The Morris Animal Foundation is funding a new study to discover the effects of CBD on post-operative pain and recovery in dogs. Although CBD products have become increasingly popular amongst pet owners to help their animals deal with various conditions, there is little scientific research that explains exactly how it helps our furry friends.

The animal health research organisation has recently funded research into testing the potential benefits of CBD in treating dogs that have undergone a common ligament surgery, using it to alleviate the pain and improve recovery. The study leader, Dr. Alan Chicoine, spoke about the study and why it was necessary to determine the effectiveness and dosages suitable for pets.

The surgical procedure in question is known as a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and is a common procedure for dogs that have torn their cranial cruciate ligament, which is similar to the anterior cruciate ligament that humans can tear. The TPLO procedure involves the veterinarian making specific cuts to the tibia bone, which is then re-angled in order to stabilize the joint and replace the cruciate ligament that has been damaged.

The study is only investigating the effects of CBD on TPLO patients to get a good comparison of dogs treated with CBD oil versus dogs that receive no treatment. The dogs are also receiving their standard analgesic protocol alongside the CBD, which is why the bar is set high for CBD to show its benefits.

The product used is an extract in olive oil with a consistent 20:1 ratio of 20 milligrams of CBD to one milligram of THC. The reason for the use of an extract with a THC ratio was due to its consistency and reliability, as well as familiarity as it has been used in other studies.

One of the primary challenges of this study is how to measure the levels of pain felt by the dogs, which are only assessed for the first two weeks after surgery. One measurement used is the force produced from every paw as the dog steps down on the pressure-sensing walkway.

This outcome determines the amount of pressure the dog can put on its limb while walking, thereby providing information about its functionality and pain levels. The other aspect measured is the angle of that knee joint and the swelling around it. The owner’s involvement is critical as they report on their dog’s pain levels, activity levels and overall health, as they are best suited to judge their pet’s condition.

The study has been conducted with two sets of dogs; one set received a placebo