Comparative plasma exposure and fecal excretion of oral cannabidiol in fasted and fed dogs: pilot study.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa L. that is attracting interest in veterinary medicine. Given its low oral bioavailability, this study aimed to investigate the effects of fasting and feeding on the oral pharmacokinetics of CBD and to estimate fecal excretion under both conditions. Five healthy mongrel dogs (weight 20.0 ± 1.4 kg) participated in a controlled crossover pilot study. After an 18-hour fasting period, each dog received 10 mg/kg CBD (Kanbis®, Elea, Argentina) orally. The fed group received CBD with commercial dry dog food, while the fasted group was fed six hours after CBD administration. Blood samples were collected before and at several time points up to 32 h after treatment, while fecal samples were analyzed for CBD concentrations after 16–32 h. CBD concentrations were measured using an RP-HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters analysis showed significant (p < 0.01) increase in plasma exposure Cmax (643%), and AUC0−∞ (1003%) in fed dogs. Additionally, a tendency toward higher mean CBD concentrations in fecal samples was noted in fasted animals (approximately 13-fold higher). These results suggest that the administration of CBD with food may serve as a strategy to enhance the oral bioavailability of CBD. However, a fasting strategy may be considered a viable option when high concentrations of CBD in the gastrointestinal tract are required.