USE OF CANNABIDIOL PRODUCTS BY PET OWNERS IN SLOVENIA: A SURVEY-BASED STUDY

The aim of the present study was to obtain information about the experiences of Slovenian pet owners on the use of cannabidiol (CBD) products in their pets. An open online survey targeted Slovenian owners of cats and dogs who have used CBD to treat their pets. Questions pertained to demographic data, animal data, health status of the animals, CBD formulations and experiences with use. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were performed using the survey software. A total of 41 respondents participated in the survey, most of whom were female (87.8 %) and between 31 and 50 years old (56.1 %). Most respondents (90.2 %) were dog owners. Cannabidiol (CBD)-based products were mainly used to treat orthopedic and oncologic conditions, as adjunctive therapy to other medications. Oil formulations were used by most dog (85.2 %) and all cat owners. Participants predominantly re-ported positive effects, such as improved well-being, increased activity, and reduced pain. The results suggest that Slovenian pet owners who used CBD-based products as a treatment for their pets were overall satisfied with the effects of these products. However, there were still reports of some adverse effects, such as drowsiness, increased appetite, and thirst. Further research is essential to improve practices related to cannabis-based medicines for pets, especially CBD, and to put an end to the trial- and error- based therapeutic approach of pet owners and veterinarians. Long-term, large-scale research studies are needed to clarify the role of CBD as a treatment option for osteoarthritis, chronic pain, cancer, behavioral problems, and other chronic inflammatory conditions in dogs and cats. Key words: cannabis; cannabidiol; cats; dogs; survey UPORABA KANABIDIOLA PRI LASTNIKIH HIŠNIH LJUBLJENČKOV V SLOVENIJI – ANKETNA ŠTUDIJA Izvleček: Namen raziskave je bil pridobiti informacije o izkušnjah slovenskih lastnikov psov in mačk z uporabo izdelkov s kanabidiolom (CBD) pri svojih živalih. Raziskavo smo izvedli na podlagi anonimne spletne ankete, ki je bila namenjena slovenskim lastnikom psov in mačk, ki so uporabljali CBD za zdravljenje svojih živali. Vprašanja so se nanašala na demografske podatke, podatke o živalih, njihovem zdravstvenem stanju, vrste pripravkov s CBD-jem in izkušnjah z uporabo. Za opisno statistiko in frekvenčno porazdelitev smo uporabili programsko opremo za anketiranje. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 41 anketirancev, med katerimi je bilo največ žensk (87,8%) in starih med 31 in 50 let (56,1%). Večina anketirancev (90,2%) je bila lastnikov psov. Izdelki na osnovi CBD-ja so se večinoma uporabljali za zdravljenje ortopedskih in onkoloških obolenj kot dopolnilno zdravljenje. Največ lastnikov psov (85,2%) in vsi lastniki mačk so uporabljali oljne pripravke. Sodelujoči so večinoma poročali o pozitivnih učinkih, kot so boljše počutje, povečanje aktivnosti in zmanjšanje bolečine. Rezultati kažejo, da so slovenski lastniki psov in mačk, ki uporabljajo izdelke na osnovi CBD-ja za zdravljenje svojih živali, na splošno zadovoljni z učinki teh proizvodov. Poročali so tudi o nekaterih neželenih učinkih, kot so zaspanost, povečan apetit in žeja. Nadaljnje raziskave so bistvenega pomena za izboljšanje praks uporabe zdravil na osnovi konoplje za pse in mačke, zlasti CBD, in za odpravo terapevtskega pristopa lastnikov in veterinarjev, ki temelji na poskusih in napakah. Dolgoročne in obširne raziskave so potrebne za jasno opredelitev vloge CBD-ja pri zdravljenju kroničnih bolečin, raka, vedenjskih težav, osteoartritisa in drugih kroničnih vnetnih stanj pri psih in mačkah. Ključne besede: konoplja; kanabidiol; mačke; psi; anketa