Kratom Use In Dogs?

Hello Summarians!

That headline felt odd even as I was writing it. Then I started discussing with colleagues how we thought about any CBD product 10 years ago … Hmm… Thought-provoking —Yes.

Impossible? Who knows. I think it pays to keep an open mind about any therapy as long as we are sure it doesn’t harm the patient.

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Air Quality And Dogs

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a regulated air pollutant under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which aim to protect public and environmental health. Although these regulations have reduced industrial and vehicular emissions, wildfire smoke—now a major PM2.5 source—is exempt, leading to stagnating or worsening air quality across the US. Wildfire-related PM2.5 can travel long distances and is projected to increase with climate change. PM2.5 exposure causes serious health effects in humans, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and adverse birth outcomes, contributing to millions of deaths annually. 

Despite extensive human data, little research exists on how air pollution affects companion animals. As wildfire smoke becomes more frequent, veterinarians are increasingly called on to explain these risks to pet owners. This study examined dog owners’ awareness of air quality issues, information sources, and willingness to protect their pets during poor air quality. Most respondents from the western US expressed concern about air pollution and high emotional attachment to their dogs, a strong predictor of protective behavior. Veterinarians were identified as trusted messengers, yet air quality discussions remain rare in clinical settings. Integrating air pollution awareness into preventive care can benefit both animal and human health. 

Findings showed that only a minority of owners regularly checked the Air Quality Index (AQI), though many relied on visible or sensory cues like smoke or haze. Since most people check weather forecasts daily—which often include AQI—veterinarians can easily encourage routine air quality monitoring. Education should focus on high-risk dogs, including the elderly, very young, brachycephalic, or those with respiratory or cardiac disease. Owners of active or brachycephalic dogs were less likely to adopt protective actions, despite their higher vulnerability. Adapting AQI guidance for dogs could help owners recognize when to limit outdoor activity. 

Veterinary teams can integrate air quality education into routine interactions through waiting-room materials, discharge sheets, on-hold messages, or displaying local AQI readings. Adding AQI awareness questions to intake forms can prompt brief yet impactful discussions. Clinics can also participate in low-cost air quality monitoring networks to visibly share current conditions with clients. 

The study’s limitations include a sample restricted to western US dog owners, potential self-selection bias, and simplified measures of dog health and life stage. Future research should include broader geographic regions, more detailed health data, and socioeconomic considerations. Long-term studies could identify animal health outcomes related to pollution exposure and refine risk communication. Addressing equity in access to protective resources is also critical, as vulnerable populations face greater barriers. The strong bond between people and pets can be leveraged to promote health-protective behaviors, but strategies should also reach less-engaged caregivers. 

Ultimately, expanding veterinary communication about air quality and environmental health is essential as wildfire smoke and other pollution events become more common. By integrating this topic into preventive care, veterinarians can help protect both animals and the people who care for them. 

Scott, D., Anderson, A. A., Abrams, K. M., Long, M., Ford, B., Magzamen, S., & Duncan, C. G. (2025). Dog owners are concerned about ambient air quality and require veterinary guidance. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.02.0124 

Bottom line — Something to keep in mind next summer.

Kratom Use In Dogs

Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a Southeast Asian plant whose alkaloids, particularly mitragynine, interact with opioid and nonopioid receptors and exhibit partial μ-opioid agonism with G-protein–biased signaling, potentially explaining analgesic effects with fewer adverse reactions than conventional opioids. Kratom’s alkaloids also interact with serotonin and adrenergic receptors, which may contribute to mood elevation and attenuation of opioid-induced respiratory depression. 

Research on kratom pharmacokinetics in dogs is limited, with only two prior studies evaluating isolated mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in Beagles. In both, mitragynine was well tolerated, with only mild, transient sedation or histamine-related hypersensitivity observed. The current study evaluated oral pharmacokinetics and safety of a single oral dose of an encapsulated kratom extract in fed and fasted healthy Beagles, hypothesizing that fasting would increase absorption and bioavailability. 

Encapsulated kratom delivering 0.55–0.68 mg/kg of mitragynine was well tolerated in all dogs. Plasma concentrations peaked faster and bioavailability was higher in fasted dogs than in fed ones, supporting the hypothesis. Bioavailability in fasted Beagles (~65%) was similar to that reported for a purified mitragynine liquid formulation (69.6%), suggesting that the presence of other kratom alkaloids in the extract did not alter mitragynine absorption. In contrast, previous rat studies using kratom tea fractions showed higher bioavailability than purified mitragynine, underscoring species-specific differences. 

In the fed group, mitragynine and its metabolites exhibited biphasic plasma profiles, likely due to variable gastrointestinal absorption and possible opioid-induced delayed gastric emptying. Gastric pH and dissolution differences between dogs and humans may also contribute. 

Study limitations included the exclusive use of intact female dogs, whose estrous cycles could affect metabolism, and species-specific hepatic enzyme differences influencing mitragynine metabolism. Minor laboratory abnormalities were attributed to sample hemolysis rather than treatment effects. 

Overall, encapsulated kratom extract administered to fasted Beagles resulted in faster absorption, greater bioavailability, and no adverse effects, indicating that dosing on an empty stomach enhances pharmacologic potential. Administration with food led to more variable pharmacokinetics. The study establishes foundational pharmacokinetic data for encapsulated kratom in dogs and supports future research into its analgesic efficacy and therapeutic potential. 

Ortiz, A., Maxwell, E. A., Kuntz, M., Gour, A., Portela, D. A., Miscioscia, E., Bertran, J., Grewal, M., McCurdy, C. R., & Sharma, A. (2025). Fasting improves the oral bioavailability of mitragynine in healthy female Beagles. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.07.0235 

Bottom line — Potentially useful in dogs, but more research is needed.

Vets Trusted Information Source?

Scientific communication about animal research extends beyond presenting facts—it requires understanding how audiences interpret information and building trust through ethical, transparent messaging. The rise of misinformation and disinformation has made this more difficult, as both can distort public understanding of humane research practices and weaken trust in science. 

The 2023 national survey conducted by the National Academies’ Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (now the Board on Animal Health Science, Conservation, and Research) explored how Americans perceive animal research and the credibility of different information sources. The survey, involving over 2,000 respondents, revealed that attitudes toward animal research are shaped by gender, education, political ideology, values, and knowledge level. Support for animal research increased when humane treatment and scientific goals were clearly explained, demonstrating that trust and transparency play major roles in shaping acceptance. Only 44% of respondents found laboratory animal use acceptable, but this rose to 67% for wildlife-based research. When assured of humane care, 79% supported animal-benefiting studies and 71% supported human-benefiting ones. 

Veterinarians and scientists were identified as the most trusted sources of information, far exceeding pharmaceutical companies, elected officials, or social media. This indicates veterinarians’ unique position as credible messengers capable of addressing public concerns and clarifying ethical practices. Although most respondents believed laboratory animals receive adequate care, many still expressed concern about confinement and pain. Similarly, perceptions of regulation were divided, with roughly one-third viewing oversight as adequate and another third seeing it as insufficient, suggesting a need for clearer public education about ethical review systems and regulatory safeguards. 

Demographic patterns showed that men and those with higher education were more supportive of animal research. Knowledge also strongly influenced acceptance: individuals reporting greater understanding were more likely to view animal research favorably, implying that opposition often stems from limited awareness. Species attitudes varied, with rodents and fish generally viewed as more acceptable research subjects than dogs or cats, reflecting emotional and cultural associations with companion animals. 

The public expressed cautious optimism toward new approach methods, recognizing the value of reducing animal use but acknowledging that full replacement is not yet feasible. Messaging analysis showed that pro-research arguments focusing on mutual human–animal benefits, improved health, and scientific necessity were most persuasive, while antiresearch arguments emphasizing animal sentience and alternatives also resonated. Exposure to balanced, well-framed information measurably shifted attitudes during the survey, demonstrating that public opinion is fluid and sensitive to message framing. 

The findings underscore the importance of communication strategies that emphasize empathy, transparency, and ethical grounding. Effective outreach should be audience specific, use trusted professionals such as veterinarians and scientists, and focus on humane care, oversight, and shared benefits. Education and communication training for veterinarians and other professionals can enhance their ability to engage meaningfully with the public about the ethical and scientific dimensions of animal research. 

Although the survey had limitations—being online, English-only, and of short duration—it provides a valuable national baseline for understanding public perceptions and highlights areas for future research, including broader demographic sampling, multilingual access, and longitudinal tracking. Ultimately, the results affirm that public trust in science depends on open, credible, and ethically informed communication that acknowledges both the scientific necessity and the moral responsibility inherent in animal research. 

Thompson-Iritani, S. A., Gopee, N. V., Newsome, J. T., Bear, T., Skinner, B., & Preisig, P. A. (2025). A national survey on public opinions about research involving animals: veterinarians are the most trusted source. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0190 

Bottom line — This trust needs to be used wisely.

Just putting things in perspective …