Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Systemic Cannabidiol in Uveitis Following Phacoemulsification in Dogs: A Pilot Study

Objective: Cannabidiol (CBD) is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect.The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the antiinflammatory effect of CBD on diabetic dogs undergoing phacoemulsification.The hypothesis was that dogs treated with CBD would have less short-term and long-term complications from uveitis due to CBDs anti-inflammatory effect.Methods: This is a pilot study, including dogs with diabetic cataracts.CBD-group = treated with oral CBD 10mg/kg; MCT-group (control) = treated with oral medium-chain-triglyceride oil 0.1ml/kg.Both groups were treated PO BID for 28 days starting 7 days presurgery (Day-1) until 21-days post-surgery (Day-28).A physical examination and complete-blood-count and chemistry panel were performed on Day-1, Day-7 (day of surgery), Day-14, and Day-28.Parameters evaluated for uveitis post-surgery; short-term (flare, post-operative intraocular hypertension [POH]), long-term (glaucoma), as well as visual status (visual versus blind).The follow-up period was 12 months.Results: CBD-group = 4 dogs (8 eyes), MCT-group = 3 dogs (6 eyes).No uveitis parameters were found to be different between the groups.One eye in each group developed glaucoma; the eye in the CBD-group was blind at the final follow up whereas the eye in the MCT-group was treated for glaucoma and was still visual.A statistically significant difference in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was found over time for the CBD-group (p < 0.001) but not for the MCT-group (p = 0.317). Conclusion:Oral CBD did not influence short-term or long-term parameters from uveitis following phacoemulsification in diabetic dogs.ALP was significantly elevated in the CBD-group.This liver enzyme should be monitored in any dogs treated with systemic CBD.