Cannabidiol, or CBD, has quickly become a favorite natural therapy among people looking for relief from inflammation, chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety. Pet parents are increasingly exploring whether those same benefits might extend to their dogs, especially as they age or face chronic degenerative conditions. Until now, most of the information available has come from small studies, isolated case reports, or owner anecdotes. A new study1 from the Dog Aging Project has changed that landscape in a meaningful way.
With data from more than forty-seven thousand companion dogs, this research provides the largest real world look so far at how dogs across the United States are using CBD and how their health and behavior may shift over time. The findings were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science and are already helping veterinarians and pet guardians think more strategically about the role of CBD in integrative care.
A National Snapshot of CBD Use in Aging Dogs
Because the Dog Aging Project tracks individual dogs year after year, it provides one of the richest collections of canine health data ever assembled. People in the study report their dogs’ diets, supplements, medications, living environments, lifestyle patterns, chronic conditions, and aging changes. Within this vast dataset, it was also indicated whether dogs received CBD or hemp supplements. Some dogs had never been given CBD, others received it occasionally, and a large group of more than two thousand seven hundred dogs were given CBD daily.
A clear pattern emerged. Dogs receiving CBD tended to be older, often by about three years or more compared to dogs not using CBD. This makes sense when we look at conditions that have been the driving force toward CBD usage. The highest use was seen in dogs with cognitive dysfunction, where more than eighteen percent were receiving CBD. Osteoarthritis was another area of significant use, with more than twelve percent of affected dogs receiving CBD as part of their pain and mobility support. Cancer followed closely at about ten percent. These patterns show that CBD is most commonly being used in older dogs who are living with degenerative, painful, or progressive conditions that impact their daily comfort and function.
Geography also influenced usage. Dogs living in states where medical cannabis is legal for humans were more likely to receive CBD, highlighting how owner comfort and cultural familiarity shape decision making. Male dogs were slightly more likely to receive CBD than females, although the reasons remain unclear. Activity levels did not differ significantly, suggesting CBD was not being used simply to calm energetic behavior.
Long Term Behavior Trends Hint at Calming Effects
One of the most interesting observations involved behavior over time. Dogs receiving CBD for multiple years showed a measurable decline in aggressive behavior compared to dogs that never received CBD. This was not a short term effect. Dogs beginning CBD tended to be slightly more aggressive at the start, but their aggression softened as months and years passed. This gradual change suggests that CBD may influence underlying factors that contribute to reactive or defensive behaviors, such as chronic pain, cognitive discomfort, low grade inflammation, or stress dysregulation.
Dogs’ Stress Levels Improved With a Single Dose of CBD
Many dogs find car rides stressful, and this is especially true for pups who often or always find themselves at the veterinarian’s office, the groomer, or a boarding facility at the end of the ride. While many dogs tolerate these places well enough, most would prefer to be elsewhere.
CBD has been proven to alleviate stress and anxiety in humans, but to date there hasn’t been much research on its effect on stressed and anxious dogs. Scientists at Mars Petcare’s Waltham Petcare Science Institute published a study on the CBD supplements in dogs left alone or traveling by car.2
Their goal was to learn more about the impact of each scenario on canine stress levels and determine whether a single dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-free CBD distillate could have a positive influence. According to a Waltham Petcare Science Institute press release:
“The blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study looked at how CBD impacted the experience of 20 dogs in two commonplace activities that were anticipated to cause stress — car journeys and being left alone.
Researchers collected a range of physiological (e.g., blood levels of cortisol, ear temperature, heart rate) and behavioral measures (e.g., whining, trembling, panting) at different times during the study. There were significant changes in several stress-related measures, with the car journey eliciting a more pronounced stress response. .
Dogs then received either a placebo or CBD capsule (~4mg/kg bodyweight) and, two hours after administration, were exposed to either the separation event or car travel. Researchers found multiple measures of the dogs' stress improved following administration of CBD. Specifically, dogs treated with CBD were scored as significantly less "sad," had significantly lower cortisol levels, exhibited less whining and were in a more relaxed emotional state overall than dogs that received a placebo.”3
The researchers concluded that:
“The results obtained from this study suggest that a period of separation and car travel are stressful events for dogs, with travel in a vehicle eliciting a more pronounced stress response.
Further, a single dose of 4 mg/kg CBD 2 h prior to exposure to these events attenuates some indicators of acute canine stress, which is likely to improve canine emotional wellbeing. Additional research is required to better understand the effect of CBD at other dosages, formulations, and whether cumulative administration improves efficacy.”
Health Risks of Stress in Dogs
Both acute and chronic forms of stress can take a toll on your dog’s health. When the stress is prolonged, it’s associated with shortened lifespan and can also increase your dog’s susceptibility to infections. Wound healing is also slowed in response to stress, while stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease may be exacerbated.
Dogs living with the stress of fear and anxiety disorders may also have shortened lifespans, while stress from separation anxiety is linked to increased skin disorders. In fact, when Rodney Habib and I were working on our dog cancer documentary4, almost every expert we interviewed brought up the role of stress in canine disease, a topic that’s worthy of further study.
As in humans, however, it’s likely that stress affects individual dogs differently, with some being more sensitive than others. Dogs with bold personalities, for instance, have been found to stave off diseases better than shy dogs, even when coping with a highly stressful environment like an animal shelter.6 You can also play a role in how well your dog responds to and copes with stress by offering tools to help with calming.
Stress Relief for Dogs
If your dog is stressed or anxious, daily rigorous exercise is critical. This is a free, highly effective, and significantly overlooked therapy every dog owner should be using to prevent and treat stress and anxiety. Dedicated playtime, daily mental stimulation (I like nose work the best), and focused affection may be the antidotes that will prove most beneficial for your canine family member.
If your dog responds well to pressure applied to her body, you can also try investing in a wrap like the Thundershirt or Ttouch, a massage technique that can help anxious pets. Sniffaris (allowing your dog to smell spots she finds on her walks to her heart’s content) have also been associated with reduced stress hormones.
Calming music can also be soothing for some dogs, as can the simple act of leaving an article of clothing with your scent on it with your dog when you leave him home alone. During times of acute stress, homeopathic and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) remedies, Rescue Remedy or other specific flower remedies may be helpful. I’ve also found some nutraceuticals helpful, including Bacopa, GABA, ashwagandha, and l-theanine.
The Role of Mood Supporting Probiotics in Calming the Canine Brain
It’s important to recognize CBD does not operate in isolation. The canine brain and gut are deeply connected through the gut-brain axis, which means the microbiome can influence emotional resilience, stress tolerance, and behavioral reactivity. One probiotic strain receiving increasing attention in veterinary research is LP815™, a GABA-producing Lactobacillus strain. GABA is a key inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps the brain settle, regulate excitability, and maintain emotional balance.
Early studies on LP815™ have shown that this strain can elevate GABA production within the gut, which in turn may support calmer behavior, improved stress responses, and more stable mood in dogs.5 When the gut produces more GABA, it signals the nervous system to shift away from a heightened fight or flight state. Dogs taking LP815™ in preliminary trials showed improvements in restlessness, sound sensitivity, and tension during predictable stress events such as veterinary visits or environmental changes.
A five-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the novel GABA-producing probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP815™ demonstrated meaningful improvements in canine emotional regulation, particularly anxiety and aggression. Dogs receiving LP815™ showed significantly better C-BARQ scores for aggression and general anxiety, faster settling after owner departure, more consistent sleep–wake rhythms, and improved daytime wakefulness without sedation. Objective FitBark activity data confirmed calmer behavioral patterns rather than lethargy, including reduced post-departure pacing and smoother sleep onset. Across more than 1120 administered doses, no adverse effects were reported, underscoring a strong safety profile and positioning LP815™ as a promising, non-pharmaceutical gut–brain axis therapy for dogs struggling with fear, anxiety, and reactive behaviors6. Because this probiotic works through microbiome modulation rather than direct sedation, its effects tend to feel gentle and supportive rather than suppressive.
A Growing Framework for Future Integrative Care
This growing research offers valuable insight for understanding how these natural substances can work synergistically to balance physical and emotional stress for your canine companion.
Future research may also investigate how CBD interacts with microbiome-targeted therapies, including GABA-producing probiotics like LP815. The most important approach when exploring CBD is a thoughtful, integrative plan guided by a veterinarian who understands the potential benefits.
When combined with high-quality, fresh food, microbiome support, and environmental enrichment, CBD may become a valuable tool for helping dogs feel more comfortable, secure, and emotionally balanced as they age.
