If you follow natural health, you’ve likely heard of the exploding popularity of CBD oil for dogs. However, with its popularity comes a plethora of low quality sellers looking to make a quick buck. We put together this buying guide to help you choose a product that will make the most impact on your dog’s health.
#1 – Never Purchase a CBD Oil Without Examining a Current Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the Batch You’re Buying
A certificate of analysis (abbreviated COA) contains laboratory testing results of your CBD oil. Ideally, the certificate should show high amounts of CBD and zero THC.
If you cannot find a COA on the website of the CBD seller you’re considering, move on. Legitimate CBD oil brands will have nothing to hide. In addition, make sure you’re viewing the COA for the batch of CBD you will be receiving. Some sellers simply run a one time test don’t retest each batch.
You can view examples of CBD COAs here.
#2 – For Dogs, Choose a Product With Zero THC
Dogs are incredibly sensitive to THC. Most human and even pet CBD brands include a small amount of THC in their CBD oils.
Because of dogs’ sensitivity to THC toxicity, we strongly recommend purchasing a product that contains zero detectable THC on the certificate of analysis. Dogs react much differently to THC than humans, and although under .3% would never make human “high”, even trace amounts of THC can have negative effects on small animals.
#4 – Only Purchase an Organic Hemp Product & Check These 3 Tests
As many of us already know, buying organic matters more for certain kinds of plants. Because hemp has the unique ability to pull toxins from the soil, choosing an organic product is absolutely crucial. If a product is not organic, simply skip it and choose a better option.
In addition, make sure you review these 3 tests before purchasing. Any reputable brand will post them publicly for the batch of CBD you are buying:
- Microbial Test – Checking for pathogens like salmonella or E. coli.
- Heavy Metals Test – Looking for pollutants like lead. We’ve seen some sub-par products tested that contains 10x a safe level!
- Pesticides Test – Even if a product is organic, pesticide contamination from other crops in possible.
#5 – Low Price Is Always a Red Flag
If the price of a CBD oil is significantly lower than others, odds are the company is cutting corners on quality, or the amount of CBD is very low. Most likely, CBD priced very aggressively is extracted from the hemp using a less than ideal method, which results in less therapeutic qualities in the oil.
Related: Considering CBD treats for your dog instead of oil? Here’s what you need to know
#6 – Beware of Products Labeled Only as “Hemp Oil”
Many manufacturers skirt regulations by not putting the term “CBD” on their product label, and call it only “hemp oil.” If you cannot verify the amount of CBD in a hemp product, DO NOT buy it. Again, this information should should be verified and located on the seller’s COA.
Also, note there’s a significant difference between “Hemp Oil with CBD” and “Hemp Seed Oil”. Hemp seed oil is a perfectly acceptable medium as long as it also contains added CBD. However, hemp seed oil alone does not contain enough CBD to be therapeutic.
#7 – Choose Full-Spectrum or Broad Spectrum and Not CBD Isolate
You may come across the term “full-spectrum CBD oil” or “CBD isolate”. A full or broad spectrum product uses the many cannabinoids and terpenes found naturally in hemp, while a CBD isolate product contains only CBD. We believe nature knows best, and using a product that more closely mirrors what nature designed is ideal. Many believe the whole plant offers an “entourage effect” where your dog benefits from a more complete variety of the phytochemicals found in hemp.
How to Choose an Effective Safe CBD Oil for Your Dog
The iHeartDogs team was consulted on the creation of the Cannanine™ brand of CBD Oil for Dogs. The brand offers unsurpassed testing and is the only product that supports animal shelters with each purchase. Every bottle provides 7 meals for shelter dogs!
If you’d like to dive deeper into the topic of CBD for dogs, we’d encourage you to visit our Ultimate Guide to CBD for Dogs. In this document we discuss most common uses, risks, side-effects, scientific studies, and much more.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.
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