May 06, 2022

CBD Buyer's Guide [Pet Edition]

Since you’re here, we’re guessing you’re not just shopping for pet CBD. You’re looking for the best CBD for your best friend. Fur-tunately, you’re in the right place!

Whether you’re vetting a specific product or still need to narrow down your options, we developed this pet CBD buyer’s guide to help. Let’s dig in.

Which Form Of Pet CBD Are You Chasing?

First, it helps to have some idea of what you’re hunting for. And ultimately, the form(s) of CBD you choose depends on the desired outcome.

A L-O-T of pet CBD products have been unleashed in recent years. But, in a nutshell, you’ll likely see these when you’re searching the web or perusing your local pet store:

  • Topicals, such as CBD hot spot balms
  • CBD pet shampoos and other grooming products
  • CBD treats for dogs and cats
  • Pet CBD capsules
  • Pet CBD oil drops (aka tinctures)

Products that are used externally (on the skin and fur) won’t be fully absorbed into the bloodstream. But they do take effect where they’re applied. So if Lola’s paws are dry, a CBD-infused salve might do the trick!

Ingestible products stretch through the whole body once consumed. This makes CBD capsules, treats, and dropsvery popular for arthritis, noise or separation anxiety, seizures, and all sorts of things you might typically turn to a pill for.

We have a whole guide calledThe Many Forms Of CBD Products Explained that gives you the rundown on, well, the forms of CBD if you want to dig a little deeper.

You don’t have to decide exactly which form is perfect for your pet right now, but being clear on topical versus ingestible will make the process less purr-plexing. So will these eight questions.

8 Questions To Ask When Buying CBD For Dogs & Cats

Can’t make heads or tails of a pet CBD product? Run it through this test to help you sniff out the good stuff.

Will My Pet Actually Use Or Take This CBD?

Have you ever brought home a new bag of fancy treats for your fur child (which had an equally fancy price tag) only to find out it won’t eat them? That’s money down the drain, and you definitely don’t want your CBD bucks to have the same fate.

If you’re looking for topicals, you probably don’t have to worry about your pet’s opinion. But felines and canines can be randomly persnickety about what they will and won’t roll over for. If you’re springing for treats, see if you can get a trial size before you go all-in.

Here’s another simple trick: Go flavorless. An unflavored pet CBD tincture is a surefire way to slip a dose past their sniffers and into their food, water, and even homemade treats. Tinctures are also more cost-effective. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Does It Have Good Reviews?

Reviews are a treasure trove of feedback from customers. Definitely check them out before you buy any pet CBD product online to see what pet owners have to say.

If you’re buying pet CBD products in person, talk to the store employees to see if anyone has tried it.

Is It THC-Free CBD?

CBD and THC have a lot in common: They come from cannabis, they’re full of potential benefits, and they work with the endocannabinoid system to take effect.

But when it comes to your pet’s CBD, THC should not be invited. THC can be toxic to cats and dogs in high doses, so it’s important to make sure there’s no THC detected in the CBD products you choose.

Even if THC isn’t listed on the packaging, give the certificate of analysis (COA) a gander. Which brings us to our next question.

Does It Have A Certificate Of Analysis From A Third-Party Lab?

We’ll be frank: The CBD industry is still in its big-pawed puppy phase. Rules are trying to catch up with the speed of the industry, and companies can do their own product testing and generate a COA. In-house testing leaves room for fibbing on details like CBD and THC content.

That’s why we recommend checking out the COA to see that testing was done by a third-party lab while double-checking that it’s THC-free.

Is It Made With Organically-Grown Hemp?

Ever seen a hungry cat attack a dish of tuna fish? Hemp plants are equally efficient at sucking up heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins from soil — not things you want your best furry friend to be exposed to.

A peek at the product ingredients should tell you whether the hemp was organically cultivated. While you’re there, you can A the next Q.

Are All The Ingredients Up To Snuff?

As a pet parent, you’ve probably skimmed your share of ingredient labels. That’s a habit you’ll want to keep for your pet’s CBD.

Naturally, you’ll want to avoid ingredients that are unsafe for dogs and cats — like chocolate, xylitol, and salt. This is also when you’ll want to check for things your pet has allergies or sensitivities to.

Minimal ingredients are generally preferred for pets, so make sure there aren’t unnecessary additives like artificial flavors or colorants. The shorter the ingredients list, the better.

Do The Dosage Guidelines Make Sense?

Cats and dogs are more sensitive to CBD than humans, so it’s key to keep their dosage in a safe range. Pet CBD dosage recommendations are usually based on weight, just like any supplement or medicine. 

This is another reason why tinctures are so dang popular: You can ease your animal companion into CBD drop-by-drop versus the pre-measured dose you get in a pill or treat.

If you’re giving your dog or cat a CBD treat or other pre-measured product, make sure it’s the right amount for your pet’s weight, or that you can accurately divide the dose.

Is It Nano Optimized?

Our fur babies can’t tell us when they feel the effects of CBD, but there is a way to make sure they have the best chance of getting all the benefits: Go nano.

Nano CBD is made with nanotechnology, which makes the particles ultra-tiny and up to 90% more bioavailable than particles in regular CBD. That means your pet’s body can absorb it more efficiently for better results.

Dog-Ear This For Future Pet CBD Shopping

Now you have your eight-point inspection for pet CBD products, but it’s a lot to remember! Hit the bookmark button in your browser so you can fetch it at a moment’s notice.

At the end of the day, quality, third-party tested nano pet CBD that’s easy to administer is your companion’s best fur-end!

SHOP CBD FOR PETS 



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