CBD for Seizures in Dogs & Cats

CBD for seizures: What the research says

The idea of treating seizures with CBD was first popularized in 2013 by a CNN documentary about a young girl with severe seizures who was successfully treated with CBD. Since then, there’s been an explosion of interest and scientific research on CBD and other cannabinoids to help manage the frequency, severity, and length of seizures in animals.

That growing body of research led to a major milestone in 2018, when the FDA approved the first CBD product for the treatment of severe forms of epilepsy in children. Unfortunately, this medication is currently too expensive for use in dogs.

In veterinary medicine, research is still in the early stages. So far, only two studies have evaluated the efficacy of two different CBD products for managing seizure activity in dogs. Both studies were optimistic but not curative.

Can I Replace My Pet’s Seizure Medication with CBD?

While there have been encouraging results in early studies, Remedy doesn’t yet have enough information to comfortably use CBD on its own for seizures. In general, Remedy recommends CBD as an enhancement to your pet’s seizure medication, not a replacement.

Because seizure medications need careful adjustments, it’s not safe to alter your pet’s seizure medications unless done under the guidance of a doctor. If you’d like to discuss your pet’s seizure medications, please reach out to Remedy’s Neurology team via the chatbot below to schedule an appointment. Remedy will work closely with the Neurology team to find the right treatment plan for your pet.

CBD & Drug Interactions

Because CBD can change how some medications affect your pet, Remedy recommends reviewing your pet’s full medication list before starting it. Here are some common interactions to know about:

  • Benzodiazepines (oral and nasal or rectal): Remedy commonly sees potentiating effects even with products labeled 0% THC. Pets may appear extremely lethargic or show signs similar to THC intoxication. While the idea of a pet being “high” may seem funny to some people, the reality is it’s stressful and potentially dangerous for animals.

  • Gabapentin, acepromazine, tramadol, phenobarbital, trazodone (and other behavior medications): Some pets may develop lethargy, decreased appetite, or abnormal behaviors. In severe cases, pets may urinate. For the small percentage of pets who experience these signs, dose de-escalating or dose escalating over time is usually warranted.

  • Phenobarbital drug levels: Theoretically, CBD may induce changes in drug levels of medications like phenobarbital. However, studies so far haven’t found this to be true in dogs taking CBD and phenobarbital together.

CBD Side Effects & Monitoring

Studies and Remedy’s clinical experience have found CBD to be safe and well-tolerated in dogs and cats. Some pets may have side effects like sedation or gastrointestinal upset.

Sedation is especially common if products also contain THC, since dogs are very sensitive to this compound. Gastrointestinal upset is usually transient.

Pets taking CBD may also have elevations in liver enzymes. This hasn’t yet been associated with significant liver problems, but Remedy recommends routine monitoring of liver enzymes for any pet taking CBD for more than three months. Remedy will let you know how often to recheck labs.