogs on CBD for years initially became more aggressive, but the aggression became less intense over time. Several health issues were linked to higher CBD use. The strongest association was seen in dogs with dementia (18.2%), followed by those with osteoarthritis joint problems (12.5%) and those diagnosed with cancer (10%).
What is interesting is that dogs that had agitation or anxiety did not show improvement in their behavior. The team stressed that dog owners must only use quality products and be aware that CBC can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea.
Journal Reference:
Kendra D. Conrow, Richard S. Haney, Michael H. Malek-Ahmadi, Julia D. Albright, Barbara L. F. Kaplan, Noah Snyder-Mackler, Kathleen F. Kerr, Yi Su, Daniel E. L. Promislow, Emily E. Bray, Maxwell C. K. Leung. Demographic features, health status, and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the Dog Aging Project. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025; 12 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1666663
Cite This Page:
Frontiers. “Scientists studied 47,000 dogs on CBD and found a surprising behavior shift.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 November 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128050506.htm>.
Really interesting to see research like this, especially since CBD is so often discussed as if every dog will respond the same way. InnovetPet is one of the pet CBD brands I’ve seen mentioned, but studies like this are a good reminder to keep expectations realistic and involve a vet.
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Dear Lucia,
I am glad you liked the article. I have been a dog trainer and then behaviorist for over 60 years. I try to keep people informed. Check my website http://www.sbulanda.com to see the books that I have written. Thanks again for commenting.
Sue
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