CBD has the same benefits for dogs as it does for humans.
A few common reasons why people are using CBD products with their pets include:
- To alleviate separation anxiety
- For post-traumatic stress
- To support joint health and alleviate hip pain
- To reduce the severity of inflammatory disorders
- For promoting general health and wellbeing
Not all CBD products are going to be sufficient for these applications. There are a lot of pet products on the market today that simply can’t provide these benefits. They’re either underpowered, overpriced or contain harmful contaminants or synthetic ingredients that can worsen symptoms.
Here, you’ll learn how to find the best CBD pet products on the market and how to use them with your dog.
Best CBD Pet Oils For Dogs (2020 Review)
- Royal CBD – Award Winning, Best CBD Oil For Dogs Overall
- Gold Bee – Runner Up, Quality Product at a Good Price
- Blessed CBD – Potent CBD, But Only Ships to the UK
1. Royal CBD Pet Oils — Editor’s Pick
Royal CBD is known for making some of the best CBD products on the market. They’ve been honored as the top CBD pet oil manufacturer by several high-profile media outlets — including Observer, Orlando Weekly, Riverfront Times, Venture Beat, CityBeat, SA Current, Metro Times, and Cleveland Scene.
These oils are perfectly suited for use with dogs. They come with three different potencies — each designed to provide the optimal strength depending on the size of your dog. They’re also made with a dog-friendly bacon flavor to make it easier to convince your canine companion to take the oils without making a fuss.
Here are the recommended bottles of Royal CBD oil depending on the size of your dog:
- 125 mg CBD oil — low-potency, for small dogs and cats (less than 15 lbs)
- 250 mg CBD oil — medium-potency, for mid-sized dogs (between 15 and 30 lbs)
- 500 mg CBD oil — high-potency, for medium and large-sized dogs (over 30 lbs)
For very large dogs (more than 60 lbs), you may want to bump up to the 1000 mg CBD oil in the regular line of CBD oils from Royal CBD instead.
All Royal CBD pet oils are made from an organic, full-spectrum hemp extract and a premium MCT carrier oil base.
Each batch that leaves the company’s facility has been thoroughly tested both in-house and by an independent third-party lab — so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Pros:
- Comes with dog-friendly potencies and bacon flavoring
- Made from organic hemp plants from California growers
- Excellent cost to potency ratio compared to other pet oils
Cons:
- Only available through the official Royal CBD website
2. Gold Bee CBD Oils — Runner-Up
Gold Bee doesn’t have a specific line of CBD pet oils — however, its standard line of CBD products are well-suited for use with pets already. They contain trace amounts of THC (non-psychoactive), come in three potencies to match your animal’s size and come with the entire range of third-party testing to prove the oils’ safety and potency.
Here are some general recommendations for which potency to use with your dog:
- 300 mg CBD oil — low-potency, for smaller dogs (less than 15 lbs)
- 600 mg CBD oil — medium-potency, for mid-sized dogs (between 15 and 30 lbs)
- 1200 mg CBD oil — high-potency, for large and very large dogs (over 30 lbs)
This company has been recommended as one of the top CBD oil brands to use with dogs by over a dozen publications and CBD industry experts. They’re popular for the low cost of the oil, exceptionally high quality, and notably high terpene concentrations (stronger effects).
You can find mentions of this brand on websites including CFAH, We Be High, SF Weekly, SF Examiner, and LA Weekly.
Pros:
- Made from organic hemp plants and contains the full-spectrum of hemp derivatives
- Backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and the full panel of third-party tests
- Available in an unflavored version and multiple potencies to match the size of your dog
Cons:
- High-demand and small production volume can cause these oils to go out of stock occasionally
3. Blessed CBD Oil — UK’s Best CBD Oil
There are two differences with this oil compared to the other mentions on our list.
The main difference is that these oils are not produced in the United States. They’re made in a facility based out of London, England, and ship throughout the UK. We’ve included them on our list as an option for our readers living abroad because neither of the other two brands on this list ship beyond the US border.
A good alternative to consider is a brand called Crush CBD — which is also based out of the UK.
The other main difference with these oils is the potency.
While the total CBD content is similar to the other brands on this list, Blessed CBD concentrates this CBD into a smaller volume of oil. These oils contain just 10 mL of oil each, which is about 60% less than most CBD pet oils.
That means a 500 mg CBD oil from this company is roughly three times stronger than a CBD oil from the other brands on this list — drop for drop.
For this reason, we recommend sticking to the 500 mg CBD oil from Blessed CBD regardless of your animal’s size. You’ll only need a few drops to give your dog a healthy dose of CBD.
Pros:
- Best CBD oil brand in the UK
- High-grade full-spectrum hemp extract
- Suitable for dogs of all sizes (500 mg oil)
Cons:
- Only available in the UK
How CBD Works For Dogs
All mammals on earth have an endocannabinoid system — which is a series of receptors found all around the body. CBD and other cannabinoids exert most of their benefits by interacting with this system.
The endocannabinoid system is tasked with regulating homeostasis — which is a fancy word that means balance. Everything from nerve transmission to hormone production is controlled in part by the endocannabinoid system.
CBD works by mimicking some of the naturally produced endocannabinoids produced by the body — such as anandamide or 2-AG.
This means CBD oils have virtually the same effect on dogs as they do on humans. They’re used to relieve inflammation, block chronic pain, reduce stress and anxiety symptoms, and more.
How to Use CBD Oils With Dogs
Most dogs will take CBD oil without making any fuss. You can mix it in with their food to mask the taste.
However, some dogs are much pickier and will turn their nose up at anything out of the ordinary when it comes to their food. CBD oils have a characteristic aroma; most dogs will be able to pick up in their meal.
The first thing to try is to simply leave your dog’s food out. Eventually, they will get hungry and eat the food anyway. In many cases, your dog will realize the change isn’t that bad and will have no problem eating their CBD-infused meal in the future.
If your dog continues to avoid eating their meal, you may have to give them their CBD oil the old fashioned way.
Most oral medications given to dogs are administered by placing the desired dose into their mouth. You can then hold their snout closed for a few seconds to make sure they don’t spit it out. This won’t hurt your dog — just annoy them for a minute or two.
Is CBD Safe For Dogs?
CBD oils are perfectly safe to use with dogs as long as it doesn’t contain any additives that are toxic to dogs — such as caffeine or chocolate extract.
It’s best to aim for a brand specializing in CBD pet products or go with any of the simple CBD oils listed above. None of these oils contain additives that would make them unsafe for dogs.
With that said, there’s always a chance of side effects whenever using any supplements.
The most common side effects of CBD are lethargy, fatigue, and dizziness. If your dog is sleeping a lot more than usual after you administer CBD, it could mean they’ve had too much.
To avoid side effects in the future, reduce the dose slightly each day until these effects go away.
If your dog has any underlying medical conditions or is taking prescription medications, you should always consult your doctor before giving them CBD for any reason. There are a few cases (albeit rare) where CBD could have a negative interaction with CBD.
Using Cannabis Terpenes With Dogs
Some pet owners are incorporating cannabis terpenes along with their CBD pet oil for added benefit. Cannabis terpenes play an important role in the therapeutic effect of a CBD oil.
Some terpenes offer benefits of their own (such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety, etc.); others work by increasing absorption or slowing the breakdown of CBD itself.
The best source for dog-friendly terpene concentrates is from Finest Labs — an American terpene extraction company. A single bottle of terpene concentrates are very affordable and will last several months of use. You only need a small amount of these concentrates for a strong effect.
Final Thoughts: Where to Find the Best CBD Oils For Dogs
CBD has a lot of benefits to offer our furry companions. They’re useful for alleviating separation anxiety, chronic stress or PTSD, inflammatory conditions, joint pain and arthritis, and much more.
When shopping for CBD pet oils, it’s important to consider the potency of the oil. Matching the potency with your dog’s size will make it easier to use the oils and reduce the chances of causing side effects in your pet.
Other important factors include:
- Third-party testing, extract type (full-spectrum extracts preferred)
- The ingredients (some compounds are harmful to dogs)
- The flavor of the oil (aim for unflavored unless the brand has dog-specific flavors available).
The best CBD oil for dogs in 2020 is Royal CBD. This oil has already earned the number one spot for the top-rated CBD oils for dogs on a variety of industry expert websites and reputable media outlets.
A good alternative to consider is the regular line of unflavored, high-quality CBD oils from Gold Bee.
