ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.

Sec. Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1599934

Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD) and its two main phase I metabolites in Connemara ponies

Provisionally accepted
Kata WermerKata Wermer1,2*Orsolya Korbacska-KutasiOrsolya Korbacska-Kutasi3*Róbert BerkeczRóbert Berkecz4,5Dezső CsuporDezső Csupor6,7Nóra ÁghNóra Ágh8,9Anita Sztojkov-IvanovAnita Sztojkov-Ivanov10Dániel CserhalmiDániel Cserhalmi2
  • 1University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  • 2Department of Botany, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  • 3Department of Animal Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  • 4Institute of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
  • 5Department of Forensic Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre, Szeged, Hungary
  • 6Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
  • 7Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary
  • 8HUN-REN–PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
  • 9Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
  • 10Institute of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

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Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown potential therapeutic benefits in veterinary medicine, but further investigations are needed to establish its pharmacokinetics and therapeutic dosing in horses and ponies. The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of CBD in Connemara ponies following oral administration of CBD oil. Ten healthy ponies received a single oral dose of CBD oil at 2 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected before dosing and up to 16 days post-administration, with physical examinations conducted at baseline and at 8, 12, and 24 hours post-dose. Additional blood samples were taken at baseline and 24 hours for hematological and biochemical analyses. Targeted UHPLC-MS/HRMS measurements quantified CBD and its metabolites, 7-hydroxy-CBD (7-OH-CBD) and 7-carboxy-CBD (7-COOH-CBD). The CBD oil was well-tolerated, with no side effects.A significant decrease in heart rate was observed after 24 hours. Changes in hematological and biochemical markers included elevated urea, slight increases in chloride, Gammaglutamyl transferase, Total bilirubin, Lactate dehydrogenase, and a minor reduction in WBC count. CBD was detectable in 4 ponies on day 7, but none on day 12. The 7-COOH-CBD metabolite remained detectable up to day 16 in all subjects. The pharmacokinetic parameters for CBD were Cmax = 31.472 ± 8.080 ng/mL, tmax = 2.111 ± 0.928 hours, t1/2 = 12.563 ± 3.054 hours, and Vz/F = 198.757 ± 49.123 L/kg. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of CBD observed in the present study are consistent with previous research in warmblood horses and provide a foundation for future studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and long-term safety of CBD in ponies.

Keywords: Cannabidiol, horse, Equine, CBD metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and cannabinoid

Received: 25 Mar 2025; Accepted: 16 Jun 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Wermer, Korbacska-Kutasi, Berkecz, Csupor, Ágh, Sztojkov-Ivanov and Cserhalmi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Kata Wermer, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Orsolya Korbacska-Kutasi, Department of Animal Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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