Preliminary Findings on Low-Dose 1cp-LSD for Canine Anxiety: Exploring the Role of Owner Neuroticism and Psychopathology.
Elisa Hernández-Álvarez, Jaime Rojas-Hernández, Lucas F Borkel, Domingo J Quintana-Hernández, Tobías Fernández-Borkel, Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández
Veterinary sciences September 9, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12090872 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Dogs exhibiting anxiety-related behaviors (seven meeting clinical criteria plus one owner-perceived anxious dog), with their owners |
| Intervention | 1cp-LSD |
| Dose | 2.5, 5, or 10 µg orally every three days |
| Duration | 30-day treatment, with assessment one month after treatment cessation |
| Measures | IPIP, SA-45 |
| Topics | Anxiety LSD |
| Keywords | Animal behavior Dogs Animal welfare Neuroticism Psychedelics Human–animal bond 1cp-LSD |
| Key findings | Separation anxiety scores dropped significantly after low-dose 1cp-LSD treatment (mean 11.3 ± 3.0), with higher doses associated with greater reduction, and anxiety stayed low one month later. Higher owner psychoticism was associated with smaller improvements in canine anxiety. The authors suggest low-dose serotonergic psychedelics may help manage canine anxiety and that caregiver psychological traits relate to outcomes, but caution the small sample size requires blinded, controlled confirmation. |
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of low-dose 1cp-LSD, a prodrug of LSD, on canine anxiety, while exploring the influence of owner psychopathology on treatment outcomes. Seven dogs exhibiting anxiety-related behaviors were recruited and received 2.5, 5, or 10 µg of 1cp-LSD orally every three days for 30 days. One additional dog, which did not meet clinical criteria for anxiety but whose owner perceived it as anxious, received a placebo (saccharin) as an observational case. Anxiety levels were assessed using validated scales at baseline, post-treatment, and one month after treatment cessation. Owners' neuroticism and psychopathological dimensions were evaluated using the IPIP and SA-45 scales. Linear regression analyses examined associations between anxiety reduction, administered dose, and owner psychological traits. A significant reduction in separation anxiety scores was observed post-treatment (mean: 11.3 ± 3.0, p = 0.023). Higher 1cp-LSD doses correlated with greater anxiety reduction (B = -1.15, 95% CI = [-2.29, -0.003], p = 0.050). Additionally, higher owner psychoticism scores were associated with smaller improvements in canine anxiety (p = 0.035). Anxiety levels remained low one month after treatment, with significant associations between canine anxiety and the owners' hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and paranoid ideation. These findings support the potential role of low-dose serotonergic psychedelics in managing canine anxiety and suggest an association between caregiver psychological traits and treatment outcomes. The sustained reduction in anxiety behaviors also suggests a meaningful and lasting improvement in animal welfare. However, significant results should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size. Further blinded, controlled studies are needed to validate these preliminary observations and assess broader applications in veterinary behavioral medicine.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on LSD for anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persistent Palinopsia Following Ingestion of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Patients who developed persistent palinopsia after LSD ingestion | 1996 | Case series | n = 3 |
| LSD-Like Panic From Risperidone in Post-LSD Visual Disorder Patients with hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) | 1996 | Case study | n = 3 |
| Treatment of a Complex Personality Disorder Using Repeated Doses of LSD—A Case Report on Significant Improvements in the Absence of Acute Drug Effects A 39-year-old female patient with severe, treatment-resistant depression and complex... | 2020 | Case study | n = 1 |
| LSD Overdoses: Three Case Reports Three individuals who experienced accidental LSD overdose | 2020 | Case series | n = 3 |
| BEHAVIOR THERAPY TO EXTINGUISH SPONTANEOUS RECURRENCES OF LSD EFFECTS A client experiencing spontaneous recurrences of LSD effects | 1973 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psychedelics as Novel Therapeutics for Chronic Pain in Veterinary Medicine: A Hypothesis-Driven Protocol Using Low-Dose 1-Cyclopropionyl-D-lysergic Acid Diethylamide (1cp-LSD) in Canine Osteoarthritis. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI December 19, 2025
- Evaluation of 1cp-LSD for Enhancing Welfare in Shelter Dogs: A Randomized Blind Trial with Ethological Intervention. Veterinary sciences January 19, 2026
- Understanding treatment expectations toward emerging therapies in veterinary medicine: the role of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward psychedelic-assisted interventions Frontiers in Veterinary Science July 28, 2026
Cites 15
- Crystal structure of an LSD-bound human serotonin receptor Cell January 26, 2017
- Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 2, 2022
- The neural basis of psychedelic action. Nature Neuroscience October 24, 2022
- Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology October 21, 2022
- Psychedelics: Alternative and Potential Therapeutic Options for Treating Mood and Anxiety Disorders Molecules April 13, 2022
and 10 more in the library