# Evaluation of 1cp-LSD for Enhancing Welfare in Shelter Dogs: A Randomized Blind Trial with Ethological Intervention

## TL;DR

This study tested combining low-dose 1cp-LSD with behavior therapy to improve the well-being of shelter dogs, finding lasting benefits in calmness and sociability.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel combination of low-dose psychedelics and ethological intervention to enhance shelter dog welfare.

## Key findings

- Combined treatment improved calmness, sociability, and positive emotional responses in shelter dogs.
- Benefits from the combined treatment lasted for three weeks after treatment ended.
- The combined approach outperformed single interventions or control groups in behavioral assessments.

## Abstract

Dogs living in animal shelters are often exposed to chronic stress, which can negatively affect their emotional well-being and reduce their chances of adoption. While behavioral interventions are commonly used to improve welfare in these settings, their effects are often limited in duration. In this study, we explored whether combining a structured ethological intervention with low, non-hallucinogenic doses of 1cp-LSD, a legal LSD analog compound, could produce more sustained improvements in shelter dogs. Twenty dogs were assigned to receive behavioral intervention, pharmacological treatment, both combined, or no intervention. Dogs receiving the combined approach showed greater improvements in calmness, sociability, and positive emotional responses compared to single interventions or controls. Importantly, these benefits persisted several weeks after the treatment ended. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that integrating low-dose psychedelic pharmacology with behavioral support may represent a promising new strategy to enhance welfare in shelter dogs. Further research is needed to confirm safety, understand mechanisms, and determine how such approaches could be ethically applied in veterinary practice.

Shelter environments frequently expose dogs to chronic stress and anxiety, which can compromise their welfare and reduce their chances of adoption. Recent interest in psychedelic-assisted approaches has suggested potential therapeutic applications in veterinary behavioral medicine, although empirical evidence remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of low-dose 1-cyclopropionyl lysergic acid diethylamide (1cp-LSD), a legal lysergamide prodrug of LSD in several countries, and ethological intervention (EI) on the behavior and welfare of shelter dogs. Twenty dogs were randomly assigned to four groups: pharmacological intervention, ethological intervention, combined treatment, or control. The ethological sessions were conducted by veterinary behaviorists, and pharmacological treatment consisted of 10 µg of 1cp-LSD administered orally for three weeks. Blinded evaluators assessed animals using validated anxiety and welfare scales, including a treatment expectation scale, before, during and after the intervention. Results showed that the combined condition consistently outperformed single interventions, significantly enhancing sociability, calmness, and positive emotional reactivity. Importantly, these improvements persisted for three weeks following treatment cessation, indicating sustained benefits beyond the active intervention phase. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the potential of integrating low doses of psychedelics with behavioral therapy in shelter settings. Future studies with larger cohorts and refined pharmacokinetic data are required to confirm safety, elucidate mechanisms, and optimize protocols for clinical application in veterinary practice.