CBD oils and CBD-infused dog treats are popular health supplements for dog owners around the world. They’re used to support chronic conditions such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, and much more.
Unfortunately, companies with poor integrity are cashing in on the trend by selling ineffective or potentially unsafe products at a premium to unsuspecting customers.
It’s important to know what to look for in quality CBD pet products, and where to buy products that are worth the money.
Here, we’ll cover the top three CBD pet products for 2020 and offer some tips on what to look for when buying CBD products for dogs.
Top Three CBD Products for Dogs (2020)
- Royal CBD – Award Winning, Best CBD Product 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 Dog Treats — Editor’s Pick
These CBD-infused dog treats come in three different formulas. Each formula is optimized for a specific application or condition:
A) Active Treats — For supporting joint health and mobility. Formulated with turmeric, boswellia, hemp seed, and CBD. Pumpkin-flavored.
B) Calming Treats — To help with anxiety and chronic stress. Formulated with L-theanine, chamomile, hemp seed, and CBD. Peanut butter and apple-flavored.
C) Hearty Treats — For supporting general health and wellbeing. Formulated with blueberries (antioxidant), flaxseed (omega-3 fatty acid), hemp seed, and CBD. Sweet potato and blueberry flavored.
These dog treats have already earned various high-profile mentions from industry experts as one of the best CBD products for dogs. They’re made from a full-spectrum organic hemp extract, use all-natural ingredients and flavorings, and deliver a precise dose of 5 mg per piece.
Pros:
- Available in three unique formulas
- Contains a precise dose of 5 mg to accommodate dogs of all sizes
- Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Only available in the United States (won’t ship internationally)
2. Gold Bee CBD Oils — Runner-Up
Gold Bee is a renowned CBD brand in the United States — best known for the exceptionally high concentration of active terpenes.
Terpenes are a vital part of a quality CBD product because they provide additional painkilling, anti-anxiety, and analgesic properties to the oil.
These oils aren’t explicitly marketed towards dogs — but they’re perfectly safe to use with your animal. All Gold Bee CBD oils are non-psychoactive and don’t contain any ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.
While any of the Gold Bee CBD oils can be used safely with dogs, it’s best to match the potency of the oil with the size of your dog. We also recommend using the unflavored version of this oil instead of the sweet honey flavor.
- 300 mg CBD oil — for small dogs (less than 20 lbs)
- 600 mg CBD oil — for medium dogs (between 20 and 60 lbs)
- 1200 mg CBD oil — for large dogs (over 60 lbs)
Gold Bee CBD oils have been awarded as one of the best CBD oils by media outlets including SF Examiner, SF Weekly, CityBeat, Weed News, Observer, Orlando Weekly, SA Current, Metro Times, Cleveland Scene, VentureBeat, LA Weekly, and We Be High. They’re considered to provide some of the best value for the money.
Pros:
- Excellent cost to potency ratio (excellent value for the money)
- Made from high-quality organic hemp extract
- High terpene profiles make these oils stronger than average
Cons:
- Increased demand for these oils means they can be out of stock from time to time
3. Blessed CBD Oil — UK’s Best CBD Oil
Blessed CBD is a UK-based CBD company with an impressive range of CBD products to choose from.
The company’s CBD oil is suitable for both humans and their furry companions. They’re made from an organic, full-spectrum hemp extract and hemp seed oil. There are no added flavors or ingredients in this oil that would make them unsafe or unsuitable for dogs.
We’ve included this brand as an option for our UK-based readers because neither of the other companies on our list ship beyond the US border.
Another option to consider if you’re living in the UK or elsewhere in Europe is Crush CBD.
One of the most significant differences to be aware of when using Blessed CBD oils with your dog is the dose. These oils come in a smaller, 10 mL bottle, which means the total CBD is diluted into a smaller volume. The potency of these oils are higher than most CBD oils, so you’ll only need a few drops for a sufficient dose.
Pros:
- Made from organic, full-spectrum hemp extracts
- Independently tested for quality and potency
- Available in a wide range of potencies to match the size of your dog
Cons:
- Only available in the UK
What To Look For When Shopping For CBD Pet Products
There are many high-quality CBD companies to choose from — but there are also quite a few low-quality or scam companies to watch out for as well.
Here are four simple steps you can take to avoid getting ripped off and find a quality CBD brand from the beginning.
1. Check the CBD Potency
The potency of the CBD oil you’re using with your pet is essential. Checking the strength not only ensures you’re getting a real CBD product (as opposed to a hemp seed oil masquerading as a CBD oil), it also ensures you’re using a product that’s suitable for the size of your animal.
The CBD content should always be listed on the bottle. If you see terms like “hemp oil” or “hemp extract,” but no specific mention of the CBD content — keep looking. Many CBD companies operating on marketplaces like Amazon or eBay are selling hemp seed oil and making it look like a CBD oil. Hemp seed contains no active CBD.
Which potency should I use for my dog?
- Small dogs — aim for CBD oils with 300 mg per ounce or less
- Medium-sized dogs — aim for CBD oils with 600 mg per ounce or less
- Large dogs — aim for CBD oils with 1200 mg per ounce or less
2. Look for Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing is the only way to prove the contents of a CBD oil match what’s being advertised.
Here’s how these tests work.
A CBD company will produce a batch of hemp extract. The company will then voluntarily send a sample to a testing company with no affiliation with the brand. The testing facility will run a series of tests (depending on what the CBD brand orders) and return the results to the company.
These tests include:
- Cannabinoid content and profiles
- Terpene ratios
Contamination testing (pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, microbes)
Once the CBD brand receives the results, they can then choose to keep them secret or post them live on the company website.
Always look for brands that publish these results. This is done to prove the oils or other CBD products are as potent as the company claims — and proves the oils are free from contaminants that can harm your dog’s health.
If a CBD company isn’t posting these results, it leaves us wondering what the company has to hide.
3. What Type of Extract is it?
The type of extract used in a CBD pet product is important too. The best CBD pet products are made from a full-spectrum hemp extract. Many of the other ingredients included in quality hemp oil (terpenes, cannabinoids, sterols, etc.) provide additional support for the oil.
Cannabis terpenes are especially important. Some terpenes work to boost CBD’s effects directly by increasing absorption, decreasing metabolism, and providing specific therapeutic benefits of their own.
If you’re using a CBD isolate product with your pet (contains pure CBD without any additional chemicals), you may want to order some terpene concentrates to boost the oil’s effects.
Terpene concentrates are a cost-effective way to get more out of your CBD oil. You can order various terpenes from companies like Finest Labs.
4. Look For Companies With a Money-Back Guarantee
One of the hallmark signs of a quality CBD brand is a satisfaction guarantee.
Look for companies that stand behind their products by offering to refund the order if it doesn’t live up to your expectations. Most reputable brands will allow you to return the product within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied.
With that said, it can take time for CBD oils to work with your animals, so it’s important to use the oil for at least a week, and spend some time finding the optimal dose for your animal before deciding the oil doesn’t work.
Key Takeaways: Best CBD Products for Dogs
CBD products are very popular among dog owners these days. They’re primarily used to ease chronic joint pain in aging animals or alleviate separation anxiety or stress in dogs of all ages. However, there are many other applications for CBD products.
If you aim to use CBD products to support a specific condition, it’s important to speak with your vet prior to use. Your vet will be able to cross-reference any other medications or underlying health conditions your dog may have to make sure CBD is safe to use with your dog.
Always look for reputable brands when shopping for CBD products for your pet. Look for signs of third-party testing, quality ingredients, and satisfaction guarantees.
For a quick recommendation, check out the products offered by Royal CBD or Gold Bee. Both brands have already been highly recommended by industry experts and reputable media outlets as the best CBD products for dogs.