Science, shared openly
Scientific research at Formula Swiss
A closer look at our research collaborations and the published evidence. Start with the animal research library, or explore our wider scientific work below.
Our Bologna research, from project to publication
Follow the documented research programme and open the university record or original paper at each step.
- 2017–2018
Earlier canine research
The university records an Innovet-funded canine project in 2017–2018. Its published work provides background for the dog studies in this library.
Read the original publication - 2019–2021
Formula Swiss funds a university project
Professor Roberto Chiocchetti’s university record names Formula Swiss as funder of the 2019–2021 project on receptors in feline and equine digestive tissues and equine sensory ganglia.
Read the university project record - 2020
Feline digestive research published
The feline paper maps cannabinoid and related receptors in digestive tissues, contributing anatomical evidence for future research.
Read the original publication - 2020 / 2021
Equine sensory research acknowledges our grant
First published online in June 2020, this paper examined sensory tissue from six horses and explicitly acknowledged funding from Formula Swiss. It appeared in the journal’s 2021 volume.
Read the original publication - 2021
Equine intestinal research published
The horse ileum paper extends the university team’s receptor mapping to intestinal tissue. These publications investigate biology and do not test the effectiveness of the oils sold here.
Read the original publication
Published CBD and cannabinoid research for animals
What the research tells us
The Bologna studies map cannabinoid receptors in animal tissues. They explain the biology, rather than test the effectiveness of the oils sold here.
Other teams have studied CBD absorption, tolerability and selected clinical outcomes. Results depend on the species, preparation and study design.
A laboratory report answers a different question: what was measured in the tested sample. Open the report for the product you are considering.
Animal research at the University of Bologna
Our collaboration with Professor Roberto Chiocchetti and his team supports a deeper understanding of the endocannabinoid system. These studies map receptors in animal tissues: an important foundation for further research.
Formula Swiss support is documented for the 2019–2021 cat and horse research project. The earlier canine studies shown here were funded by Innovet and form part of the same university team’s wider work.
Read the university project recordReceptor mapping explains where cannabinoids may act. It does not establish that a CBD product treats a condition, or determine a suitable dose.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the feline digestive tract
Tissue study
Formula Swiss funding acknowledged in this publication
Researchers mapped cannabinoid and related receptors in feline digestive tissues.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Anatomical evidence; no CBD product treatment, effectiveness or dosage was tested.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the mouths of healthy cats and cats with gingivostomatitis
Tissue study
Formula Swiss funding acknowledged in this publication
Found cannabinoid and related receptors in the lining of the mouth, with markedly higher levels in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis, a painful inflammation of the mouth.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Tissue samples from 16 cats; no CBD product treatment, effectiveness or dosage was tested.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the canine digestive tract
Tissue study
Researchers investigated the distribution of cannabinoid receptors in canine digestive tissues.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Receptor mapping does not establish clinical outcomes.
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Cannabinoid receptors in canine sensory nervous tissue
Tissue study
Researchers mapped cannabinoid and related receptors in canine cervical dorsal root ganglia.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
This is biological background, not a clinical pain-relief trial.
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Cannabinoid receptors in horses' sensory nerve cells
Tissue study
Formula Swiss funding acknowledged in this publication
Mapped cannabinoid and related receptors in sensory nerve cells from the necks of six horses: the cells that carry touch and pain signals.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study of tissue from six horses. It shows where cannabinoids may act, not whether CBD relieves pain.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the horse's small intestine
Tissue study
Found cannabinoid and related receptors in the lining, immune cells, nerve cells and muscle of the last part of the small intestine in six horses.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Tissue from six healthy horses. It provides a basis for research on gut conditions such as colic, but no treatment was tested.
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CBD-related receptors in horses' sensory nerve cells
Tissue study
Formula Swiss funding acknowledged in this publication
Found four receptors thought to respond to CBD in many sensory nerve cells, and in the cells that support them, in six horses.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study of tissue from six horses; first published online in 2021, journal issue 2022. No CBD product was tested.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the main sensory nerve of the horse's face
Tissue study
Formula Swiss funding acknowledged in this publication
Found cannabinoid and related receptors in most nerve cells of the trigeminal ganglion, which carries sensation from the face, in ganglia from five horses.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory tissue study. It supports further research into facial nerve disorders, but no treatment was tested.
Explore all relevant publications
Further published animal research
Explore studies from other research teams, including positive, mixed and null results. The preparations and conditions studied vary; these publications are not clinical trials of the Formula Swiss products offered here.
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CBD oil and osteoarthritis in dogs: Gamble and colleagues
Randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial
Reported improvements in pain and activity measures during treatment with the tested CBD-rich oil.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Small, short trial of one specific extract; liver enzyme increases were observed. The results do not verify Formula Swiss products.
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CBD alongside conventional treatment for canine epilepsy
Randomised blinded controlled trial
Reported a median 33% reduction in seizure frequency in the CBD group; the proportion achieving at least a 50% reduction was similar between groups.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Small analysed sample, and CBD was given alongside existing treatment. Some dogs were withdrawn because of unsteadiness (ataxia), and liver enzyme increases were reported.
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Daily cannabidiol for canine osteoarthritis pain
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Reported improvements in pain and mobility with selected CBD doses and formulations.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty dogs across treatment groups and four weeks of treatment; formulation and dose affected outcomes.
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A placebo-controlled pilot study of CBD for canine osteoarthritis
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial
Found no differences between CBD and placebo in the recorded outcome measures.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty-three dogs completed the trial. Liver enzyme increases and vomiting were reported.
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Single-dose CBD during separation and car travel in dogs
Blinded placebo-controlled parallel study
Some behavioural and physiological stress measures improved with CBD compared with placebo.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Effects differed between measures and tests. A single dose in an experimental setting does not show that CBD treats anxiety disorders.
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Escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy dogs
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled safety study
Compared CBD-predominant, THC-predominant and combined oils. CBD-predominant oil caused fewer serious adverse effects than the THC-containing comparators.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Small groups of healthy Beagles; formulation-specific tolerability, not a general dosing recommendation.
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Full-spectrum cannabis extract for pain in dogs with osteoarthritis
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
The primary pain measure did not show a statistically significant reduction compared with placebo.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Seventeen dogs and a full-spectrum extract containing THC and other cannabinoids; findings cannot be transferred directly to a different CBD formulation.
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CBD added to a multimodal analgesic regimen for canine osteoarthritis
Randomised controlled adjunctive-treatment study
Reported improvements in owner-rated pain measures when CBD was added to a conventional treatment protocol.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty-one dogs; concurrent medicines and subjective ratings limit attribution to CBD alone.
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CBD-rich hemp: absorption and preliminary safety in dogs and cats
Pharmacokinetic and preliminary safety study
Investigated a CBD-rich hemp preparation in healthy dogs and cats, providing species-specific absorption and tolerability information.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Small healthy-animal study; not evidence of effectiveness for a disease. Do not assume equivalent responses across species.
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CBD with and without NSAIDs in dogs with mobility problems
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study
Compared with placebo, owner questionnaires and blinded veterinary assessments showed some improvement while dogs received CBD.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Gait analysis and activity monitoring did not improve compared with placebo. Increases in a liver enzyme (ALP) were greater when CBD was given with NSAID painkillers.
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CBD- and CBDA-rich hemp extract for pain after cruciate ligament surgery in dogs
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled trial
Pain scores, lameness and weight-bearing did not differ from placebo during the four weeks after surgery.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Forty-one dogs completed the study alongside standard post-operative care. A liver enzyme (ALP) rose in the treated group.
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CBD added to antiseizure drugs in dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial
At 9 mg/kg a day, dogs had fewer seizures and 24% fewer seizure days than on placebo. A lower dose of 5 mg/kg a day was stopped early because it was unlikely to show a benefit.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
The number of dogs whose seizures fell by at least half did not differ from placebo. Liver enzymes rose, and reduced appetite and vomiting were more common with CBD.
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CBD- and CBDA-rich hemp extract for refractory epilepsy in dogs
Randomised placebo-controlled crossover study
Seizures fell from an average of 8.0 during placebo to 5.0 during treatment, and 6 of 14 dogs had at least 50% fewer seizures, compared with none on placebo.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Fourteen dogs, with the extract given alongside existing antiseizure drugs. Some dogs were sleepy or unsteady, and a mild rise in a liver enzyme (ALP) was seen.
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Daily THC-free CBD and stress during repeated car travel in dogs
Blinded placebo-controlled parallel study
Over six months, dogs given CBD had lower cortisol, less whining and lip licking, and calmer behaviour ratings than the placebo group at one or more time points.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Nineteen dogs; the effect differed between measures and time points.
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CBD treats, alone or with L-tryptophan and α-casozepine, during car travel in dogs
Blinded placebo-controlled crossover study
CBD alone at 2 or 4 mg/kg had no significant effect; only the blend with L-tryptophan and α-casozepine reduced the rise in cortisol.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Fifty-four dogs, each given a single dose before a short car journey. Blood CBD levels varied widely between dogs.
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CBD and CBDA oil for dogs with atopic dermatitis
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Owners rated itching lower in the treated group than in the placebo group after two and four weeks.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Skin lesion scores did not improve. Thirty-two dogs over four weeks, with existing treatments continued; a liver enzyme (ALP) rose in 4 of 17 treated dogs.
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Six months of daily THC-free CBD in healthy dogs
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled safety study
Daily CBD at 4 mg/kg for six months was well tolerated, with no adverse effects on health or wellbeing compared with placebo.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Healthy dogs only. A liver enzyme (ALP) rose temporarily in just over half of the CBD group, partly from bone. Not a dosing recommendation.
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Ninety days of CBD, CBD with CBG, or CBD with CBDA in healthy dogs
Randomised controlled repeat-dose safety study
Healthy Beagles given 5 mg/kg of cannabinoids a day for 90 days tolerated all three hemp extracts well.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Thirty-two healthy Beagles in a study that was not blinded; good tolerability in healthy dogs does not show effectiveness.
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CBD and phenobarbital given together to healthy dogs
Randomised pharmacokinetic interaction study
Giving CBD with the antiseizure drug phenobarbital did not significantly change blood levels of either substance.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Nine healthy Beagles, not dogs with epilepsy. During longer CBD dosing some dogs had mild digestive signs, and at higher doses some had low blood oxygen or raised liver enzymes (ALP).
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Escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled safety study
Compared the tolerability of CBD-predominant, THC-predominant and combined oils in healthy cats.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty cats across five groups; mild adverse events occurred. Findings depend on the tested oils and do not establish routine doses.
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Absorption of a CBD and CBDA hemp paste in cats over one week
Pharmacokinetic and short-term safety study
Cats absorbed the cannabinoids from the paste, and a week of twice-daily use caused no behavioural or neurological side effects or clinically relevant changes in blood tests.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Eight healthy cats for one week, with no placebo group. The paste's manufacturer funded the study.
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Escalating single doses of CBD in healthy cats
Pharmacokinetic and tolerability study
Single doses of up to 80 mg per kg of body weight were well tolerated; reactions were limited to head shaking, lip smacking and drooling just after dosing.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Eight research cats and single doses only; this does not show that repeated use is safe or indicate a dose to give.
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CBD absorption in cats with and without food
Randomised crossover pharmacokinetic study
Cats absorbed about eleven times more CBD when it was given after a meal than on an empty stomach.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Nine healthy cats given one dose of a purified CBD medicine; effects on health were not studied.
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Long-term daily cannabidiol feeding in healthy cats
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled feeding studies
Studied CBD absorption and monitored healthy cats during daily supplementation, including a 26-week trial.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
The studied THC-free distillate was generally well tolerated under the trial conditions; this does not establish disease benefits or safety for every cat.
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CBD alongside standard treatment for feline gingivostomatitis
Blinded placebo-controlled trial
Cats given CBD for 15 days, starting just before tooth extraction, improved significantly more on a disease activity score than cats given placebo. Pain scores also fell further, but that difference was not statistically significant.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty-two cats; CBD was one part of a treatment that included tooth extraction and pain relief, and the results apply to the tested CBD powder.
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CBD and CBDA hemp paste for cats with osteoarthritis pain
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial
Pain scores recorded by veterinarians and by owners fell significantly after six weeks of the paste, and blood chemistry did not differ from placebo.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Only 14 of 26 cats completed the study, mostly because they refused the paste, and some vomited. The paste's manufacturer funded the study.
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CBD before spaying surgery in cats
Randomised blinded placebo-controlled trial
None of the cats given CBD needed extra pain relief during the operation, compared with four of ten given placebo, and they were more sedated before surgery. Pain after surgery was largely similar.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty-two cats and one dose before surgery; all cats still needed morphine afterwards.
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CBD oil and anaesthetic requirements in cats
Before-and-after study without placebo
A single dose of CBD oil reduced the amount of inhaled anaesthetic cats needed by 11%. Heart and breathing rates were higher at the time of measurement.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Sixteen healthy cats, one dose given by stomach tube and no placebo group.
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A single dose of CBD oil and handling in healthy cats
Single-group study without placebo
Cats were mildly sedated and resisted handling less two to four hours after CBD, while pain sensitivity, heart rate and breathing did not change.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Nine healthy cats and a single, relatively high dose; without a placebo group, other influences cannot be ruled out.
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Cannabinoid receptors in inflamed horse joints
Tissue study
In joint lining samples from 25 fetlock joints, both main cannabinoid receptors were present and increased as joint inflammation became more severe.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Tissue-bank study from the University of Montreal. It identifies possible treatment targets, but no treatment was tested.
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Cannabinoid receptors in the lining of horse fetlock joints
Tissue study
Found cannabinoid and related receptors in the joint lining cells and blood vessels of 14 fetlock joints collected after slaughter.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study by the University of Bologna team, funded by NBF Lanes. No treatment was tested.
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CBD added to pain treatment for horses with osteoarthritis
Randomised controlled study
Twenty horses with mild osteoarthritis received an anti-inflammatory medicine for five days, and half also received CBD oil by mouth for 14 days. The CBD group had lower chronic pain scores.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
A small, short study in which both groups also received phenylbutazone. It does not show the effect of CBD on its own.
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CBDA, or CBG with CBD, for horses with chronic osteoarthritis
Comparative study without an untreated group
Twenty-four horses received either CBDA oil or an oil with CBG and CBD by mouth for 14 days. Pain scores fell in both groups, and no side effects were reported.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
There was no untreated comparison group, and both oils differed from CBD alone. The improvements cannot be attributed to CBD or to Formula Swiss products.
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Oral CBD and pain sensitivity in healthy horses
Randomised masked crossover study
Six horses received CBD oil or a placebo by mouth for three days. CBD raised the heat-sensitivity threshold at some time points but did not change sensitivity to pressure.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Six healthy horses and an experimental test, so it does not show relief of pain from disease. Heart rate and temperature did not change.
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CBD for crib-biting in one horse
Case report
Describes a 22-year-old mare with long-standing crib-biting and wind-sucking whose behaviour improved during four weeks of CBD.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
A single horse without a comparison group. A case report cannot show that CBD caused the change.
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Single doses of CBD paste and horse behaviour
Blinded controlled dose-escalation study
Horses received a CBD paste or a paste without CBD at three increasing doses. Sedation, facial expressions, heart rate and heart rate variability did not differ between the groups.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Three to six healthy horses per group, and no side effects were seen. This is part 1 of a linked research programme.
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Twice-daily CBD paste, horse behaviour and cortisol
Randomised double-blind controlled study
Twelve horses received CBD paste or a paste without CBD twice daily for 15 days. Behaviour, heart rate, cortisol and reactions to a new object and trailer loading did not differ between the groups.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twelve healthy horses. Linked to the single-dose study from the same programme, rather than an independent repeat.
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Cannabinoid receptors in a brain area linked to fear and stress
Tissue study
Found cannabinoid receptors in the lateral amygdala, a brain area involved in fear, stress and pain, in six horses.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study by the University of Bologna team, funded by NBF Lanes. It did not test whether CBD affects behaviour.
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CBD in manuka honey on leg wounds in horses
Preliminary experimental study
Wounds on the lower legs of six horses were treated daily with 1% CBD in manuka honey, honey alone or saline. Healing did not differ between the treatments.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Six horses with experimentally created wounds, and the CBD was in a honey carrier rather than an oil. The authors call for further research.
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Cannabinoid receptors in healthy horse skin
Tissue and cell study
Skin samples and skin cells from 15 healthy horses consistently contained both main cannabinoid receptors.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Describes normal skin only. It does not show that CBD applied to the skin has an effect.
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Cannabinoid receptors in healthy and laminitic hooves
Tissue study
Found cannabinoid receptors in the hoof's lamellar tissue, with higher levels in 12 hooves with laminitis than in six healthy hooves.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study by the University of Bologna team; the paper reports no funding. It suggests a research target, but no laminitis treatment was tested.
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Cannabinoid receptors in immune and connective tissue cells of the hoof
Tissue study
Located cannabinoid receptors in immune cells, connective tissue cells, blood vessels and nerve fibres of the hoof in healthy horses and horses with acute or chronic laminitis.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Laboratory study of 18 hoof samples by the University of Bologna team, funded by NBF Lanes. No treatment was tested.
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Daily CBD for 90 days in senior horses
Controlled study
Senior horses received CBD or soy oil by mouth daily for 90 days. CBD lowered some inflammation markers in the blood but did not change the response to vaccination or other health measures.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twenty-seven horses. Changes in blood markers do not show a clinical benefit.
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CBD oil and eye pressure in healthy horses
Before-and-after study without a placebo group
Eye pressure fell for eight hours after eight healthy horses received one dose of CBD oil by mouth.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Readings were compared with the same horses the day before, without a placebo. A later controlled study found no clinically relevant change.
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CBD and metabolism in Connemara ponies
Randomised controlled study
Thirteen ponies, seven with equine metabolic syndrome, received CBD or flaxseed oil twice daily for 21 days. CBD did not improve body condition or blood sugar, and insulin responses rose in the CBD group.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
A small study. The authors say the insulin finding may raise concerns for ponies and horses prone to metabolic syndrome.
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Daily CBD, eye pressure and tear production in horses
Randomised masked crossover study
Six healthy horses received CBD in sesame oil or a placebo by mouth for three days. Eye pressure and tear production showed no clinically relevant differences.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Six horses and three days of treatment. The results differ from an earlier study without a placebo group.
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Low single doses of CBD in exercising Thoroughbreds
Randomised crossover study
Thoroughbreds received three low single doses of CBD in sesame oil by mouth. CBD was well tolerated, with no behavioural, digestive or heart problems, and was still measurable in the blood after 72 hours.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
A small study with mixed effects on inflammation markers. The authors say more research is needed before CBD can be recommended as an anti-inflammatory.
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Seven daily doses of a CBD supplement for horses
Randomised crossover study
Seven horses received a CBD product made for horses at two daily amounts for seven days. Both were well tolerated, and low levels of THC were also measured in the blood.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Seven horses and one product that also delivered THC. It did not assess clinical effects.
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Six weeks of oral CBD: absorption, joint fluid and safety
Randomised controlled study
Twelve horses received CBD twice daily for six weeks, and CBD reached the joint fluid in eight of them. All horses had mildly low calcium and eight had raised liver enzymes, which improved or returned to normal within 10 days of stopping.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Twelve horses and one oil-based product. Absorption varied widely, and effective doses were not established.
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How much CBD senior horses absorb
Randomised crossover study
Eight senior horses received a single dose of CBD by mouth or by injection. About 8% of the oral dose reached the bloodstream, and no adverse effects were seen.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Single doses in eight horses. Low absorption does not establish an effective dose.
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Daily CBD pellets for 56 days in Thoroughbreds
Randomised masked controlled study
Twenty horses received pellets with or without 150 mg of CBD daily for 56 days. There was no sedation or unsteadiness, and blood tests did not change.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Healthy horses and one fixed daily amount. The study assessed safety, not benefits.
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CBD oil added to feed for mature horses
Randomised controlled study
Thirty geldings received a canola-based CBD oil or plain canola oil on their feed for 28 days. The oil was readily eaten, blood chemistry was unaffected and no banned substances were found in the blood.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Testing showed the product contained far less CBD than its manufacturer's initial analysis indicated, so the horses received much less CBD than planned.
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CBD in oil or water-soluble form: absorption in horses
Randomised crossover study
Eight horses received CBD by injection and by mouth, in sesame oil or a water-soluble form. About 14% of the oral dose was absorbed with either form, and no adverse reactions were seen.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Eight horses per trial. The suggested treatment schedules were computer simulations, not tested effects.
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Single doses of CBD- and CBDA-rich hemp oil in horses
Randomised crossover study
Eight horses received a commercial hemp oil rich in CBD and CBDA at two doses, or no treatment. There were no effects on behaviour, gait, digestion or blood chemistry.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Single doses only. CBDA reached much higher blood levels than CBD, and the product also contained other cannabinoids.
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Six weeks of CBD or CBDA oil: safety and absorption
Randomised crossover study
Seven horses received CBD-rich and CBDA-rich hemp oil twice daily for six weeks each. Blood tests and liver biopsies showed no clinically relevant changes, and CBDA reached higher blood levels than CBD.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Seven healthy horses and full-spectrum extracts. The study assessed safety and absorption, not benefits.
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CBD oil or paste, with or without a meal
Crossover study
Eight horses received one dose of CBD as an oil or a paste, fed or fasted. Absorption did not differ significantly, although the paste reached its peak level sooner.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Single doses in eight horses. The study measured absorption only.
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One dose of CBD oil in Connemara ponies
Single-dose absorption study
Ten ponies received one dose of CBD oil by mouth and tolerated it well. CBD was no longer detectable after 12 days, while a breakdown product remained measurable for 16 days.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
No comparison group. Heart rate was lower and some blood values changed after 24 hours.
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CBD compared with CBDA in horses
Randomised blinded crossover study
Eight horses received CBD, CBDA or a placebo by mouth. CBDA reached blood levels up to 67 times higher than CBD, and CBD was detectable in urine for up to seven days.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
One pilot horse and seven in the main study; it measured absorption, not effects. First published online in September 2025, journal issue 2026.
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How horses absorb and process CBG
Crossover study
Eight horses received cannabigerol (CBG) by injection and by mouth, in oil or water-soluble form. About 28% of the oral dose was absorbed, and no adverse effects were seen.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
The first study of CBG in horses. It measured absorption and breakdown, not effects.
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How long CBD stays in horses: data for doping control
Single and repeated-dose study
Measured CBD in blood and urine after single doses and after 15 days of twice-daily CBD paste. After repeated use, CBD left the body slowly, with a half-life of about 161 hours in serum.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Designed to help testing laboratories interpret results. It does not set official detection times.
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Hemp straw bedding, CBD oil and urine tests
Experimental study
Cannabinoids were found in the urine of horses bedded on hemp straw. The researchers advise against hemp straw bedding before competition unless at least 48 hours pass, and suggest that bedding exposure may be distinguishable from CBD oil use.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Detection depends on the laboratory method and on each organisation's rules.
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Contaminated feed and CBD detection in horses
Experimental study
Twelve horses ate feed containing small amounts of CBD or CBDA twice daily for three days. Both were detectable in the urine of all horses, but not after more than four days.
Read the original publicationStudy context and limitations
Not designed to set detection times, and routine doping laboratories may be more or less sensitive.
Understanding CBD research for animals
How do I choose between the animal formulas?
Start with the product labelled for your animal. The cat, dog and horse formulas have different cannabinoid profiles. Compare the ingredients and laboratory report, and follow the product label.
Where can I read the original research?
Every study below links directly to its original publication, DOI or PubMed record. Formula Swiss-supported Bologna research is distinguished from studies funded or conducted by other organisations.
Can I use an animal oil alongside medicines?
Discuss your animal's health, medicines and any proposed product use with a veterinarian. Research findings do not replace individual veterinary advice or the product's instructions.
Our wider research collaborations
At Formula Swiss, we are more than a producer of high-quality cannabis and hemp products. We also support scientific research into these plants and their applications.
We believe the future of the cannabis and hemp sector should be guided by evidence-based research. Since 2018, we have made it a priority to support and sponsor relevant studies.
Our commitment to research is practical and multi-faceted. We have provided funding and donated cannabis products to research studies worldwide.
We have supported hospitals and doctors in Denmark, Thailand, and Brazil by providing resources for independent cannabinoid research.
A special collaboration with the University of Bologna
Our dedication to expanding knowledge about cannabis and its applications also extends into the veterinary field. We have built a close research collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna in Italy.
Together with Professor Roberto Chiocchetti and his team of expert researchers, we are exploring cannabidiol (CBD) in animals. The objective is to broaden scientific understanding and use this knowledge to continually improve our CBD pet products.
Our collaboration has included studies involving dogs, cats, and horses. These investigations provide useful insights for product development and for those interested in cannabinoid research for animals.
Read more: Research on cats, dogs, and horses.
How we support research
We support relevant research projects through practical contributions that help researchers and institutions carry out their work.
Funding support
We may provide financial support for selected research projects aligned with our focus areas.
Product donations
We have donated cannabis and hemp products for use in approved research settings.
Research collaboration
We collaborate with researchers, doctors, hospitals, and academic institutions where projects are relevant and properly documented.
All research support is considered carefully and must align with responsible standards, applicable rules, and documented scientific objectives.
Join us in supporting cannabis research
Are you a researcher, academic institution, or industry professional interested in cannabis and hemp research? Do you have a research project that aligns with our mission? We would like to hear from you.
At Formula Swiss, we are open to new partnerships and collaborations that can help advance scientific understanding of cannabis and hemp. We offer various forms of support, from funding to product donations and potential collaboration with our experienced team.
Contact us to discuss how we may be able to support your research project.
Contact us