Science & Health
CBD Holds Potential As An ‘Anticancer Agent’ For Dogs, New Scientific Review Concludes
Studies “consistently show” that the non-intoxicating marijuana component CBD is a potential “anticancer agent across different cancer types”—and that effect applies to dogs as well as humans, according to a new systemic review of the scientific literature.
Numerous studies have investigated how cannabis and its constituents may impact the symptoms and progression of cancer. The new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science examined that preclinical research, which generally indicates that CBD may “inhibit cell proliferation and migration, while inducing apoptosis in various human tumor cells.”
How cannabidiol affects canines has been less rigorously studied compared to humans. That’s despite the fact that the cannabinoid “has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in dogs, supporting its potential clinical use,” the authors, who are affiliated with the University of Chile, said.
They wrote that since 2015, “some studies have been conducted evaluating CBD in different types of canine cancer,” but “no comprehensive review of these findings has been performed.”
“For this reason, we conducted a systematic review to compile the existing evidence on the anticancer effects of CBD in dogs,” they said, adding that their analysis determined that preclinical studies, largely based on cellular models, often focus on “lymphoma, mammary cancer, glioma, prostate cancer, osteosarcoma, and urothelial carcinoma.”
“These studies consistently show that CBD exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects, in some cases by modulating intracellular signaling pathways,” the review said. “Additionally, some studies have evaluated the combination of CBD with other drugs, reporting both synergistic and antagonistic effects.”
“Overall, these findings highlight the potential of CBD as an anticancer agent across different cancer types. However, further studies are required to better elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of CBD and to standardize concentrations and formulations, enabling reliable, comparable results and the development of clinical studies evaluating the role of CBD in canine oncology.”
The study review builds upon a sizable body of research on the therapeutic potential of cannabis in cancer treatment.
For example, another recent scientific review found that CBD “holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent” in addition to its other anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. They also noted it can help suppressing the growth and metastasis of other cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian and prostate, among others.
In 2025, a paper published in the journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics, assessed a range of clinical and preclinical findings that the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced by medical marijuana.
In a sign of greater acceptance of medical applications of cannabis, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next White House drug czar has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t object to legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.
Also last year, a study found that “patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.”
With respect to canine research, a case study in the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science published last year 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.
the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) promoted a study in 2024 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.
