As the popularity of CBD grows, so does the willingness of pet owners to explore hemp-derived cannabinoid remedies for their dogs. Research shows that CBD may relieve symptoms of anxiety, stress, pain, and other chronic conditions.
With so many things pointing in the right direction, it would only be fitting to try CBD products for your pet. Therefore, we have put together this comprehensive buyer’s guide to help pet owners choose the best CBD oil for dogs.
You will learn about what to look for in CBD brands, how to safely give CBD oil to dogs, the perfect dose for your pet, and much more.
How Do We Decide On The Best CBD Products For Your Dog?
We understand your concerns when it comes to buying from an unregulated market like the CBD industry. Having the wrong information leaves you at the mercy of bogus brands selling cheap knockoffs.
For these reasons, our team of professionals follows strict criteria for our buyer’s guides and reviews. How do we do this?
- We carefully examine product descriptions! They contain information about manufacturing processes, extraction methods, and hemp-source.
- We consider the opinions, reports, and reviews from third-party individuals and industry experts! Such information helps us maintain the credibility of our guides and avoid bias.
- We conduct extensive research on consumer experience! Information on cannabis forums, Reddit, Facebook, etc., helps.
- We test the products ourselves too! In-house testing provides us with accurate information about the product and not fluff that makes a specific brand look good.
Best CBD Oil For Dogs – Our Top Picks For 2021
Medterra CBD for Pets
Overview
We included Medterra CBD on our list because they offer the most premium-quality yet affordable hemp-based wellness products on the market. Farmed in the rich soils of Kentucky, their pet products contain pure, hemp-derived CBD extract that can help treat several pet conditions such as stress, anxiety, and pain.
Medterra CBD pet products come in two different variations. You can either get their CBD pet tinctures or Soft Chews. The CBD pet tincture has beef and chicken flavors, which are quite suitable for your dog’s taste buds. All pet tinctures are 15 ml bottles of 100% THC-free extract with a dropper for accurate dosage. You can mix it in your dog’s food or give it directly. It’s totally up to you! They come in 3 different concentrations, including:
- 150mg CBD for small dogs
- 300mg CBD for medium-sized dogs such as terriers
- 750mg CBD for large dogs such as mastiffs and malamutes
If we look at their CBD soft chews, each serving contains 10mg of CBD with 30 chews per package. You can choose between the regular Calming version or the joint support one containing glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin. CBD soft chews are very convenient with dosage as you can give it to your dog as a treat.
Key Features
- Grown in Kentucky, USA
- MCT carrier oil
- Broad-Spectrum
- Third-party lab tested
- non-GMO
- Affordable
- Pet-friendly flavors (beef & chicken)
Price
The 150mg pet tincture costs $0.13/mg, which may seem a little expensive, but as you increase potency, the 750mg one costs only $0.05/mg. That is a steal if you intend to use it for a large pet.
Calming and Joint Support Chews cost $29.99 and $34.99 per pack, respectively.
Coupon Code
Get 15% off on all Medterra products by using the code PJ15 on checkout.
NuLeaf Naturals Pet CBD
Overview
When it comes to Nuleaf Naturals CBD products, there are no second thoughts. Based in Colorado, the company uses professional farming techniques that guarantee a high-quality final product. With over 20,000+ customer reviews on their website, Nuleaf Naturals is a go-to option for cannabis-enthusiasts as far as Australia even! (pretty amazing, right?)
Their line of pet products is as simple as it gets and features a Full-Spectrum CBD pet oil containing 60mg/ml of CBD, which, in our opinion, is a little potent for first-time users or small pets. So, we recommend that new-comers opt for a product with lower concentrations of CBD.
Nevertheless, for larger dogs or ones with severe conditions, this is a very suitable product. It comes in 3 different potencies or sizes, including:
- 300mg of CBD in 5ml
- 900mg of CBD in 15ml
- 1800mg of CBD in 30ml
Key Features
- USA-grown hemp
- MCT carrier oil
- CO2-based extraction
- Full-Spectrum Extract
- Third-party tested
- cGMP certified
- ISO-7 certified
Price
Nuleaf Natural’s Pet CBD starts from $0.12 per mg for their smallest size, and the larger ones cost around $0.09 per mg. In our opinion, this is very reasonable since it is one of the most potent CBD products you will find on the market.
Coupon Code
Get 20% off on your next purchase by using the code LEARN20 on checkout.
Joy Organics CBD for Pets
Overview
You guessed it right this time! Like all other high-quality CBD Oil brands, Joy Organics is based in Colorado too. It is a family-owned business, and founder Joy Smith is a frequent-user herself. She wants to share the natural healing powers of cannabinoid supplements with the world, and you should not be missing out.
As far as pet products are concerned, Joy Organics offers a broad-spectrum CBD oil tincture for pets as well as CBD dog-treats for your canine buddy. Their CBD oil tincture can help manage severe pain, stress, and anxiety in dogs. It comes in 30 ml bottles, and you can choose between 225mg or 450mg of CBD, which guarantees a high potency.
The CBD dog-treats are in a league of their own. You can find 30-bite-sized, beef-flavored chews for your furry roommates in a jar, each containing 2mg of CBD. They are made up of water-soluble hemp-extract, making them easy to digest and even easier to add to your dog’s daily routine.
Plus, you will not have to worry about breaking a dropper in your dog’s mouth because that is a terrifying thought.
Key Features
- USA-Grown Hemp
- MCT carrier oil
- Broad-Spectrum/THC-free
- USDA-Certified
- Third-party tested
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Price
Joy Organics products are top-notch, so you should expect to pay anything between $0.12-$0.13 per mg of CBD.
Coupon Code
Get 20% off on your next purchase from Joy Organics. Use the coupon code LCBD20 on checkout.
Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs – How Can CBD Help Your Canine Buddy?
Like every other mammal, your dog has an endocannabinoid system, and the amount of CBD you give them will decide how they react to it.
The only difference between canine and the human endocannabinoid system is that the distribution of CB1 receptors is greater in dogs. These receptors are more sensitive to THC, and you should avoid using products for dogs with higher concentrations of it.
The absence or presence of cannabinoids can have varying effects on your dog’s biological processes, including sleep, appetite, mood, etc. Therapeutic cannabinoids like CBD regulate these processes to make your dog feel better.
For people saying CBD oil is not working for my dog, maybe your dog does not need it because it is already healthy? Cannabinoids work better with dogs that are showing symptoms of stress, pain, and anxiety.
Here is how pet owners are using CBD oil for their dogs:
- To help their furry friends relax when stressed (during a grooming session or a house party)
- To promote sound sleep on a long drive
- To relieve symptoms of skin conditions and allergies
- As a health supplement to manage issues related to aging
- To maintain a healthy digestive system
- To manage symptoms of arthritis in senior dogs
What To Look For When Buying CBD Oil For Dogs?
Buying health supplements for your dog is not a walk in the park. You should be able to tell the difference between a quality CBD product and a cheap one. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind before you choose any product for your pet:
A Quality Hemp Source Matters!
CBD derived from a quality hemp source will guarantee a better final product. Most brands tend to use hemp-derived CBD for their extract since it contains less than 0.3% THC. Although this amount will hardly produce any psychoactive effects on your pet, we recommend avoiding it altogether.
You should choose brands that follow FDA-approved farming guidelines for cultivating hemp. Hemp from these cannabis farms is usually better quality.
Look Out For Cheap Extraction Methods
Shouldn’t this be pretty obvious? A cheap extraction method will decrease the amount of CBD you get in the final product. It can also leave behind plant residue that will ruin the taste of your CBD oil. Choose brands that use hydrogen and CO2-based extraction methods as these are the most reliable industry methods.
CO2-based extraction is the gold standard of extraction methods and guarantees the highest quality CBD there is. Although extracts from this method are a little expensive, they are worth the money!
Potency
The total amount of CBD you get per ml of a product is called potency. Smaller dogs will require less potent doses, while more potent ones will suit larger dogs or those with severe conditions.
It all comes down to what kind of symptoms you are looking to relieve for your dog.
Choose Between Full-Spectrum and Broad Spectrum Extracts
When buying CBD products for your dog, there are two extracts that you should be worried about – full-spectrum and broad-spectrum. Full-spectrum extracts contain a mixture of plant compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and waxes that work together to increase the benefits of CBD for your dog – a phenomenon called the entourage effect.
Broad-spectrum extracts consist of all the same compounds minus the THC-content. Since dogs are sensitive to THC, broad-spectrum extracts are the most suitable for them.
Make Sure The Brand Offers Third-Party Lab Results
Third-party lab results show exactly what you are getting in your CBD oil. Brands that get their products tested from independent labs are more reliable, and you should avoid brands that don’t offer these results.
Cost Shouldn’t Be A Problem!
Even though you must choose value-for-money brands, cost should never be a problem if you want a high-quality CBD supplement that is safe for your dog.
However, this does not mean that you pay large sums of money because Karen told you that XYZ brand is the best. You need to be able to identify between cheap and over-priced products. The best CBD oil for dogs will cost you anywhere between $0.08 to $0.16 per mg of CBD.
Is There A Difference Between Human and Pet CBD?
There are no big differences when it comes to Human and Pet CBD products. Pet products may cost more because of markups, but the extract is usually the same.
However, Pet CBD flavors may be different than human ones. Why? Because your dog will always prefer beef or chicken flavors over the natural taste of hemp. Also, human products are more potent than pet ones.
Tips for Safely Administering CBD Oil To Your Dog
Trying out new supplements for your dog can be a risky job, and you never know how they react to it. Giving too much CBD oil to a pet that has no clue what is happening to him isn’t the right thing to do. Although we have an elaborate dosage guide coming up, here are a few tips for safely giving CBD oil to your dog:
- Avoid THC altogether! (less 0.3% is safe but never completely)
- Start with a smaller dose at first and then work your way up.
- Choose products with pet-friendly flavors!
- Avoid using glass droppers directly!
- Most importantly, always seek the advice of your vet when trying CBD products for a medical condition.
Dosage Guide – How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog?
Figuring out a suitable dosage for your dog isn’t rocket science. It is a bit of a trial-and-error for the initial doses until you figure out the best for your dog.
Dr. Rob Silver advises administering 0.05mg/pound of CBD twice daily as a low-end dose to check for any adverse side-effects. Low-end doses usually work pretty well, but you can increase them by 0.075mg/pound if you notice that it is not working for your pet. The high-end dose, that Dr. Silver suggests, is around five times the low-end one (0.25mg/pound).
To calculate the dose for your pet, use this formula:
- For smaller dogs: 0.05 x Pet Weight ( in pounds)
- For larger dogs: 0.25 x Pet Weight ( in pounds)
Final Thoughts – Best CBD Oil for Dogs (2021)
There is no doubt that CBD oil is safe to administer in both humans and animals. You can use it for cats, dogs, and even horses. While the canine-specific studies are limited, there is plenty of evidence from rodent and human trials that prove its effectiveness in treating chronic conditions. However, if your pet struggles with a specific medical condition, always seek professional veterinarian advice.
Even high doses do not have adverse or life-threatening side-effects, and the most common ones are indigestion, nausea, headaches, etc. The side-effects go away as the CBD wears off, and they rarely become a nuisance for regular users.
When buying CBD products for your pets, you should always look for a quality hemp source, industry-standard extraction methods, potency, etc.
learningcbdoil.com links customers with some of the best CBD brands in the market right now, to help them make confident purchases. If you want to buy a product for yourself, head over to our shop right now and enjoy exclusive discounts.
FAQs related to “Best CBD Oil for Dogs – A Buyer’s Guide to Canine CBD (2021)”
Question: Do vets recommend CBD oil for dogs?
Answer: Vets can recommend CBD oil as a supplement rather than medication because of its status with the FDA, and the availability of limited scientific evidence.
Question: What is the best CBD for dogs with anxiety?
Answer: Medterra Pet CBD tincture is a THC-free extract that is suitable for dogs with anxiety and stress. It comes in a 15 ml bottle with a dropper for accurate dosage, with 3 different concentrations (150mg,300mg,750mg)
Question: How much 1000mg CBD oil should I give my dog?
Answer: A recommended starter dose is 0.05mg per pound of your dog’s weight. You can change this based on the results you get.
Question: Is there a difference between human and dog CBD oil?
Answer: Although there are no major differences, CBD oil for dogs does come in different flavors and is of lower potency too.
