Veterinary case
Cannabis oil rescues a horse from chronic pain
⚠️ This information is provided for awareness only and does not replace an examination by a veterinarian.
🤖 Summary produced automatically from the scientific publication cited at the bottom of the page.
A rescued horse, exhausted and eaten away by an incurable wound, found a near-normal life again thanks to cannabis oil.
What happened?
This elderly horse was rescued severely emaciated, with a large open, infected wound on the left hind leg. He could not bear weight on that leg nor lie down or rise normally, and was in severe pain. Conventional treatments failed, and euthanasia was considered before a last treatment was attempted.
What did the vet find?
The veterinarian found a huge chronic wound with dead tissue, pus, and excessive overgrown healing tissue, likely involving tendons and bone. The horse could not use the leg at all (maximum lameness score). Tests revealed a fibrous skin tumor (fibroblastic sarcoid), a complete rupture of a supporting tendon, and early bone infection. The horse was also biting the wound due to severe itching.
What did the vet do?
ℹ️ Treatment given to THIS animal, decided by its veterinarian. It is not a prescription: never apply it without veterinary advice.
After conventional treatments failed (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, morphine, repeated wound cleaning), the veterinarian started a long-term treatment with THC-rich and CBD-rich cannabis oil, given orally and applied directly on the wound morning and evening for 10 months. The dose was increased very gradually to avoid side effects, with extra painkillers given only when needed.
What happened next?
The horse regained his appetite, gained weight, and recovered much of his mobility, even managing to trot a little. The wound improved markedly and he stopped biting himself. After several months, the bone infection eventually progressed and pain became uncontrollable again, leading to compassionate euthanasia after 10 months of treatment.
Advice for the farmer
For a rescued horse in poor condition, a wound that won't heal and becomes infected should be examined quickly by a veterinarian, as bone complications or tumors may be developing silently.
Source
- Source
- PubMed Central
- Title
- Case Report: Oral and topical chronic administration of THC-rich and CBD-rich cannabis oil as palliative care in a rescued horse with open wound, sarcoid and chronic pain.
- Authors
- Zamith Cunha R, Kuhn EH, Medeiros JLL, Medeiros GC, Amazonas E.
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3389/fvets.2026.1794084
- Licence
- CC BY
