Microdosing LSD Can Help Treat Separation Anxiety In Dogs, New Case Study Suggests

A new case study in the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science suggests that very small doses of the psychedelic LSD appeared to ease a dog’s severe separation anxiety, reducing destructive behavior and shortening the duration of vocalizations.

Authors of the report said the results “suggest potential therapeutic efficacy of microdosing 1cp-LSD in managing canine anxiety,” though they acknowledged that future research is needed to validate the findings. They point out that anxiety is “prevalent in dogs, affecting an estimated one-fifth of the canine population.”

The subject of the new study was a 13-year-old female dog of mixed breed, whom researchers had previously administered a single microdose of 1cP-LSD—a semi-synthetic analogue of LSD with very similar psychoactive effects—”to observe the effects of the drug in the canine species, as no literature existed on this matter,” the paper says.

Results of the earlier experiment indicated the drug was “safe and effectively reduced anxiety in the animal,” authors wrote.

The current study evaluated the dog’s separation anxiety and how it changed over the course of a monthlong LSD treatment regimen. Using a points-based scale, researchers said the dog’s “anxiety score significantly decreased from 29 (severe) to 14 (moderate) after treatment.”

“A reduction in anxiety levels was observed, characterized by decreased destructive behaviour and shorter durations of vocalization,” authors wrote. “This improvement was sustained 1 month following treatment, although vocalization frequency increased.”

Treatment consisted of administering 5 micrograms of 1cP-LSD—or about 0.38 nanograms per kilogram of body weight—orally to the dog every three days, which amounted to 10 total doses over the course of the month. “The substance was administered by disguising it in a piece of ham and delivered orally to the animal at breakfast time,” the report says.

“Since no pharmacokinetic studies of LSD have been conducted in dogs,” authors explained, “the selected dose was extrapolated from human data, acknowledging potential interspecies differences in substance metabolism and effect.”

They added that no adverse effects were recorded over the course of treatment.

Authors—from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Asociación Científica Psicodélica, in the Canary Islands—acknowledged that the study’s “key limitation” was its lack of a placebo-controlled, blinded design. The team nevertheless implemented “methodological precautions” meant to reduce bias, they said, such as assessing anxiety through “validated behavioural scales” and evaluating both the owner’s subjective observations as well as “objective indicators, such as vocalization duration and destructive behaviours.”

They also noted that the use of psychedelics in non-human animals could raise questions about informed consent and “the ability of animals to comprehend the nature and purpose of the study.”

“While this study aimed to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of these substances, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential impact on animal welfare,” they wrote. “The long-term effects of repeated psychedelic administration in animals are unknown, and further research is needed to assess potential adverse effects.”

Results of the new pilot study were nevertheless promising, the report concludes.

“The administration of 5 µg of 1cp-LSD once every 3 days over a 30-day period was associated with a reduction in severe anxiety to a moderate level in a female dog, with the effect persisting for 1 month posttreatment,” it says, adding, however, that “Given the exploratory nature of this single-case study, these findings should be interpreted with caution.”

While the team’s focus on LSD is novel in a variety of ways, there’s been growing interest within the scientific community about potential treatment alternatives for pets and other animals, including with cannabis.

For example, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a study last year that it said shows CBD is “safe for long-term use” in dogs—a significant finding given emerging research that cannabis can effectively treat conditions such as anxiety and certain skin diseases among canines.

Another 2024 case study found that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease, especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.

A separate study late last year, meanwhile, found that giving dogs a dose of CBD could help counteract the ill effects of accidental THC consumption.

Authors of that report said reducing the cost of treating THC toxicosis is especially important given that cases of accidental marijuana exposure have been increasing in recent years and that the inability to afford emergency services is “a leading barrier to accessing veterinary care in both the United States and Canada.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sought input from veterinarians and the broader public about the use of cannabis-derived products—in particular CBD—in animals. The agency wanted to know more about usage trends, potential drug interactions, quality standards and other issues related to the veterinary use of cannabinoids.

The input is meant to help inform the Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM) “knowledge of potential safety signals associated with these products, in addition to aiding our understanding of veterinarians’ experiences related to the use of CDPs [cannabis-derived products] for their animal patients,” the FDA filing said.

“FDA has made the regulation of the CBD market a priority, including products marketed for animals,” it added. “While there is some limited published information about use of CDPs in animals, significant data gaps exist surrounding many aspects of CBD and other CDPs in animals.”

Among other relevant research, a study published in early 2023 found that dogs that receive daily doses of CBD see “significant reductions” in stress and anxiety related to car travel.

Other studies have demonstrated benefits of CBD such as reduced frequency of seizures among dogs who receive the cannabinoid, while a study published in 2018 found that CBD treatment appeared to improve canine arthritis.

Last August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that cows that are fed hempseed cake retain very low concentrations of THC and CBD in their bodies, indicating that meat products from hemp-fed cattle are safe for human consumption.

Another federally funded study published in 2022 found that feeding cows hemp reduces their stress. Researchers have also looked into how CBD affects stress and pain in horses.

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