The Best Cbd Oil for Dogs: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (01/23)

ChicPet UK Hemp Oil for Dogs Cats Pets | Naturally Supports Calming and Mobility | Made in The UK | Organic | 30000mg 30ml

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8.99 GBP

Medipaws Hemp Oil for Dogs Twin Pack (x2) | Dog Calming Organic Hemp Oil | Omega 3 6 9 | Certified High Strength 50000mg

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19.99 GBP

Pippa & Max Hemp Oil for Dogs and Cats & Pets – 60,000MG 60ml – Hemp Extract Made in the UK – May Help Stiff Joints & Bones, Reduce Stress and Anxiety

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13.99 GBP

Hemp Oil Dogs -100% Natural, Dog Calming Drops 60,000mg, Dog Anxiety Relief, Pain Relief for Dogs, Health Supplement with Vitamins, Omega 3 & 6, Dog Calming Products

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11.99 GBP

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21.99 GBP

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8.99 GBP

Buying and evaluation criteria for CBD oils for dogs

Before you buy a CBD oil for your dog, there are a few things you should consider before making a purchase. In the following section, we have listed some criteria that you should consider when making your decision. We want to help you find the ideal CBD oil for your faithful companion.

The most important properties of CBD oil that you should consider for your dog before buying would be the following:

Ingredients
Intended use
Concentration
Quality

By making the right choice for you, you can save money and also ensure that you don’t give your dog something it doesn’t need. Always look for high quality and ask to see the manufacturer’s certificates if you need them.

Ingredients

The most important criterion for buying your ideal CBD oil for dogs is the ingredients. You should choose CBD oils that are based on whole or broad-spectrum hemp, as these also contain other cannabinoids and valuable additional oils.

Many CBD oils that can be purchased in the shops are isolates, which means that they do not contain any other cannabinoids besides CBD.

For this reason, they are more affordable in most cases, but the effect is not quite as optimal, as many useful additives are lost.

CBD oils also contain several vitamins, carotenoids, fatty acids, trace elements and minerals, which is also the reason why it is often used as a popular food supplement for dogs.

Intended use

Which CBD oil is the ideal solution for you and your dog depends largely on the intended use. The area of application of CBD oils is very broad, which is why you should first find out whether it should be used as a dietary supplement, to relieve pain or as an immune system booster.

Depending on the area of application, CBD oils with different concentrations are suitable.

If you want to use CBD oil as an additional support for your dog’s immune system or as a food supplement, it is recommended to use a CBD oil with a lower concentration. 5% solutions are ideal and can also be administered to healthy dogs without any concerns.

However, if your dog suffers from a disease or has severe acute or chronic pain and suffering, you should choose a stronger concentration as the effect will be more effective. A weak concentration will probably not produce the desired result and will only provide mild relief.

Concentration

Depending on the size of your dog, but also on the specific purpose for which you are using the CBD oil, a different concentration should be chosen. Especially for small dogs, a CBD oil with a lower concentration is recommended, as this cannot lead to an overdose so quickly.

You should make sure that the CBD content of your oil does not exceed 5%. The optimal dosage can be found in the package insert or you can consult your vet. If you have a dog that weighs more than 20 kilograms, you can use stronger concentrations, as these are made for larger dogs and the effect is not as strong as with smaller dogs. For severe pain, you should also use CBD oils with a higher CBD content.

Quality

The quality of the CBD oil for your dog is a decisive purchase criterion that you should definitely take into account when buying. Again, the question arises as to the intended use of the CBD oil.

If you want to use CBD oil as a dietary supplement for your dog, it is recommended that you buy a more expensive version if this guarantees the appropriate quality.

As mentioned above, the isolates do contain CBD, which is why the calming, relaxing effect is retained, but other valuable ingredients are lost.

Especially with food supplements, it is elementary that many important and supporting ingredients that have a positive effect on your dog’s immune system and body are included. Therefore, if you use CBD oil as a food supplement for your dog, you should rather choose a more expensive version with valuable ingredients.

Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying CBD oil for dogs

In the previous part, we already showed you which criteria you should look for when buying CBD oil for your dog. But these factors are not the only ones that are decisive for a purchase.

You probably have a few more questions, which we would like to answer in the following section. Therefore, we have collected the most frequently asked questions and will deal with them specifically in order to clear up ambiguities and uncertainties and to make your purchase decision easier.

What is CBD oil and how does it work?

CBD is the abbreviation for the active ingredient cannabidiol, which is extracted from female hemp and which has a calming effect on humans and animals when consumed. Cannabidiol is not psychoactive and can therefore be used safely as a remedy or palliative against pain (), anxiety () or sleep disorders.

Unpleasant stressful situations can be avoided through preventive use due to the stress-reducing effect, which is why your dog calms down more quickly or does not get so excited in the first place (3).

CBD oil influences the nervous system (4) of dogs, which is why it is used as a natural medicine to relieve pain. But CBD oils can also provide relief for very restless or aggressive dogs due to their calming effect. In addition, CBD oil can also be taken preventively as a dietary supplement or to boost the immune system of dogs (5).

When should CBD oil for dogs be administered and how should it be dosed?

CBD oil is not only used for acute complaints, but can also be safely administered to healthy dogs. However, especially in the case of more serious illnesses such as cancer () or epilepsy, CBD oil can relieve your dog of the worst pain due to its soothing effect.

But CBD oil can also be helpful for digestive problems, acute injuries and pain as well as psychological problems (7), as it has a calming effect on the dog’s nervous system.

CBD-Öl für Hunde-1 — It is not without reason that it is said that the dog is man’s best friend. That’s why you should also choose the right CBD oil for your dog to give him the best support or relieve his pain.
(Image source: unsplash / Yingchou Han)

The dosage depends on the size of the dog, but also on the extraction of the oil. The bigger the dog, the higher the dosage. Basically, you should just follow the instructions on the package leaflet or consult your dog’s doctor.

CBD oil is not suitable for pregnant dogs!

How should CBD oil for dogs be stored and what is its shelf life?

CBD oil for dogs can be stored for up to one year. It should be stored in a rather dark room, i.e. not exposed to direct sunlight. The room temperature should not exceed a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, but it should not be stored in the refrigerator, as this can change the concentration of the oil.

As with other medicines, food supplements or painkillers, it should be stored in such a way that it is not easily accessible to children. Therefore, it is best to lock the CBD oil for dogs in the medicine cabinet.

What side effects can occur with CBD oil for dogs?

Although CBD oil can be administered in small quantities without any problems, side effects such as dizziness, diarrhoea or headaches can occur in case of an overdose. However, these symptoms only occur in very rare cases ().

Low blood pressure, a dry feeling in the mouth and a fading memory (9) can also be consequences of excessive consumption of CBD oil.

However, if you follow the dosage recommended in the package insert, the consumption of CBD oil is absolutely safe for your dog. However, if you are not sure whether CBD oil is suitable for your dog, you can always consult your trusted doctor, as side effects can occur in rare cases (10).

CBD-Öl für Hunde-2 — With the right CBD oil for your dog, you can also prevent infections and strengthen his immune system.
(Image source: unsplash / Joe Caione)

What types of CBD oil are there for dogs?

Basically, every CBD oil for dogs contains the active ingredient cannabidiol, but in different extractions. The concentration of cannabidiol varies depending on the product and composition and is therefore used for different types of dogs.

As a general rule, the larger the dog, the higher the cannabidiol content in the CBD oil may be.

The two most common and popular variants of CBD oil for dogs are the 5% and the 10% concentration. We will therefore briefly explain what the difference is between these two options and which one is best for your dog.

5% CBD oil for dogs

This option is great for first time use and is especially suitable for smaller dogs. It is also ideal as a dietary supplement for healthy dogs (11), as the concentration is so low and it is therefore not easy to overdose.

However, if your dog is suffering from severe pain or illness, the 5% concentration will probably be too weak. In such a case, you should consult a veterinarian and, if necessary, use a stronger version.

To help you decide if the 5% CBD oil is the right option for your dog, we have demonstrated the important advantages and disadvantages in a table.

Advantages

Can be used as a food supplement
It can also be administered to healthy dogs without any problems
Due to the low concentration, it is not so easy to overdose

Disadvantages

Low potency
Partially too weak for large dogs
Stronger consumption, as larger quantities are needed

10% CBD oil for dogs

This option should only be given to dogs that weigh over 20 kilograms and/or suffer from severe pain or illness. If you only want to use CBD oil as a dietary supplement, this option should be used with caution and only administered in very small amounts. However, it will last longer and will not be used up as quickly.

Again, we have briefly illustrated the most important advantages and disadvantages in a clear table.

Advantages

Well suited for severe pain and illness
Large range and therefore several choices
Less wear and tear because of higher concentration

Disadvantages

Rather unsuitable for small dogs
Can be overdosed more easily because of the higher concentration
Not necessarily suitable for first-time use

What alternatives are there to CBD oil for dogs?

If you are not sure whether CBD oil is the ideal solution for you and your dog, there are also some alternatives that can provide relief depending on the intended use.

Therefore, you should be clear in advance about the problem for which you want to use these remedies. Depending on whether you need an ideal nutritional supplement, an immune system-boosting preparation or a painkiller for your dog, different alternatives are better or worse suited.

To help you decide which options are best for you and your dog, we have outlined them in a table to give you an overview of how they work.

Type	Description
Hemp seed oil	A cost-effective alternative to CBD oil for dogs is hemp seed oil, as it contains vitamins, antioxidants and important fatty acids. In addition, it supports your dog with valuable amino acids and a gamma-linolenic acid that has both anti-inflammatory and hormone-regulating effects. This option is particularly suitable as a food supplement and leads to an improvement in coat, nails and skin (12).
Painkillers	If you want to use CBD oil to alleviate severe pain or the course of your dog’s illness, painkillers can also be administered. Especially for acute and very severe ailments, painkillers often help faster and more effectively than CBD oil. Nevertheless, it is advisable to try natural active ingredients beforehand and not to resort to painkillers straight away, unless it is really necessary.
CBD drops/CBD globules/CBD treats	If you still don’t want to give up CBD but your dog doesn’t quite respond to using CBD oil, there are also some alternative preparations that can be used instead. CBD can also be fed to your dog in the form of drops, globules or treats. The globules have a slightly sweet taste and the treats are also refined in taste so that dogs prefer to consume them. The capsules are relatively tasteless and can therefore be easily mixed into the food.