Cardiovascular effects of oral administration of Cannabis oil in dogs
Cardiology, hemodynamics, echocardiography, phytocannabinoid.
The use of Cannabis-derived oils for therapeutic purposes has been increasing in recent years, both in human medicine and veterinary medicine. The endocannabinoid system is distributed throughout the body, and its receptors, CB1 and CB2, can be activated by endogenous and exogenous molecules. THC and CBD present in Cannabis, as well as other compounds, act synergistically by activating these and other receptors, producing a cumulative effect. The use of marijuana for therapy in veterinary medicine has already been described for several conditions, such as osteoarthritis, epilepsy, pain, cancer, among others. The indications and effects of Cannabis on the cardiovascular system remain unclear, with few reports studying its effects in rats, humans, and other species. In dogs, studies aimed at evaluating the cardiovascular system are scarce, mostly conducted with anesthetized dogs, which makes interpretation difficult due to the known cardiovascular effects of drugs. The present project will use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design to determine the changes induced by the use of CBD-rich oil at doses of 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg, given as a single dose. Assessments will be carried out before, one and a half hours after, and six hours after the administration of the oil. The evaluations will include a physical examination, systolic blood pressure measurement, electrocardiogram, and Doppler echocardiogram.