Holistapet didn’t make the cut in our review of the best CBD oil for dogs in 2023. But we think this California-based company has more to offer beyond their oils. With a range of intriguing, superfood-infused CBD treats and a large customer base, let’s take a deep dive into Holistapet CBD oil and Holistapet dog treats.
Who is Holistapet?
California-based pet CBD brand HolistaPet was founded by a group of health specialists with over 25 years of combined experience in the organic food industry. Today, they’ve earned a large following and carry a significant online presence. They create their CBD products in partnership with hemp farms in Colorado and claim to offer some of the highest-grade CBD pet products around.
Quality assurance
When we review CBD oils, our first port of call is always ingredient and production quality. As a natural supplement, CBD is only as good as the hemp it’s made from, and the skill of extractors. Thankfully, Holistapet provides some great quality assurance claims that separate them from many brands out there. Their products are 100 percent organic and vegan, as well as being cruelty-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free. They also reject the use of artificial flavors or colors.
Like most CBD companies, Holistapet advocates for the benefits of treatment through the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a network of signaling molecules inside ours and or dog’s bodies, which affects all major organs and systems. The signaling molecules (endocannabinoids) are thought to be responsible for maintaining internal balance, controlling things like temperature and inflammation.
Cannabis products can mimic and boost endocannabinoids, resulting in tangible effects on pain, swelling, stress, sleep, and the immune system.
Customer focus
As well as caring about their ingredients, Holistapet demonstrates a genuine interest in customer satisfaction, through a 30 day, 100 percent satisfaction, money-back guarantee. They also offer free US shipping with every purchase and a 15 percent discount on purchases by new customers.
Holistapet keeps track of their customer experiences with testimonials, Trustpilot verified reviews, and owner-recorded videos—such as the one below, featuring Louie the Schnauzer! At the time of writing this review, Holistapet’s products received 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 2,057 reviews from owners of cats and dogs of all ages.
Owner testimonials from Holistapet:
Paula’s adopted dog Jamie had developed “some really severe separation anxiety over the past few years,” coming home “to find the door bottom all chewed up.” After supplementing Jamie’s diet with CBD treats, Paula observed immediate changes: “the next time I came home, to my surprise, there were no anxiety issues, no destruction or signs of any stress. Actually, she has been stress-free ever since.”
When Bethany’s pup Stacey was diagnosed with chronic arthritis and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, she found that the drugs were expensive without having significant effects. Switching to CBD, Bethany found that “feeding my girl only about 1-2 treats a day is much more affordable than the prescription drugs from my vet. Seems to work better too so I’m a happy mom.”
Best Holistapet CBD oils and treats for dogs
Holistapet CBD Oil For Dogs
Broad spectrum extract
Organic hemp
Hemp seed oil carrier
Holistapet’s CBD oil didn’t make it into this year’s list of the best CBD oil for dogs, but we think their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing process represents the best practices for the industry. They develop personal relationships with established organic farms and ensure that they only work with the most beneficial strains of low-THC hemp plants.
Because they use CO2 extraction, there’s also a little-to-zero risk of contamination, with the most likely extraction byproduct being excess carbonation (the bubbles in soda). Holistapet also has their CBD oil certified by a third party, the results of which show the extraction is almost all CBD with trace amounts of THC and other Cannabinoids.
Price per mg of CBD
Depending on the size of the bottle, the price of Holistapet’s CBD per mg is between a respectable $0.17 and a highly competitive $0.05, according to our calculations. If you’re on the fence about trying Holistapet out, this is good news, as buying a small bottle first won’t leave you significantly out of pocket. If you decide that this oil is the one for your pup, then we’d recommend forking out for the largest size, and reaping the per/mg savings over time.
Spectrum
Holistapet is a full-spectrum CBD brand. This means that they formulate their CBD extraction so that a small amount of other, non-psychoactive cannabinoids are included along with the primary CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of over 100 cannabinoids found in hemp plants, and many other cannabinoid compounds are thought to offer similar or additional benefits.
Beyond their individual benefits, brands choose to create full-spectrum products because of the entourage effect. This theory states that cannabinoids are more able to affect the body when supplied as a cocktail than when isolated and administered independently. While this might sound mysterious, the truth is that science has yet to fully identify the mechanism by which cannabis products interact with the body. So, we think that leaving more of the chemical profile of cannabis intact just makes good sense.
Carrier oil
Holistapet uses hemp seed oil to carry their CBD extraction, which is made by pressing the seeds of hemp plants. It isn’t considered a cannabis product and is not psychoactive, but it may contain trace amounts of cannabinoids. For this reason, it’s thought that the combination of full-spectrum CBD oil and hemp seed oil is the best way to promote the entourage effect in CBD oils.
Even when consumed alone, hemp seed oil offers health benefits, which is why you’ll often find it in human dietary plans. It’s a rich source of polyunsaturated fats (better known as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids). These are easy on the stomach and promote the full digestion of CBD, as well as contributing to healthy skin and coat. Hemp seed oil also contains vitamins A, C, E, β-carotene, and tocopherol, which are known antioxidants.
Heart & Immune Care CBD dog treats
Organic hemp
10 cent per mg of CBD at largest size
Holistapet’s heart-healthy treat formula combines CBD oil with blueberry, flax, and hemp seed powder. They claim that these ingredients help prevent infection, sickness, and disease, and therefore promote a healthy heart and immune system, as well as soothe irritated skin and digestive system.
Holistapet’s whole food ingredients will definitely support better skin and gut health, especially if your dog is currently eating processed or extruded treats. And while the link between dogs with good cardiovascular health and a diet high in blueberries and seeds is not proven, we do know that these ingredients can be beneficial.
These ingredients are added to a base of naturally energizing sugars and carbs such as sweet potato and molasses, to create a mouthwatering treat that should effectively hide your pup’s CBD dosage.
Active ingredients: Blueberries, Flaxseed, Hemp Seed Powder, CBD Oil.
Other ingredients: Organic Sweet Potatoes, Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic Molasses, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Coconut Oil.
Stress & Anxiety Relief CBD dog treats
Organic hemp
10 cents per mg of CBD at largest size
These Holistapet dog treats are made with stomach-friendly ingredients like organic peanut butter and applesauce, which will help your dog feel more settled. Added to this are more direct anxiety reducers, inducing L-Theanine, and Chamomile.
Holistapet claims these ingredients can lower anxiety by increasing alpha wave generation and lower your pet’s anxiety. With the calming effect of these ingredients having long been appreciated by tea drinkers around the world, it seems plausible that dogs might appreciate them too.
Beyond these added ingredients, the CBD oil in these snacks should help your pup stay calm by boosting their endocannabinoid system which will promote homeostasis across their body.
Active ingredients: L-Theanine, Chamomile, Hemp Seed Powder, CBD Oil.
Other ingredients: Organic Peanut Butter, Organic applesauce, Brown Rice Flour, Molasses, Cinnamon, Organic Hemp Seed Oil.
Joint & Mobility Care CBD dog treats
Organic hemp
10 cents per mg of CBD at largest size
For their joint and mobility enhancing formula, Holistapet has chosen to add turmeric and Boswellia to their CBD treats. Turmeric is a staple ingredient in traditional Chinese and Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine, while Boswellia is a gum-resin with clinical backing as a proven anti-inflammatory.
Beyond these superfoods, however, CBD itself is increasingly being shown to have dramatic effects on both human and canine arthritis, reducing swelling and even promoting healing after CBD supplementation is stopped. Here’s our post on the state of research regarding CBD and arthritis.
Active ingredients: Turmeric Root, Boswellia, Hemp Seed Powder, CBD Oil
Other ingredients: Pumpkin Puree, Brown Rice Flour, Molasses, Cinnamon, Coconut Oil
Price per mg of CBD
The same CBD extraction and concentration are used across the three Holistapet dog treat options. All of the treats come in three sizes, with the smallest size offering a price of $0.18 dollars per milligram of CBD, and the largest size a price of $0.10. This is a competitive ratio and—considering the inclusion of other pricey ingredients in their formula—good value for money.
Spectrum
Like their oil, Holistapet’s treats are advertised as containing a full-spectrum CBD extraction, meaning that the products contain additional cannabinoids besides CBD. However, third party testing suggests that this isn’t the case. While the Heart & Immune formula showed trace amounts of the mood-boosting cannabinoid cannabichromene (CBC), Holistapet’s other two formulas contained no detectable cannabinoids aside from CBD.
This is a little confusing—as Holistapet commissioned these Certificates of Analysis themselves, yet still decided to give their product names the full spectrum label. Perhaps they are relying on consumers not looking into the details of their recipes…
Organic
All of Holistapet dog treats carry a ‘made with organic ingredients’ label, which means that a percentage of the ingredients qualify under organic categories, and not that the entire ingredients list is organic. However, even the extra effort required to source and select some organic products is a great sign for any pet snack producer, showing that Holistapet are genuinely caring and passionate about the pups they supply.
The CBD Spectrum
Full-spectrum CBD oils are formulated to include small amounts of non-psychoactive cannabinoids other than cannabidiol (CBD), which are either beneficial alone or are considered to enhance the effects of CBD. Here are a few of the main ones.
Our verdict
Holistapet is an established pet CBD brand with a best-in-class CBD oil and a range of intriguing treats. We appreciate the fully certified and responsibly sourced nature of their ingredients, and think that they offer good value for money in terms of the price of CBD per mg.
When it comes to Holistapet dog treats, we’re disappointed to see that claims of being ‘full spectrum’ don’t hold up to third party testing, and we’re also not fully sold on all of the health claims associated with their ‘superfood’ ingredients. However, the inclusion of organic food supplements along with the CBD is certainly no bad thing, and won’t diminish the benefits your dog receives from their CBD.
Disclaimer:
When products are purchased through our site, we may receive a commission. Always check manufacturer websites for the most up-to-date information. All our product recommendations are based on our experts’ opinions and thorough consumer research, including our list of best CBD oils for dogs in 2023.
