Key points

  • Oils containing high amounts of THC can be toxic to dogs. Pets should steer clear of any product made from marijuana rather than hemp plants, and should never consume oil containing more than 0.3% THC.

  • Beyond THC levels, dogs (like humans) benefit from quality production. Many human CBD oils contain super-strength isolates and imported ingredients. Dogs need carefully produced full spectrum oil extracted from CBD-rich strains.

  • If a CBD oil intended for humans doesn’t include any of the above, it’s likely okay for dogs to consume. But remember, dogs usually require much lower dosages than humans!

Bottle of CBD Hemp Oil - THC FreeWhen properly extracted, most CBD oils for animals and humans are similar. Both should be free of contaminants, come from certified industrial hemp farms, and have minimal amounts of the cannabinoid THC.

So as long as CBD oil is made from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC, it should be okay to give your pup the same product you’re using.

Really, the question here is about the quality of CBD products, amount of THC, and strength dosages.

What’s the difference?

Marijuana vs hemp

Human CBD oils are more diverse than CBD oils for dogs. In the human market, CBD can be paired with other cannabis derivatives, such as THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis that creates the ‘stoned’ high for which the plant is famous.

You’re most likely to encounter this THC/CBD oil in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational or medical use. For everyone else—and dogs—CBD should only have trace amounts of THC, up to 0.3 percent.

The other major difference between dog-approved and non-appropriate CBD oils is where the CBD is extracted from. Low or zero CBD oil is likely extracted from the hemp plants—the non-psychoactive species of cannabis. CBD oil containing more moderate levels of THC is likely to have come from marijuana strains.

CBD oil extracted from marijuana is often used by people looking for the benefits of THC and terpenes, without the full psychoactive effects of inhaling or eating cannabis. While this might work for you, your dog is not interested.

Terpenes

Another element of human CBD oil that may be an issue for dogs are terpenes. Terpenes are found in the essential oils of many pungent plants, from conifers and pines to citrus fruits, as well as in cannabis.

The aromatic profile of terpenes plays a big role in determining the flavor of cannabis strains, but growing evidence also suggests that terpenes contribute to cannabinoid’s bioactivity, creating something called the entourage effect.

Dogs can and do ingest terpenes all the time—in fact, most drug sniffer dogs are trained to detect cannabis by its terpene profile. However, some believe that dogs experience a higher risk of gastrointestinal irritation when regularly consuming CBD products containing high concentrations of pungent terpenes.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, or if you’d rather not expose them to anything but CBD alone, many brands sell ‘pure isolate’ products.

Here’s our full explainer: Isolate vs. broad spectrum vs. full spectrum CBD oil for dogs.

Strength

Recommended CBD dosages for humans do not apply to dogs. So if you are sharing your personal supply with your pup, start with 0.25 to 0.5 mg of CBD per pound of your dog’s body weight, depending on the specific health issue being treated.

From there, feel free to gradually raise the amount if your dog continues to respond well. If using human CBD oil, you will need to calculate how milligrams of CBD per milliliter of your CBD oil (for reference, there are just under 30ml in one fluid ounce.)

A 2017 survey on the labeling accuracy of more than 80 CBD products found that over 40 percent of products under-labeled their concentration of CBD. While this isn’t necessarily a serious issue, given CBD’s very high toxicity threshold, dogs lower dosage needs mean they are more likely to be affected by mislabeling than humans.

Carrier oils

Not every CBD oil is made from the same constituent ingredients. Even pure isolate CBD needs some form of carrier oil to aid digestion and maintain freshness—and not all oils used in human products are ideal for consumption by dogs.

The most common carrier oils for CBD include hemp seed oil, coconut and palm oil (MCTs), avocado oil, and grape seed oil. Thanks to its availability, high-fat content, and (some say) preferable taste, MCT or medium-chain triglyceride oil is often the preferred choice.

THC and dogs

Again, the main issue with human CBD oil is that it often has a higher THC content. While not necessarily harmful, dogs and THC do not mix well. If your dog does happen to ingest THC, expect to see symptoms ranging from confusion, anxiety, and paranoia, to discoordination, drunkenness, and lethargy.

If you think your dog may have accidentally consumed a cannabis product containing high amounts of THC, it’s important to inform your vet and monitor them closely.

Check out our 10 best CBD oils for dogs for a safe and effective list of products.