Psychedelics have shown great potential in easing mental health conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress. A recent study revealed that a single dose could ease anxiety for months in adults. But what about dogs?
Researchers in Spain sought to find out. In a peer-reviewed paper published in Veterinary Sciences, the team revealed microdoses of acid may be effective in easing canine anxiety. Seven dogs received low doses of varying sizes, while one received a placebo.
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The team found that the dogs given the highest LSD dose had greater reductions in anxiety, particularly separation anxiety. The drug was well-tolerated by the animals, and the positive effects lasted well beyond the treatment period.
While the study was extremely small, it showed LSD may have potential beyond human use. No conflicts of interest were reported. However, there were some noted limitations.
The researchers relied on the animal’s owners to report their pet’s behavior. It’s hard to say how accurate these reports were, since these owners may not have had expertise in animal behavior or may have projected their own emotional state on the animal. Also, environments were not controlled, so other factors besides LSD may have influenced the dogs’ emotions. The study also had an extremely small sample size and was not blinded.
Despite the limitations, the team described the research as pioneering and said that the results are promising. While the study is indeed groundbreaking, it isn’t the first to test LSD on pups.
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A case study published in 2024 highlighted the case of a 13-year-old dog with severe separation anxiety who was given a small dose of LSD. The canine was reported to have reduced symptoms two hours after treatment began.
Another study suggested LSD may improve the social behavior of dogs with impairments similar to autism in humans. The pups were more engaged with humans after taking a microdose. Brain scans also revealed the drug promoted “interbrain synchronization,” or synchronized brain activity, between the dogs and their human counterparts. This phenomenon is when two beings have similar brain activity, boosting feelings of empathy and connectivity.
Research on dogs and acid is very preliminary. LSD is also a Schedule I substance. Experts caution that no one should attempt to give LSD to their pets outside of clinical research. However, the early findings suggest there may be a world in the future where certain four-legged friends may receive a metered dose from time to time to improve their well-being. Further research will be needed to know for sure.
