The arthritis trial
In 2018 a team at Cornell published a randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trial in Frontiers in Veterinary Science: dogs with osteoarthritis received CBD oil or placebo, each for four weeks, with owners and veterinarians blinded.
Pain scores fell and activity rose on CBD against placebo, on both the owner-completed pain questionnaire and the veterinary assessment. The dose was 2 mg per kilogram of body weight twice daily, and the design — each dog acting as its own control — is a strong one for a study this size.
Set that against the human arthritis picture, where the largest randomised trial found CBD indistinguishable from placebo. The species, the dose per kilogram and the condition all differ, and the honest reading is not that dogs are luckier — it is that this is one positive trial in dogs and one null trial in people, and both are small.
The epilepsy trial
A randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2019 gave CBD alongside conventional antiepileptic treatment to dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy.
Seizure frequency fell significantly in the CBD group compared with placebo. The proportion of dogs meeting the usual definition of a responder did not differ between groups, which is the complication the headline version leaves out: fewer seizures overall, without the clean responder split a clinician would want.
The liver finding both trials reported
Both studies recorded a rise in alkaline phosphatase, a liver enzyme, in a substantial share of dogs receiving CBD. Nothing in either trial suggested harm over those weeks, and neither ran long enough to say what a year would do. It is the single strongest reason to involve a vet, who can take a blood sample before you start and again a few weeks in.
What a vet adds that a shop cannot
- A diagnosis. Limping has many causes and arthritis is only one; the wrong one treated is time lost.
- Baseline bloods, which is the only way the enzyme finding above can be monitored.
- The medicines your dog already takes. CBD inhibits the enzymes that clear many of them, in dogs as in people.
- Licensed options first. Veterinary anti-inflammatories for dogs have far more evidence than CBD does, and a vet can say whether they suit your dog.
Why dosing is per kilogram
The trials dosed by body weight, which is how veterinary medicine works: 2 mg per kilogram twice daily in the arthritis study. A ten-kilogram terrier and a forty-kilogram labrador are not on the same amount.
| Dog | At the trial dose, twice a day |
|---|---|
| 5 kg | 10 mg |
| 10 kg | 20 mg |
| 20 kg | 40 mg |
| 40 kg | 80 mg |
Those are the trial’s numbers rather than a recommendation, and they are far above what most pet products on a shelf deliver in a serving. It is worth checking the arithmetic on a bottle before assuming it can reach them.
THC is a different matter entirely
Dogs are markedly more sensitive to THC than people are, and cannabis poisoning in pets has risen sharply wherever legalisation has spread. Signs include stumbling, dribbling urine, glazed eyes, tremors and extreme sensitivity to sound. It is rarely fatal and it is frightening, and it needs a vet the same day.
Which makes a full-spectrum product a worse idea for a dog than for a person, and a certificate showing the THC figure worth more than any claim on the bottle.
Never give a dog a human edible
- Xylitol, the sweetener in many sugar-free gummies, is severely toxic to dogs and the amount that causes harm is small. The FDA has published consumer guidance on it for exactly this reason.
- Chocolate, in any CBD chocolate.
- Raisins, grapes and macadamias, which turn up in bars and snacks.
- Human doses, which are not scaled to a dog at all.
Cats are not small dogs
Almost everything above is about dogs, because that is where the trials are. Cats metabolise compounds differently — their liver handles several drug classes poorly, which is why medicines safe for a dog can be dangerous for a cat — and the cannabinoid work in cats is thinner again.
Pharmacokinetic work suggests cats absorb CBD differently from dogs, and there is no efficacy trial of the kind the dog literature has. If the patient is a cat, the vet conversation is not optional.
What to watch for once you start
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sleepiness or wobbliness | Common at the start and dose-related. If it persists, lower the dose and speak to the vet. |
| Loose stools | The commonest reason owners stop, and often the oil carrier rather than the CBD. |
| Off food | Worth a call, since appetite change is also a sign of other things. |
| Any change in an existing condition | Straight to the vet, particularly if your dog is on other medicines. |
Choosing a pet product
| What to check | Why it matters for a dog |
|---|---|
| Milligrams per millilitre | The only way to dose by weight, which is how the trials did it. |
| A THC figure on a certificate | Not "THC free" as a phrase. A number, from a batch matching the bottle. |
| Nothing else in the bottle | No xylitol, no chocolate, no essential oils, and preferably no flavourings at all. |
| A dropper you can read | Half a millilitre matters on a small dog. |
| Made for animals | Not because the molecule differs, but because the additives do. |
What none of this establishes
Two trials in dogs are two trials. Neither says anything about anxiety, thunderstorms, fireworks, separation or ageing, which is what most pet CBD is actually sold for, and no controlled trial has tested those.
The honest summary: real evidence in two specific conditions, at a dose far above most products, with a liver enzyme to watch — and nothing at all for the uses that sell the most bottles.
Carried across from the earlier version of this page so the formats can be compared side by side. These are not recommendations: we have not tested them, and the details on each need checking against current listings before anyone acts on them.
HEMPBOMBS CBD OIL
HempBombs Pet CBD Oil 125mg
Budget
- 125mg of CBD Oil per Bottle
HempBombs is a popular name in the CBD world, so you can trust that their products for pets are just as high quality as their products for humans. Each bottle contains 125mg of lab-tested CBD oil blended specifically for pets with absolutely no THC. Customers use HempBombs Pet CBD Oil to help manage their pet’s digestive health especially if they are prone to anxiety, plus relieve pain in arthritic animals and mitigate the symptoms of old age. With both chicken and beef flavors available, you won’t have to worry about a bad taste preventing your pet from enjoying the benefits of CBD. Not sure how much to give your pet? Check with HempBombs dosing chart to figure out the perfect dose every time, or check our Hemp Bombs review to know more about the brand.
CBDMD OIL FOR DOGS
CBDmd CBD Oil for Dogs
Budget
- Different Sizes and Strenghts Available
CBDFX PETS HEMP OIL
CBDFx Pets Hemp Oil
Mid-range
- 150mg, 300mg or 60mg of CBD
CBDfx had been focused on creating the best and purest pet CBD tincture and they’ve just made it. This line of pet CBD products is made of CBD raw material with no toxins, pesticides or heavy metals, ensuring that your pet is safe when consuming it. As every CBDFx product, it’s made using full spectrum CBD to avoid THC traces and assuring it’s the highest quality product to provide pain and stress relief for your pet.
It’s made for dogs, cats or any other pet, but if you have any doubt, you can read the lab report for each product (or even our CBDFx review). Each CBD Oil is intended for different breed sizes: the 150mg CBD Oil is for small breeds, the 300mg for medium breeds and the 600mg for large breeds.
CBDMD OIL FOR DOGS
CBDmd Treats for Dogs
Budget
- Different Sizes and Strenghts Available
KOI CBD SPRAY
Koi CBD Spray
Mid-range
- FREE Shipping
- 500mg of CBD Oil per Bottle
CANNA-PET HEMP OIL
Canna-Pet ® – Advanced MaxHemp Liquid
Premium
- 100% Organic
- 300 Drops of CBD Oil
CannaPet’s Liquid MaxHemp is a highly concentrated, 100% organic whole plant CBD oil with 300 drops packed into each 10ml bottle. This blend is ideal for dogs and horses who deal with noise anxiety or pain and inflammation that comes with old age. It’s recommended that the drops are placed directly into your pet’s mouth under the tongue, but they can also be added to food.
For dogs under 20 pounds, the recommended dose is 2-3 drops, 3-4 times a day. For dogs over 20 pounds, 3-4 drops, 3-4 times per day is the recommended dose.
For horses, it’s recommended to start with 15 drops, 3 times a day.
For cats, it’s recommended to use the capsules as they do not usually like the taste of the oil.
The main difference is that liquid products are absorbed sublingually and metabolize more rapidly than capsules, which are absorbed through the stomach and take longer to kick in. The liquids are also nice if your animal has dietary restrictions or hasn’t been eating and you’re hoping to bring back their appetite.
Crude Protein Minimum 1.0%
Crude Fat Minimum 15.0%
Crude Fiber Maximum 12.3%
Ash Maximum 3.3%
PURCBD+ OIL
PurCBD+ PhytoCannaBinoiD Oil for Pets
Budget
- 100% Organic
- Hemp-Based Phytocannabinoid
Innovet’s PurCBD+ oil for pets is a 100% organic hemp-based phytocannabinoid oil formulated specifically for dogs, cats, and horses. The cannabis used in PurCBD+ products is obtained via solvent-free CO2 extraction before it’s third party tested to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy. Common uses for their oils include pain, inflammation, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, loss of appetite, and seizures.
In 2016, the owners of Innovet began researching CBD after their rescue bulldog, Gordo, was diagnosed with lymphoma and had a bad reaction to chemo treatments. In their quest for alternative care options, they decided to give CBD a try but sadly, Gordo passed away before their first bottle of oil arrived in the mail. They gave some of the oil to their other dog, Maximus, who had been fighting nasal cancer since 2012. Less than an hour after his first dose of CBD he was up walking around and exploring like he hadn’t done in years. Read more of their inspiring story and why they trust CBD for their pets.
HONEST PAWS PURITY
Honest Paws Purity
Mid-range
- Fast-acting Oil
- 125, 250 or 500mg of CBD Oil
- Purity Level 1 contains 125 mg of Cannabidiol, ideal for dogs that weigh up to 25 lbs.
- Purity Level 2 contains 250 mg of Cannabidiol, ideal for dogs that weigh between 25-50 lbs.
- Purity Level 3 contains 500 mg of Cannabidiol, ideal for dogs that weigh over 50 lbs.
Honest Paws Purity Tinctures are all-natural, fast-acting, highly absorbable phytocannabinoid oils. They help to calm your pet’s anxieties and phobias, mitigate seizures and spasms, relieve pain and inflammation, and improve their overall quality of life, especially as they get older. Their general dosing guidelines are as follows:
CBD Distillery
CBD Distillery
Budget
- 100% Organic
- 150mg of CBD Tincture per Bottle
The CBD Distillery believes that humans should not be the only ones reaping the many benefits of CBD. Their 150mg CBD pet tincture allows your pets to feel the same calm, relaxing relief that you’ve found in your own CBD products. They use 100% organic, all-natural, cold-pressed hemp seed to produce an oil blended specifically for the needs of cats, dogs, horses, and other furry friends. The cold-pressed extraction process allows for easy digestion, so it’s great for pets dealing with a loss of appetite or nausea from illness or chemo treatments.
SOURCE CBD OIL
Source CBD Oil
Budget
- For Small and Medium-Sized Dogs
- 200mg of CBD Tincture per Bottle
Source CBD’s 200mg canine tincture is designed for small and medium-sized dogs who need relief from anxiety, pain, and the uncomfortable effects of aging. By infusing cannabidiol-rich industrial grade hemp oil with liquid coconut MCT oil, the result is 200mg of high-quality CBD tincture formulated specifically for your furry friend.
If you are going to try it
- Talk to your vet first, and take the bottle with you.
- Get bloods done before starting and a few weeks in.
- Dose by weight, written down, at the same times.
- Change one thing, and keep the dog’s other medicines exactly as they are.
- Measure something countable — stairs climbed, walk length, seizure days — rather than an impression.
- Stop and call the vet if your dog becomes lethargic, wobbly or stops eating.
The products this page covers
Questions people ask
Does CBD work for dogs with arthritis?
A randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial in osteoarthritic dogs found lower pain scores and more activity on CBD at 2 mg per kilogram twice daily, on both owner and veterinary assessments. It is one trial, and it is more than the human arthritis evidence shows.
How much CBD should I give my dog?
The trials dosed by body weight — 2 mg per kilogram twice daily in the arthritis study — which is far above what many pet products deliver per serving. Work it out for your dog's weight and check the bottle can reach it, with your vet.
Is CBD safe for dogs?
Both randomised trials recorded a rise in alkaline phosphatase, a liver enzyme, in a substantial share of dogs. Nothing suggested harm over those weeks and neither ran long. That is the reason to have bloods done before starting and again a few weeks in.
What if my dog eats a cannabis edible?
Call a vet the same day. Dogs are far more sensitive to THC than people, and many human edibles also contain xylitol or chocolate, both of which are toxic to dogs in their own right.
Sources
- Gamble LJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:165. accessed Sep 18, 2026
- McGrath S, et al. Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019;254(11):1301-1308. accessed Sep 18, 2026
- Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs. US Food and Drug Administration. .gov accessed Sep 18, 2026
- FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol. US Food and Drug Administration. .gov accessed Sep 18, 2026
