CBD Oil PetsVeterinary CBD Research Library
Our Evidence Standard
Every claim on cbdoilpets.com traces back to a published, peer-reviewed study or verifiable data source. This page lists every study we cite — organized by condition, with direct links to PubMed and journal sources. We include negative results because honest reporting matters more than marketing narratives.
Studies are listed chronologically within each category. We note the result direction — positive, negative, or mixed — because all results contribute to understanding what CBD can and cannot do for animals.
Osteoarthritis & Pain
"Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs"
Institution: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
PMID: 30083063
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover (n=22 dogs)
Dose: 2 mg/kg CBD oil, twice daily
Result: Positive. Significant decrease in pain scores (CBPI) and increase in activity. No observed side effects beyond mild ALP elevation.
Cited in: Arthritis, CBD Oil for Dogs, Dosing Guide, Is CBD Safe?
"A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Daily Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Canine Osteoarthritis"
Institution: Baylor College of Medicine
Journal: Pain
PMID: 32345916
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind (n=20 dogs)
Dose: Multiple dose levels tested
Result: Positive. Dose-dependent improvement in mobility and pain indicators. Higher doses showed greater benefit.
Cited in: Arthritis, CBD Oil for Dogs
"Evaluation of the Effect of Cannabidiol on Naturally Occurring Osteoarthritis-Associated Pain"
Institution: Colorado State University
Journal: Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA)
DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7119
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind
Result: Negative. No statistically significant improvement in OA pain scores. Possible factors: study design, dosing protocol, or individual variation.
Why we include this: Negative results define the boundaries of evidence. Two positive and one negative OA trial means the evidence is promising, not conclusive.
Cited in: Arthritis, CBD Oil for Dogs
Seizures & Epilepsy
"Randomized Blinded Controlled Clinical Trial to Assess the Effect of Oral Cannabidiol Administration in Addition to Conventional Antiepileptic Treatment on Seizure Frequency in Dogs with Intractable Idiopathic Epilepsy"
Institution: Colorado State University
Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)
PMID: 31067185
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind (n=26 dogs)
Dose: 2.5 mg/kg CBD, twice daily, alongside existing antiepileptic drugs
Result: Positive. 89% of dogs in the CBD group had a reduction in seizure frequency. ALP elevation was the primary side effect. The study added CBD to existing medications — it did not replace them.
Cited in: Seizures, CBD Oil for Dogs, Dosing Guide, Is CBD Safe?, Side Effects
Anxiety & Stress
"A Single Dose of Cannabidiol (CBD) Positively Influences Measures of Stress in Dogs During Separation and Car Travel"
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1112604
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled (n=40 dogs per scenario)
Dose: 4 mg/kg CBD, single dose administered 2 hours before stressor
Result: Positive. Significant reduction in cortisol levels and stress-related behaviors during both separation and car travel. This is the primary evidence source for event-based anxiety dosing protocols.
Cited in: Dog Anxiety, Fireworks, Thunderstorms, Calming Treats, CBD Oil for Dogs
Cancer (Preclinical)
"In Vitro Effects of CBD on Canine Neoplastic Cell Lines"
Design: In vitro (laboratory cell cultures, not live animals)
Result: Preliminary positive. CBD induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) and autophagy in five canine cancer cell lines. This is preclinical data only — no clinical trials in live dogs with cancer have been published.
Why the distinction matters: In vitro results do not automatically translate to clinical benefit. Many compounds kill cancer cells in a dish but fail in living organisms.
Cited in: Cancer Support
Safety & Pharmacokinetics
"Safety and Efficacy of Cannabidiol in Dogs: A Systematic Review"
PMID: 38381125
Design: Systematic review of published CBD safety data in dogs
Key finding: CBD tested at doses up to 20 mg/kg was generally well-tolerated. Primary side effects at therapeutic doses: drowsiness, GI effects, ALP elevation. No serious adverse events attributable to CBD alone at tested doses.
Cited in: Is CBD Safe?, Overdose & Toxicity, Side Effects
"Pharmacokinetics of CBD in Dogs"
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Design: Pharmacokinetic study examining CBD absorption, distribution, and metabolism in dogs
Key finding: Established absorption curves and bioavailability data for oral CBD administration in dogs, informing dosing interval recommendations.
Cited in: Dosing Guide, CBD Oil for Dogs
Journal: Journal of Animal Science
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad414
Key finding: Additional safety and pharmacokinetic data supporting the tolerability profile of hemp-derived CBD in animals.
Cited in: Is CBD Safe?
Feline Studies
Cats lack the glucuronidation pathway (UGT enzymes) that dogs use to metabolize cannabinoids. Dog study results should never be generalized to cats. The studies below are specific to feline subjects.
"Long-Term CBD Tolerance in Cats"
PMC: PMC10847353
Design: Long-term tolerance and safety study in cats
Result: Positive safety profile. Demonstrated that cats can tolerate CBD over extended periods at appropriate doses. Important for establishing that daily CBD protocols are feasible for cats, despite their different metabolic pathway.
Cited in: CBD for Cats, Is CBD Safe for Cats?
"CBD Pharmacokinetics and Safety in Cats"
Design: Pharmacokinetic and safety assessment in feline subjects
Key finding: Established feline-specific PK parameters for CBD, confirming that cats metabolize CBD differently than dogs and require adjusted dosing protocols.
Cited in: CBD for Cats, Is CBD Safe for Cats?
"Effect of a Single Dose of CBD on Feline Stress Markers"
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1476296
Design: Controlled study of single-dose CBD on cat stress markers
Result: Negative. A single dose of CBD had no measurable effect on feline stress markers. This does not rule out daily dosing protocols — it specifically tested single-dose administration, which may be insufficient for cats given their different metabolism.
Why we include this: Negative results are evidence. They prevent us from claiming CBD works for cat anxiety based on dog data alone.
Cited in: Cat Anxiety, CBD for Cats
Equine Studies
"CBD for Equine Osteoarthritis"
Design: Clinical study of CBD in horses with osteoarthritis
Key finding: Preliminary positive data for CBD in equine OA management. One of the first published clinical studies examining CBD specifically in horses.
Cited in: CBD for Horses
"CBD Pharmacokinetics in Horses"
Design: Pharmacokinetic study in equine subjects
Key finding: Established absorption and metabolism data for CBD in horses, including the large-volume dosing challenges specific to equine administration.
Cited in: CBD for Horses
Meta-Analyses & Reviews
"Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Canine Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"
PMC: PMC10540436
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis pooling data from published canine CBD trials
Key finding: Aggregated evidence supports CBD efficacy for osteoarthritis pain with a favorable safety profile. Highlights need for standardized dosing protocols and larger sample sizes.
Cited in: CBD Oil for Dogs, Arthritis
Industry & Regulatory Data
"CBD Product Accuracy Study"
Type: Industry analysis (not peer-reviewed academic research)
Key finding: 56% of CBD pet products tested were mislabeled — containing significantly more or less CBD than their labels claimed. Some products contained undisclosed THC. This is the most widely cited data point on CBD product quality.
Why it matters: This finding underpins our entire COA verification process and product review methodology.
Cited in: How to Read a COA, Best CBD Oil for Dogs, Best CBD Oil for Cats, Overdose & Toxicity, CBD Oil for Dogs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there scientific research on CBD for dogs?
Yes. As of 2026, at least eight published clinical studies have examined CBD in dogs, covering osteoarthritis, seizures, anxiety, and safety. Key institutions include Cornell, Colorado State, and Baylor College of Medicine. All studies used hemp-derived CBD at therapeutic doses.
What is the strongest evidence for CBD in dogs?
The strongest evidence exists for osteoarthritis pain (Gamble 2018, Verrico 2020) and seizure reduction (McGrath 2019). The Cornell OA trial showed significant pain reduction at 2 mg/kg twice daily, and the Colorado State seizure trial showed 89% of dogs in the CBD group had reduced seizure frequency.
Is there research on CBD for cats?
Research on cats is more limited. Coltherd 2024 demonstrated long-term CBD tolerance in cats. However, Weller 2024 found that a single dose of CBD had no measurable effect on feline stress markers — indicating that cat-specific research is still in early stages and single-dose protocols may be insufficient.
Why do some CBD studies show negative results?
Negative results are normal and important. Mejia 2021 found no significant improvement for canine osteoarthritis, possibly due to study design or dosing protocol. Weller 2024 found no effect of single-dose CBD on cat stress. Negative results help define what CBD can and cannot do and prevent overpromising.
This library is maintained by the CBD Oil Pets editorial team and updated as new veterinary CBD research is published. All studies listed here are cited in at least one article on our site. We include negative results because selective reporting undermines the evidence base we're trying to build.
If you're aware of a published veterinary CBD study not listed here, contact us at editorial@cbdoilpets.com.
Sources cited in this article are linked inline. Full reference list available in our Research Library.