If you’ve ever loved an animal, then you know that watching a pet suffer is really, really hard. So it’s no wonder that CBD, with its calming, anti-inflammatory effects, has made its way into pet products.
But a badly formulated product could lead to real problems for your dog. And with so much to choose from, how do you cut through all the garbage (or just mediocrity) to find a high-quality product?
We’re here to help. For starters, we’ll give you some tips on what to look for in a good CBD pet product. But we’ve also done a lot of the work for you. We’ve done extensive research (which includes lab testing) and narrowed it down to some of the top CBD oil for dogs on the market.
Keep reading for the results!
Editor’s Choice Awards
Before we get into the full reviews, the CBD Hacker team selected a few standout products to highlight. Check out these office faves, or just skip to the full ranking to get in-depth info on even more CBD treats and CBD oil for dogs!
Best CBD Oil for Dogs: All-Around Highest Score
Joy Organics
Joy Organics is dedicated to providing the best CBD products with a top-notch customer experience. And their pet products don’t disappoint — both their tincture and treats earned the highest scores in our tests.
Save 15% with code: cbdhacker.
Best CBD Oil for Dogs: Best Value
Pure Hemp Botanicals
Pure Hemp Botanicals offers high quality pet tinctures in a variety of potencies. And if that wasn’t enough, they do all of that at a price that’s very hard to beat.
Shop Now
Save 15% with code: cbdhack15
Best Selection of CBD Products for Dogs
cbdMD
If you like to be able to customize your pet’s CBD products, cbdMD is the place to go. They offer a wide range of pet products in a variety of formulations.
Shop Now
Save 15% with code: 15CBDH
Table of Contents
We’ve got a lot of information for you, but we also want to make it really easy to jump right to the parts that most interest you. So if you don’t want to scroll through the whole ranking, just take a moment to peruse our table of contents, and let that take you where you want to go!
- Best CBD oil for dogs
- Best CBD treats for dogs
- Methodology
- Value comparison
- Cannabinoid potency
- What is CBD?
- Can CBD help your dog?
- Safety concerns and side effects
- Is CBD legal?
- How to choose CBD treats or CBD oil for dogs
Best CBD Tinctures for Dogs
Joy Organics: Premium Hemp Tincture, Pet Formula
Ingredients: Organic extra-virgin olive oil, phytocannabinoid-rich hemp extract.
Testing Notes: Very light, clear, olive-green liquid. Light olive oil flavor.
Joy Organics is a family business based in Colorado. The company places a premium on customer care and transparency, with responsive customer service and lab reports for every product. They’ve only been in business for just over a year, but already they’ve made their mark on the industry.
Their Premium Hemp Tincture for Pets is made with their THC-free phytocannabinoid-rich hemp extract carried in olive oil. There are two concentrations to choose from, and their money-back guarantee makes this a low-risk proposition.
Advantages:
- Reasonably priced
- Extensive third-party testing
- Solid return policy
Disadvantages:
- Only one potency option
Shop Joy Organics
Save 15% with code: cbdhacker
Pure Hemp Botanicals: Pet CBD Tincture
Ingredients: Organic hemp seed oil, hemp extract.
Testing Notes:Flavorless, clear, colorless liquid.
Pure Hemp Botanicals is an established Colorado CBD brand. The company’s mantra of “compassion in action” translates into high quality, sustainably sourced hemp products delivered at accessible price points.
Pure Hemp Botanicals offers three full-spectrum (or “whole plant”) options for pets of various sizes. The company tests every batch of product — and these drops are flavorless, so your pet won’t mind taking her medicine.
Advantages:
- Established company
- Multiple potencies
- Great value
Disadvantages:
- Slower website
Shop Pure Hemp Botanicals
Save 15% with code: cbdhack15
Charlotte’s Web: Full Spectrum Hemp Extract for Dogs
Ingredients: Hemp extract, MCT (fractionated coconut).
Testing Notes: Clear, olive-green liquid. Strong hemp flavor, but not bitter.
Charlotte’s Web may be the CBD company with the best brand recognition in the industry, and their products generally are as good as they claim. They’ve set a high bar for the industry, both in terms of quality and transparency.
Charlotte’s Web offers full spectrum hemp extract for dogs in two flavors. The unflavored MCT option tastes like hemp, but the chicken flavor might make the medicine go down a bit more easily. There is only one potency option, but you can choose between two bottle sizes.
Advantages:
- Trusted brand
- Seed to sale oversight of product
- Flavor and bottle size options
Disadvantages:
- Had to email company for lab tests
Shop Charlotte’s Web
Save 15% with code: cbdhacker
Ambary Gardens: Pet Formulated Full Spectrum CBD Extract
Ingredients: Full spectrum hemp extract, MCT coconut oil.
Testing Notes: Clear, pale yellow liquid. Hempy flavor but not bitter.
Ambary Gardens was among the first CBD businesses in the industry following the 2014 Farm Bill. They grow their own hemp in Golden, Colorado and take care to use both organic and sustainable practices.
Ambary Gardens partnered with Andersons Natural Pets to create their CBD for dogs and cats. This is a full spectrum blend and it comes in four different potencies, so you can easily customize the dose for your pet.
Advantages:
- Established company
- Good value
- Four potencies
Disadvantages:
- Strict return policy
- Shipping is a bit pricey
Shop Ambary Gardens
Regular Price $40.00 – $280.00
4 Corners Cannabis: Pet Tincture
Ingredients: MCT oil (liquid coconut oil), animal-grade hemp extract.
Testing Notes: Dark amber liquid with a clean hemp taste.
4 Corners Cannabis is a bit of a fixture on our rankings. This pioneering CBD company consistently creates high quality and rigorously tested products. They grow their own hemp and oversee all steps of manufacture from seed to sale.
4 Corners’ Pet Tincture is a full spectrum product but contains no added limonene — a terpene that can be toxic for dogs. It does, however, include other beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes, and you can see third-party lab reports on the website.
Advantages:
- Three potencies
- Free shipping
- Seed to sale oversight
Disadvantages:
- No flavor options
Shop 4 Corners Cannabis
Save 20% with code: hacker20
Populum: Zen Pets Hemp Oil
Ingredients: Hemp extract (full spectrum), grapeseed oil, hemp seed oil, coconut oil.
Testing Notes: Clear, pale yellow liquid with a very light hemp flavor.
Populum has a few years under their belt in the CBD business, and they’ve established themselves as a high-end CBD brand. Their products do tend to be a bit pricier than others, but they also offer a pretty solid return policy and free shipping.
Populum’s Zen Pets Calming Hemp Oil is exclusively formulated for pets using simple ingredients. It comes in two low potencies and your product will come with a copy of the lab report in the box. (If you’d like to see one before you purchase, customer service is happy to oblige.)
Advantages:
- Free shipping
- Returns for first purchase
- Light flavor
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- No higher potencies
Shop Populum
Save 15% with code: hacker15
LolaHemp: Organic Hemp Oil
Ingredients: Organic hemp oil, fractionated coconut oil.
Testing Notes: Clear, light yellow liquid with a strong hemp flavor.
LolaHemp is a pet CBD brand located in Scarsdale, New York. They source their hemp from Red Wagon Farms, a USDA-certified organic farm in Colorado, and after a few years they’ve accrued a solid base of happy customers, both animal and human.
LolaHemp’s CBD oil for dogs is full spectrum and comes in only one potency, though you can choose from three bottle sizes. And you can feel good about your purchase — for every four bottles sold, LolaHemp donates one to a rescue dog in need.
Advantages:
- USDA certified organic hemp
- Pet-focused brand
- Solid return policy
Disadvantages:
- Only one potency
- No flavor options
Shop LolaHemp
Regular Price $39.99 – $89.99
Pet Releaf: Hemp Oil 1700
Ingredients: Organic full spectrum hemp extract including naturally occurring CBD, organic coconut oil (MCT).
Testing Notes: Clear amber liquid with a hempy (but not bitter) taste.
Based in Littleton, Colorado, Pet Releaf is (obviously) a CBD brand that caters exclusively to animals. Their hemp is grown at a joint-venture farm that is the largest USDA-certified organic hemp grower in the United States.
Pet Releaf offers CBD oil for pets in multiple potencies. This is a full spectrum extract, but Pet Releaf uses a proprietary hemp strain, called PR-33, which is known for containing only trace amounts of THC, making it an ideal option for pet formulas.
Advantages:
- Low THC hemp strain
- Pet focused brand
- Three potencies
Disadvantages:
- A bit pricey
Shop Pet Releaf
Regular Price $24.99 – $96.99
Palmetto Harmony: Palmetto Paws
Ingredients: Organic hemp (flower), organic MCT oil (coconut), saw palmetto berry powder.
Testing Notes: Clear, olive green liquid with a nutty hemp flavor.
Palmetto Harmony is an established CBD brand that is based in South Carolina. They’ve long been known for their consistently high quality, full spectrum CBD oil and have recently acquired the USDA organic seal, a rare feat for a CBD company.
Palmetto Paws is a full spectrum (“whole plant”) extract infused into fractionated coconut oil, and it contains a broad terpene profile. It comes in one moderate potency of 20 milligrams of CBD per milliliter and only one flavor.
Advantages:
- USDA certified organic hemp
- Trusted brand
- Responsive customer service
Disadvantages:
- One potency
- Strict return policy
Shop Palmetto Harmony
Regular Price $79.99
cbdMD: Canine CBD Oil
Ingredients: Cannabidiol (CBD), MCT oil (from coconut oil).
Testing Notes:Clear, colorless liquid with no flavor.
cbdMD is a North Carolina-based CBD company that has quickly become known for their wide range of reasonably priced products for humans and animals. They source their organic hemp from Colorado and use clean, CO2 extraction methods.
cbdMD has recently established a whole line of CBD products for pets. Their CBD oil comes in five(!) potencies, which will make dosing easy for the smallest to the largest pets. They also come in two flavor options (peanut or unflavored), and all their products are THC-free.
Advantages:
- Good value
- Solid customer service
- Multiple product options
Disadvantages:
- Testing practices are unclear
Shop cbdMD
Save 15% with code: 15CBDH
NuLeaf Naturals: Pet CBD Oil
Ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp oil, full spectrum hemp extract.
Testing Notes:Olive green liquid, with a strong hemp flavor (not too bitter).
NuLeaf Naturals is a Colorado-based CBD company that’s been in the CBD industry from its very beginnings. They source locally grown, organic hemp for their hemp oil, and they use clean CO2 extraction technology.
The company likes to keep things simple, so you’ll find that they offer their premium quality, full spectrum hemp oil in only one potency, but several bottle sizes. Their customer service is very responsive, but returns are only accepted for new, unopened bottles.
Advantages:
- Trusted company
- Seed to sale oversight
- Great customer service
Disadvantages:
- Strict return policy
- No potency options
Shop NuLeaf Naturals
Save 20% with code: cbdhacker
CBDistillery: CBD Pet Tincture
Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, full spectrum hemp extract (aerial parts).
Testing Notes: Clear, colorless liquid with no flavor.
CBDistillery is an established, Colorado-based CBD company that offers a bit of everything CBD related. They source locally grown, organic hemp for their wide array of CBD products and utilize CO2 extraction.
CBDistillery’s full spectrum CBD Pet Tincture was formulated with cold-pressed hemp seed oil, designed to work with your pet’s natural systems and aid in easy digestion. It comes in two potencies, and it’s flavorless so your pet will hardly notice it.
Advantages:
- Established company
- Good value
- Two potencies
Disadvantages:
- Uneven customer service
Shop CBDistillery
Save 10% with code: cbdhacker
Spruce: Dog CBD Oil
Ingredients: Organic coconut MCT oil, hemp-derived CBD.
Testing Notes: Clear, amber colored liquid with mild hemp flavor.
Spruce is a North Carolina-based newcomer to the CBD industry. Instead of trying to do everything, they’ve decided to focus on providing high quality, high potency formulations for those who need a little more CBD.
Spruce’s full spectrum CBD oil for dogs contains a decently potent 750 milligrams of CBD per ounce. For their pet tincture they swapped out the hemp seed oil carrier that they use in human products. Instead, this formula includes coconut oil to make it more palatable and easier for dogs to digest.
Advantages:
- Generous return policy for first purchase
- Responsive customer service
- Moderate pricing
Disadvantages:
- No potency options
Shop Spruce
Regular Price $89.00
Onyx + Rose: Paws a Moment
Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, MCT oil, bacon flavoring, phytocannabinoid rich hemp oil.
Testing Notes:Pale, clear yellow liquid. Lightly bacon flavored.
Onxy+Rose is a Kentucky-based CBD business. They source their organic hemp from Oregon and Colorado and use CO2 technology to extract their CBD. They are still fairly new to the industry, but they’re making their mark already with a 90-day return policy.
For pets, the company offers a veterinarian-formulated CBD tincture called Paws A Moment CBD Pet Oil. With 250 milligrams of CBD blended with hemp seed oil and MCT oil in a two-ounce bottle, this is a lower-potency option.
Advantages:
- Broad spectrum hemp extract
- 90-day return policy
- Responsive customer service
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than most
- Low potency
Shop Onyx + Rose
Regular price $39.60 – $44.00
Hempure: CBD Pet Drops
Ingredients: Phytocannabinoid rich hemp extract, MCT oil (fractionated coconut oil).
Testing Notes: Clear yellow liquid with light hemp flavor.
Colorado-based Hempure launched its business in 2018, and they were determined to set the bar high for CBD quality. They offer a wide array of broad spectrum products, all derived from non-GMO, organic hemp.
Hempure’s Pet Drops come in a single potency of 250 milligrams of CBD per ounce. This is a broad spectrum blend, so the naturally occurring THC has been reduced to below detectable levels.
One drawback to purchasing from Hempure is that their testing procedures for this tincture are unclear. The link to their online COA was broken, and customer service only sent us an undated, condensed COA.
Advantages:
- Free shipping over $25
- Positive reviews on website
- Plentiful product information on website
Disadvantages:
- Strict return policy
- One potency option
- Link to pet tincture COA broken
Shop Hempure
Regular Price $39.99
Best CBD Dog Treats and Chews
Joy Organics: Premium Hemp Dog Chews, Beef Flavored
Ingredients: Water soluble hemp extract powder, water, dried brewer’s yeast, glycerin, gum arabic, sodium alginate, beef liver powder, natural bacon flavor, flaxseed oil, microcrystalline cellulose, organic sweet potato powder, sunflower lecithin (non-GMO) citrus pectin, vitamin E, sodium propionate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, natural mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), dextrin (corn derived).
Testing Notes: Dark brown, soft, cylindrical chews.
Joy Organics is a Colorado-based CBD business that provides a diverse and rigorously tested selection of CBD products. They have stellar customer service and a 30-day money back guarantee.
Joy Organics’ CBD Dog Treats are THC-free, veterinarian formulated, and uniformly sized (this is something we looked closely at, since it shows the company is paying attention to accurate dosing). They use water-soluble hemp powder for increased absorption, as well as natural bacon flavor for a dog-approved chew.
Advantages:
- Free shipping
- Great customer service
- Uniformly sized treats
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Low potency
Shop Joy Organics
Save 15% with code: cbdhacker
Charlotte’s Web: Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract-Infused Chews, Cognition
Ingredients: Brewer’s dried yeast, chicken liver hydrolysate, coconut glycerin, MCT oil, natural flavor, natural tocopherols, potato flour, potato starch, salt, sunflower lecithin, sunflower seed oil, water. Includes: elderberry powder, DHA, EPA, Vitamin E, broad spectrum hemp extract.
Testing Notes: Dark brown, soft, cylindrical chews.
If you’ve heard of CBD, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about Charlotte’s Web. They achieved national recognition when they were featured in a 2013 CNN documentary, and they strive to keep their reputation untarnished through solid customer service and transparent manufacturing practices.
We tested Charlotte’s Web’s Cognition Chews for Dogs, which are specially formulated to help sharpen dogs’ mental function. They also have chews in a Hip and Joint blend as well as a Calming blend which support dogs’ health with natural ingredients.
Advantages:
- Established brand
- Several product options
- Uniformly sized
Disadvantages:
- A bit pricey
- One potency
Shop Charlotte’s Web
Save 15% with code: cbdhacker
cbdMD: Paws CBD Soft Chews
Ingredients: Cannabidiol (CBD). Other ingredients: coconut glycerin, flaxseed, MCT oil (from coconut), mixed tocopherols, natural bacon flavor, natural chicken flavor, oat flour, palm fruit oil, powdered cellulose (coating only), rice bran, rice flour, rosemary extract, sorbic acid (as preservative), sunflower lecithin.
Testing Notes: Small, soft, light brown, round chews.
North Carolina-based cbdMD is garnering a name for providing high quality CBD products for humans and animals — without breaking the bank.
Part of cbdMD’s new line of CBD products for pets, Paw CBD Soft Chews comes in three potencies as well as three different formulations (Original, Hip & Joint, and Calming) and flavors. They are accessibly priced and come with a 30-day return policy so you can try them out on your pet.
Advantages:
- Multiple product options
- Good value
- Free shipping
Disadvantages:
- No post formulation COAs
Shop cbdMD
Save 15% with code: 15CBDH
Sabaidee: Chill Chews
Ingredients: Phytocannabinoid rich hemp oil. Water, dried brewer’s yeast, glycerin, gum arabic, sodium alginate, beef liver powder, natural bacon flavor, flaxseed oil, microcrystalline cellulose, organic sweet potato powder, sunflower lecithin (non-GMO), citrus pectin, vitamin E, sodium propionate, calcium sulfate dehydrated, natural mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), dextrin.
Testing Notes: Soft, cylindrical chews.
Sabaidee is a California-based company that uses organic, Colorado-grown hemp for their wide range of products. Their website includes a database of third-party lab reports so you can check out the cannabinoid content as well as the presence of contaminants like pesticides.
Sabaidee’s Soft Chews for Dogs are a veterinarian-formulated, superfood-packed, bacon-flavored dose of deliciousness for your dog. The CBD Hacker dogs gave these top marks for flavor, though they are pretty pricey.
Advantages:
- Veterinarian formulated
- CBD from local hemp
- Fast customer service response time
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Only one potency
Shop Sabaidee
Regular Price: $38.95
FOMO Bones: Dog Treats for Anxiety
Ingredients: Passion flower, l-tryptophan, valerian root, chamomile, CBD isolate. Rice bran, cane molasses, tapioca starch, purified water, cheese powder, soy lecithin, safflower oil, glycerin, natural beef protein, bacon flavor, mixed tocopherols, sorbic acid, ascorbic acid.
Testing Notes: Soft, bone-shaped treat.
From the people that brought you Sunday Scaries CBD gummies, come FOMO Bones for dogs. The company currently only creates this one pet product, using organic, Colorado-grown hemp and other quality, pet-friendly ingredients.
FOMO Bones Dog Treats are THC-free and uniformly sized. There is one COA on the website which shows testing results for the company’s isolate powder, which is an ingredient in the treat. Unfortunately, they don’t offer third-party lab tests of their finished products.
Advantages:
- 30-day return policy
- Responsive customer service
- Free shipping
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than most
- Only one potency
- No post formulation COAs
Shop FOMO Bones
Regular price $44.95
Choosing the Best CBD for Dogs: Our Methodology
With so many CBD products to choose from, we can afford to be picky. To start, we begin with a list of established and familiar companies and then make sure to select some new companies that are making some noise among CBD users.
Then we begin the sifting. Here’s the nitty-gritty of how we find the best CBD oil for dogs:
Product Quality and Value
We start by taking a close look at the quality of the hemp itself. We ask questions about the companies’ sourcing practices, giving top marks to hemp grown organically in the United States.
We also perform blind testing by placing samples of all of the products into plain, numbered containers. Then, our team smells, inspects, and often tastes each sample to see if anything seems weird or off-putting.
We then take a look at the price of the product per milligram of CBD. This allows us to compare the relative values of products with different potencies.
Website User Experience
What’s inside the bottle is the most important component of buying CBD, but we also want to make sure the shopping experience isn’t a nightmare. The website is the face of most CBD companies, and a well-designed site with helpful, clearly-written information shows the intent to be around for the long haul.
So, we scrutinize company websites, measuring page loading speeds, going through product pages and the purchasing process, and looking for key information that points to company transparency.
Customer Service
Shopping for CBD oil for dogs can be confusing, and solid customer service is a vital component of a successful CBD business. Customers have lots of questions (or they should), and customer service reps should be able to answer them. We send out emails and pick up the phone to make sure replies are timely and helpful.
And what if something goes wrong? We evaluate return policies and check out customer reviews to see if companies take care of their people even after they’ve taken their money.
Company Reputation and Transparency
We also take into account how established a business is, since the ones that have been around for the longest have hopefully ironed out a lot of the glitches that newer companies experience in this industry.
And we look very closely at how companies manage their third-party testing, evaluating how accessible, up-to-date, and thorough those lab results are.
Third-Party Testing
One of the most important parts of our evaluation takes place in an independent lab. For this review, we sent off samples of all products to be tested for cannabinoid potency at North Coast Analytical Testing Laboratories, an ISO 17025 accredited hemp testing lab in Streetsboro, Ohio.
Because dogs can’t tell us how they feel when taking CBD products, it’s especially important to know just how much CBD, THC, and other minor cannabinoids are in a pet product. And according to North Coast Analytical Testing Laboratories’ scientific director, Dr. Carolyn Friedrich, their process is particularly rigorous.
“North Coast Analytical Laboratories works hard to provide accurate testing for our customers,” Friedrich said. “We complete research on all the different products and flowers to determine that there is complete extraction of the cannabinoids in each matrix.”
But how do they know that their results are correct? As Friedrich told us, “All samples are run in triplicate to confirm that the results are accurate. We provide information about each product to ensure the ultimate goal of patient safety.” And when the patient is your pet, safety is key.
Value Comparison
Here’s where you can check out how each company on our list ranks when it comes to price alone.
Since companies offer a variety of potencies, we calculate the price of the product per milligram of CBD. And for companies that offer several potencies, we use the highest potency product for our calculations.
Best Values: CBD Oils for Dogs
Company | Product | Price | Price per mg CBD |
---|---|---|---|
Pure Hemp Botanicals | CBD Tincture for Dogs and Cats | $47.97 | $0.03 |
cbdMD | Canine CBD Oil | $149.99 | $0.05 |
CBDistillery | CBD Pet Tincture | $38.00 | $0.06 |
Ambary Gardens | Pet Formulated Full Spectrum Hemp Extract | $280.00 | $0.06 |
4 Corners | Pet Tincture | $99.99 | $0.10 |
Hempure | CBD Pet Drops | $29.99 | $0.12 |
Joy Organics | Hemp Tincture Pet Formula | $59.99 | $0.12 |
Lolahemp | CBD Oil for Dogs | $69.99 | $0.12 |
Nuleaf Naturals | Pet CBD Oil | $179.00 | $0.12 |
Spruce | Dog CBD Oil | $89.00 | $0.12 |
Charlotte's Web | Full Spectrum Hemp extract for Dogs | $64.99 | $0.13 |
Palmetto Harmony | Palmetto Paws | $79.99 | $0.13 |
Pet Releaf | Hemp Oil | $81.99 | $0.16 |
Onyx & Rose | Health and Wellness Broad Spectrum CBD Pet Oil | $44.00 | $0.18 |
Populum | Zen Pets Calming Hemp Oil | $54.00 | $0.22 |
Best Values: CBD Treats for Dogs
Company | Product | Price | Price per mg CBD |
---|---|---|---|
cbdMD | Paw Chews | $69.99 | $0.12 |
Charlotte's Web | Cognition Chews | $34.99 | $0.23 |
FOMO Bones | Dog Treats | $39.95 | $0.40 |
Joy Organics | CBD Dog Treats | $34.95 | $0.58 |
Sabaidee | Chill Chews Soft Chews | 38.95 | $0.78 |
Cannabinoid Potency
As part of our evaluation, we sent samples of treats and CBD oil for dogs to a third-party lab to have them tested for potency. Any CBD tincture that has less than 15 percent of their labeled CBD potency won’t show up on our list. This table shows the lab results of all the companies that did make it.
Most Potent CBD Oils for Dogs
Brand | CBD mg/mL | THC mg/mL | Other cannabinoids |
---|---|---|---|
NuLeaf Naturals | 53.33 | 1.22 | THCa, CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBG |
4 Corners Cannabis | 30.25 | 1.00 | CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBG |
Spruce | 25.17 | 0.71 | CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBGa, CBG |
CBDistillery | 19.62 | 0.76 | CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBG |
Pet Releaf | 19.10 | 0.89 | CBDa, CBDV, CBC, CBGa, CBG |
Charlotte's Web | 19.02 | 0.99 | THCa, CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBG |
Palmetto Harmony | 16.95 | 0.81 | THCa, CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, CBG |
Pure Hemp Botanicals | 11.18 | 0.83 | CBN, CBC, CBG |
Lolahemp | 8.65 | 0.37 | CBC, CBG |
Ambary Gardens | 8.34 | 0.33 | CBDV, CBC, CBG |
Joy Organics | 8.01 | - | - |
Hempure | 7.73 | - | CBDV, CBGa |
Populum | 7.43 | - | - |
cbdMD | 4.66 | - | - |
Onyx & Rose | 3.89 | - | CBC |
Most Potent CBD Treats for Dogs
Brand | CBD mg/piece | THC mg/piece | Other cannabinoids |
---|---|---|---|
Charlotte's Web | 3.02 | 0.12 | THCa, Δ8-THC, THCV, CBDa, CBN, CBC, CBG |
Joy Organics | 2 | - | THCV, CBC |
cbdMD | 10.21 | - | THCV, CBDV, CBC |
Sabaidee | 2.03 | - | THCV, CBC |
FOMO Bones | 4.64 | - | THCV, CBDV, CBC |
What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical that is part of a group of cannabis-derived substances called cannabinoids. So far, over a hundred cannabinoids have been identified, but by far the most common are CBD and THC. To keep it simple, THC is the one that makes you high, CBD does not.
All cannabinoids work by interacting with the endocannabinoid system present in humans, dogs, and other mammals. The endocannabinoid system helps maintain homeostasis, or balance, within the body.
That may not sound exciting, but there’s mounting evidence that by interacting with endocannabinoid receptors, CBD can help reduce pain, inflammation, anxiety, and seizures. CBD also seems to have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, which means it can help protect brain cells from oxidative damage.
Research on CBD Oil for Dogs
Research on CBD is in the early stages, but early studies have shown promising results.
Until recently, almost everything we know about how CBD affects animals is taken from research on lab animals like mice, rats, guinea pigs, or from clinical studies on humans.
Those results demonstrate the possible effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of many disorders, from anxiety and epilepsy to joint pain and all manner of inflammatory disorders.
But veterinary researchers are beginning to conduct their own studies on CBD. Studies on CBD for dogs with epilepsy and arthritis have both yielded promising results. And these small studies are paving the way for more, larger-scale trials that will help answer many of the unknowns about how CBD works in animals.
These studies are ongoing, but until more is known, it’s always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog CBD.
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Safety Concerns and Side Effects
One safety issue that all dog owners should be aware of is the possibility of THC toxicity. Dogs are much more sensitive to THC than humans, due to the fact that they have more CB1 receptors (the endocannabinoid receptor responsible for psychoactivity) than humans — or even cats.
This means that relatively small amounts of THC could cause “static ataxia” in a dog, in which their legs may splay out, and they may act dizzy or off balance. Basically, dogs can get high easily, and that can be dangerous for them.
For this reason, it’s imperative for dog owners to buy CBD products from reputable companies that offer third-party lab reports verifying the amount of THC in their products. Some pet CBD products are “full spectrum,” which means they contain trace amounts of THC (legally, THC concentrations in hemp-derived products must be under 0.3 percent).
Some veterinarians and doctors believe that the presence of even very small amounts THC can boost the effectiveness of CBD, so avoiding THC altogether may not be necessary. But, as a dog owner, if you want to avoid the issue entirely, a THC-free product (either broad spectrum or isolate) may be the way to go.
Either way, it’s important to keep CBD-infused pet products (especially treats that pets may try to get into on their own) away from your pets.
Another possible issue with giving CBD to your dog is the potential for drug interactions with other medications they may be taking. For this reason, it’s definitely a good idea to keep your veterinarian in the loop, so they can advise you on whether it’s safe for your pet (whether or not they feel comfortable giving dosage or product recommendations).
Is CBD Legal?
When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, CBD became officially and indisputably legal at the federal level. That means that it is no longer on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of controlled substances.
According to the new law, hemp is defined as a cannabis plant that contains no more than 0.3 percent THC. That’s the magic number that makes cannabis “hemp” and not “marijuana.”
At the state level, though, things can be more complicated. Some states have taken a less welcoming stance towards CBD, so it’s a good idea to check your local laws. For more info, check out our interactive map: Is CBD Legal in Your State?
How to Choose the Best CBD Oil for Dogs
There are a lot of companies peddling their pet CBD wares, so here are a few points to keep in mind as you shop:
- CBD should come from organically grown hemp. Hemp is a notorious bioaccumulator, meaning it actually sucks contaminants from the soil and stores them in the plant’s cells. You don’t want to be feeding the chemicals present in pesticides and chemical fertilizers to your pet!
- Companies should be transparent about their practices. This includes openness about ingredients as well as sourcing, extraction, and manufacturing processes.
- Third-party lab reports should be easy to find. Any reputable company should have lab reports (also called COAs) from an independent lab that confirm the potency of the CBD and THC in a product. Preferably, these will be done for every batch of product, after formulation.
- Look out for red flags. If you get the sense that a company doesn’t want to answer your questions, or seems to be hiding something, go somewhere else to buy CBD oil for dogs. There are plenty of great companies out there — and they aren’t necessarily the ones with the highest prices, either!