EFFECTS OF CANNABIDIOL ON CLINICAL PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY HORSES

• Grant number: 24/16725-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Rogério Martins Amorim
• Grantee: Guilherme Sciacca Borges
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, has shown promise due to its therapeutic potential as an alternative to traditional medications in various areas of veterinary medicine, especially in the treatment of inflammation, chronic pain, and neurological disorders in animals. However, there is a significant gap in knowledge regarding its safety and efficacy in horses. This project aims to evaluate the safety of oral administration of Cannabis sativa broad spectrum oil rich in CBD (99% CBD and <0.3% THC) in clinically healthy horses by analyzing clinical parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, appetite, intestinal motility, ataxia scores and sedation. The research will be conducted in two phases: a pilot experiment with three horses to determine the maximum safe dose, followed by a main experiment with six horses to evaluate the effects of the determined dose over three months. The study is expected to provide scientific evidence on the safety and use of CBD in horses, contributing to its application in veterinary medicine.