CBD For Dogs

CBD for Dogs: What to Know Before You Buy

Maybe your senior dog takes a little longer on the stairs these days. Maybe fireworks season turns your pup into a shaky shadow. If you're wondering whether CBD for dogs could help, you're in the right place.

CBD is one of the most researched supplements for dogs right now, and some studies look encouraging.

It's also not a cure-all, and the FDA hasn't approved CBD for use in animals. So the smartest way to shop is to understand what you're buying, check the lab reports, and loop in your vet.

This guide covers:

• what CBD is
• the different product types
• what the research says
• how to pick a quality product
• where to buy

What Is CBD, and How Does It Work in Dogs?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a natural compound found in hemp. It isn't intoxicating: THC is the compound that causes a high, and hemp is legally defined as containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight.

Dogs, like people, have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors involved in things like mood, comfort, appetite, and sleep. It has three main parts:

• CB1 receptors, found mostly in the brain and nervous system
• CB2 receptors, found mostly in immune cells and throughout the body
• Endocannabinoids, like anandamide and 2-AG, which the body makes on its own to activate those receptors

CBD interacts with this system, which is why vets and researchers are studying it for joint comfort and stress in dogs. A shared system doesn't mean dogs respond to CBD exactly the way people do, though. Dogs absorb and process it in their own way.

What’s the Difference Between Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum and Isolate CBD?

You'll see three labels on CBD products:

Type	What it contains
Full spectrum	CBD plus the hemp plant's other compounds (like CBG, CBC, CBN and terpenes), which can include THC
Broad spectrum	CBD plus most of those compounds, with THC removed
Isolate	CBD on its own

You may hear that full spectrum works better because the plant's compounds work together (the "entourage effect").

It's a popular idea, but it hasn't been established in dogs. Choose based on what you're comfortable with, and check the THC result on the lab report rather than the front label.

Our CBD oil for dogs is full-spectrum. In our latest lab reports, THC wasn't detected in four of our six strengths. ("Not detected" means below the lab's detection limit, not zero.)

Which Type of CBD Product Is Best for My Dog?

It mostly comes down to your dog’s size, how picky they are, and how much flexibility you want. Here’s how the options compare:

Format	Easy to adjust the amount?	Easy to give?	Good fit for
CBD oil	Yes, by fractions of a mL	Yes, mixed into food or on a treat	Any size dog, daily routines, owners who want flexibility
Capsules	No, fixed amount per capsule	Yes, hidden in a pill pocket or food	Owners who want a set amount with no measuring
Soft chews and treats	No, fixed amount per piece	Very, dogs see them as treats	Picky dogs, travel, busy mornings
Paw balm	n/a (used on the skin)	Yes	Dry, rough paw pads

CBD Oil for Dogs

Our CBD oil for dogs is the most flexible option. It's full spectrum hemp extract in virgin hemp seed oil, in six strengths from 125 mg to 6,000 mg, so a Chihuahua and a Great Dane can each get a bottle that suits their size.

You don't need to wrestle it under your dog's tongue. A small study found no absorption advantage to doing that in dogs, while giving CBD with a meal raised absorption.

A spoonful of wet food works great. Our guide on how to give CBD oil to dogs has step-by-step methods.

CBD Capsules for Dogs

Hemp CBD capsules give you a pre-measured amount every time. Most dogs take them hidden in food or a pill pocket.

They're great for routines, but you can't fine-tune the amount the way you can with oil.

CBD Soft Chews and Treats for Dogs

For many dogs, a chew is the easiest way to say yes. In dog studies, soft chews were absorbed about as well as oil, so you're not trading away much by choosing convenience. Our options:

• Soft Hemp Dog Chews
• CBD Dog Treats
• Advanced Mobility Support Chews, which pair hemp extract with glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and green-lipped mussel
• Advanced Calming Chews

One tip: if you give both oil and chews on the same day, add up the CBD from both. It's easy to double up by accident.

Dog Paw Balm

Our Dog Paw Balm contains 250 mg of hemp extract and is made for dry, rough paw pads. Dogs love to lick their paws, so apply a thin layer and distract them for a few minutes while it soaks in.

What Does the Research Say About CBD for Dogs?

The research is growing, and it's mixed. Some studies found encouraging results, others found little difference, and results depend on the product, the amount, and what was being studied.

What researchers looked at	What they found
Joint stiffness	In a 2018 Cornell study of 16 dogs with osteoarthritis, owners and vets reported less pain and more activity on CBD. A 2021 study of 23 dogs found no significant difference from placebo.
Stress during car rides or time alone	In a 2023 study of 40 dogs, a single dose given 2 hours beforehand reduced some measures of stress. A fireworks-sound study using CBD treats found no difference.
Seizures	Studied only as an add-on to dogs' regular seizure medication, under vet supervision. Results were mixed, and CBD was never used instead of medication.

Keep these two things in mind:

1. Every study tested a specific product, usually not the one on your shelf, often at higher amounts than pet product guides suggest.
2. CBD isn’t a replacement for veterinary care. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, CBD belongs alongside your vet’s plan, not instead of it.

Want to go deeper? Read “can I give my dog CBD oil?” or our guide to CBD oil for dogs with arthritis.

How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog?

There's no single official dose, but a few rules make it much easier:

• Dose in milligrams, not droppers. A full dropper of our 125 mg oil holds about 4 mg of CBD. The same dropper of our 6,000 mg oil holds 200 mg.
• Begin with the lowest amount for your dog's weight and give it time, usually a week or two, before changing anything.
• Give it at the same times each day, with food.
• Count every source, as oil, chews, and treats all add up.

For exact amounts by weight in mg, mL, and drops, see our CBD dosage chart for dogs or use the CBD dosage calculator. If your dog takes any medication, check with your vet first.

Is CBD Safe for Dogs?

In studies of healthy adult dogs, CBD has generally been well tolerated, including daily use for six months. Those studies were small, though, and used specific products and amounts.

Make sure you watch for the following side effects:

• Sleepiness
• Loose stools
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• A smaller appetite

If you see any of these, pause and call your vet before continuing. Get help right away if your dog is wobbly, trembling, or hard to wake.

Talk to your vet before starting if your dog:

• takes medication, especially seizure medication, NSAIDs, steroids, or sedatives (CBD shares liver enzymes with some medications)
• has liver disease
• is a puppy, pregnant, or nursing
• has surgery coming up

Some studies also saw a liver enzyme called ALP rise on bloodwork. That doesn't automatically mean liver damage, but mention CBD at your dog's checkups, especially for long-term use.

How to Choose a Quality CBD Product for Your Dog

Always trust the lab report over the label when shopping CBD products for your dog. In a 2020 study of 29 pet hemp products, the oils' measured CBD ranged from 0% to 154% of what their labels said.

Before you buy any brand, check:

1. A lab report you can actually open, from an independent, accredited lab
2. A batch number that matches your product
3. CBD and THC results, in clear units
4. Contaminant testing: pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and microbes
5. No xylitol, chocolate, or other ingredients made for people

Here’s how we handle it:

• Our CBD oil is tested by Encore Labs, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab, with a potency report for every strength.
• Full contaminant panels are posted for our 250 mg and 6,000 mg strengths, and both passed. All six strengths use the same hemp extract.
• You can match the batch number on your bottle to its report on our Certificate of Analysis page.
• We’re a licensed pet food manufacturer in California (Department of Public Health Pet Food Production License #122677, with Industrial Hemp Authorization).

If you’re comparing oils, our guide to the best CBD oil for dogs lines up 10 popular oils side by side, including ours.

Where to Buy CBD for Dogs

You'll find CBD for dogs online, in some pet stores and at some vet clinics. Wherever you buy, the checklist above applies. And skip human CBD products, which can be too strong and may contain THC or xylitol. Here's why: is human CBD oil safe for dogs?

Buying directly from us gets you:

• The full range in one place, including oil in six strengths, capsules, chews, treats, and balm.
• Lab reports from an accredited lab that you can match to your batch.
• 20% off when you subscribe
• A 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can learn more about in our return policy.
• Real people to ask about strengths and products at (213) 456-8173.

We ship CBD products within the US only.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best CBD product for dogs?

It depends on your dog. Oil is the most flexible because you can adjust the amount by fractions of a milliliter. Capsules and chews are the easiest if you want a fixed amount with no measuring.

For picky dogs, chews or oil mixed into wet food usually work best.

Do CBD treats work as well as CBD oil?

In dog studies, soft chews were absorbed about as well as oil. The difference is flexibility: oil lets you fine-tune the amount, while each treat has a fixed amount of CBD.

Can I give my dog CBD oil and CBD treats together?

Yes, as long as you add up the CBD from both. Treat the total as your dog's amount for the day, not each product separately.

How long does CBD take to work in dogs?

Blood levels peak a couple of hours after a dose. For a predictable stressful event, like a car ride, give it about 1.5 to 2 hours ahead.

For ongoing comfort, give it a few weeks of steady use before deciding how it's going.

Can full-spectrum CBD make my dog high?

CBD itself isn't intoxicating, but full-spectrum products can contain THC, and dogs are especially sensitive to THC.

Check the THC result on the lab report, keep all cannabis products out of reach, and call your vet if your dog seems wobbly or unusually sleepy.

Is Innovet's CBD organic?

Our hemp isn't certified organic. Instead, we use cold CO2 extraction, potency testing for every strength, and full contaminant panels posted for our 250 mg and 6,000 mg strengths.

You can read the reports on our Certificate of Analysis page.

Do you have CBD for cats too?

Yes. Cats need a different strength and formula, so see our CBD oil for cats.