Your furry friend is an integral part of your family, and it’s heartbreaking to watch your pet suffer from cancer. Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can cause side effects in dogs just as they do with humans. If the effects of the disease and treatments are difficult for your dog to handle, you can use CBD products to relieve symptoms and make your pet more comfortable.
Although CBD has shown promise with anecdotal evidence from dog owners, the FDA has not approved it as a treatment for humans or dogs. Before administering CBD drops to your dog, talk to your veterinarian for dosage advice and treatment tips. CBD oil is not available through large retailers like Chewy or Amazon, but we developed a list of the best CBD for dogs and reviews with links to CBD manufacturers.
A Glance at Our Favorites in 2023
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Best Overall |
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Royal CBD Full-Spectrum Pet Oil |
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Best Value |
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CBD Pure CBDPet 100 |
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Premium Choice |
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Spruce CBD Dog CBD Oil |
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Check Price |
Best for Puppies |
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Honest Paws CBD Oil for Dogs |
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Nuleaf Naturals CBD Oil for Dogs |
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The 8 Best CBD Oil for Dogs with Cancer
1. Royal CBD Full-Spectrum Pet Oil – Best Overall
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 250 mg, 500 mg |
Royal CBD has had success manufacturing CBD products for humans, and their Full Spectrum CBD Pet Oil is our winner for the best overall CBD oil for dogs. Royal CBD only uses organic, non-GMO hemp from California farms. The oil comes in 250-milligram and 500-milligram dosages, and it’s suitable for all breeds and life stages.
We liked Royal CBD’s commitment to quality and transparency with all its products. Each batch of CBD oil is tested by private labs to ensure the liquid is pure and safe for consumption. Compared to similar brands, Royal CBD is more expensive, but you do not have to worry about pesticides or other chemicals contaminating the CBD.
2. CBD Pure CBDPet 100 – Best Value
Size | 60 mL |
Potency | 100 mg |
If you’re hesitant to use a high dosage of premium CBD oil, you can try CBD Pure, which only contains 100 milligrams of CBD per bottle. We could not find another company that made high-quality CBD for such a low price, and CBD Pure won our best CBD oil for dogs for the money award. CBD Pure is ideal for owners of small and miniature breeds because of the lower concentration of CBD, and you can increase the dosage at any time. If you order multiple bottles of CBD Pure, you pay even less, but unfortunately, the manufacturer does not offer free shipping.
3. Spruce CBD Dog CBD Oil – Premium Choice
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 750 mg |
Dogs that have taken CBD before may benefit from a higher dosage, and you can use Spruce CDB for a 750-milligram dosage of CBD. Spruce CBD does not source its hemp from farmers that use pesticides, and each product is tested in a third-party facility. The company manufactures its oil for dogs in the same “human-grade” facility in which it makes CBD products for humans, but it replaces the hemp seed oil in its other recipes with coconut oil for dogs.
Some dogs dislike the taste of hemp, but most enjoy the flavor of coconut, and the oil is easier to digest than hemp oil. Customers were happy with Spruce CBD, but several were disappointed with the oil’s high price.
4. Honest Paws CBD Oil for Dogs – Best for Puppies
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg |
Honest Paws uses organic hemp without artificial flavors for its CBD oil for dogs, and it features more dosage options than most producers. If you have a puppy, you can start with a small dose, or you can use a higher dosage for an adult dog. Honest Paws uses non-GMO, organic hemp for its CBD oil and tests its products at private laboratories to ensure safety.
You can adjust the delivery date of your products and set up automatic monthly shipments. Honest Paws offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with all its products, and you can cancel monthly shipments at any time. The 125-milligram bottle is affordable, but there’s a significant price increase when you order higher dosages.
5. Nuleaf Naturals CBD Oil for Dogs
Size | 15 mL |
Potency | 300 mg, 900 mg, 1,800 mg |
Nuleaf Naturals is one of the few producers that has been certified by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and its production facility is certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nuleaf makes organic CBD oil for dogs from 100% Colorado-grown hemp, and it offers three dosage levels of CBD: 300 milligrams, 900 milligrams, and 1,800 milligrams.
The oil is free of additives and flavorings, and its only ingredients are organic virgin hemp seed oil and full-spectrum hemp extract. The full-spectrum blend contains CBD and cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and CBC. Nuleaf Naturals is a high-quality product, but its higher dosages may not be suitable for all dogs. Also, the 15 mL bottle is a little pricey.
6. Joy Organics CBD Oil for Pets
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 450 mg, 900 mg |
Joy Organics produces several CBD products for humans, and they make 450-milligram and 900-milligram CBD oil for pets. The oil is made with extra virgin olive oil and broad-spectrum hemp extract. You can make one-time purchases from the Joy Organics website or enroll in its subscription program for recurring deliveries. Since the oil is not a full-spectrum formula, it does not contain traces of THC like its competitors.
Customers seem happy with Joy Organics for pets, but the lower dosage may be too large for some dogs, and Joy Organics suggests using the drops for larger breeds. Joy Organics has a rigorous testing program, but it had to recall an orange tincture for humans in 2018.
7. Charlotte’s Web Full Spectrum Hemp Extract
Size | mL |
Potency | 17 mg |
Charlotte’s Web Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is available in unflavored and chicken flavor tinctures. Charlotte’s Web only recently began producing CBD drops for dogs, but it’s committed to ensuring its products are pure and safe. It quality tests its oil 20 times before packaging it for shipping, and it never uses chemicals, pesticides, or GMO ingredients. Charlotte’s Web may be a practical option if you’re hesitant to use higher dosages, but this product only contains 17 mg of CBD making it the lowest on the list.
8. Medterra CBD Pet Oil
Size | 15 mL |
Potency | 150 mg, 300 mg, 750 mg |
Medterra is a new company that recently began making CBD products for pets. Its CBD Pet Oil is an isolated product that does not contain additional cannabinoids like full-spectrum or broad-spectrum formulas. The oil uses organic USA-grown hemp and features unflavored and chicken-flavored versions for picky dogs.
Medterra products are approved by the U.S. Hemp Authority and tested by third-party facilities for quality. Although Medterra seems to produce high-quality CBD oil, the company is relatively new, and we could not place it higher on our list due to the limited evidence of the product’s performance.
9. Gold Bee Full-Spectrum CBD
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 600 mg |
Gold Bee makes full-spectrum CBD oil for pets with peanut butter flavor. The oil is produced from Colorado-grown hemp, and it’s third-party tested to ensure purity and safety. Gold Bee uses organic MCT oil from coconut in its tincture to provide essential fatty oils to your pet’s diet. Gold Bee is new to the CBD industry and has only made CBD products for around 3 years.
Customers seem satisfied with the oil, but the 600-milligram dosage may only be appropriate for larger pups. We were concerned that the company did not list its ingredients or mention the composition of the peanut butter flavoring. Since the recipe is not on the company website, we assume the flavoring is artificial.
10. CBDfx CBD Oil for Pets
Size | 30 mL |
Potency | 250 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg, 2,000 mg |
CBDfx is primarily focused on CBD products for humans, but it recently added a few products for canines. The CBDfx oil for pets is made with non-GMO, organic hemp and a natural bacon flavoring. Unlike many companies, CBDfx offers 4 CBD strengths: 250 milligrams, 500 milligrams, 1,000 milligrams, and 2,000 milligrams.
The drops are made in the USA and come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. CBDfx is expensive for a broad-spectrum product, and some of the language on the website seems misleading. The CBD oil for pets is a vegan product, and it’s unclear how a “natural” bacon flavor was produced without using a pig.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best CBD Oil for Dogs with Cancer
CBD oil may help your canine handle the effects of cancer treatments, but it’s best to check with your veterinarian before administering CBD. Vets cannot prescribe CBD or freely offer advice about the products according to government regulations, but they can provide science-based opinions if you want to learn more about the efficacy of the cannabinoid. Overall, CBD is considered a safe treatment for dogs and cats, but until more research is conducted on dogs, the effects of long-term use of CBD products are unknown.
Quantity of CBD
When you shop for CBD drops for your dog, you’ll notice a significant variance in the CBD quantity of each brand. How much CBD is too much? Unfortunately, no one knows because CBD products have not been studied enough to establish proper dosage parameters for dogs or other animals.
Several manufacturers recommend serving one drop for every 10 pounds of body weight, and others suggest using two drops for every 25 pounds. Although companies have similar dosing recommendations on their website, they each have varying CBD potencies, and it’s challenging to determine which amount is suitable for your dog.
We suggest initially using a smaller dosage for your dog regardless of its size. CBD is relatively safe, but it’s wise to avoid using higher doses until you see how your pet reacts to the oil’s ingredients. Using a lower dosage will also save you money because the oils with higher potencies are surprisingly expensive.
Full Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum Oils
Most of the drops on our list are full-spectrum formulas, but a few manufacturers use broad-spectrum CBD. Most CBD products for pets, except one on our list, typically do not contain pure CBD or isolate CBD formulas. Isolate formulas only contain CBD and do not have additional cannabinoids or THC.
Full-spectrum products contain CBD and other cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, and broad-spectrum formulas include many of the same compounds but do not contain THC. Full-spectrum oils only have 0.3% THC, and they’re not supposed to trigger intoxicating effects or “highs” for dogs. However, we suggest the broad-spectrum type if you prefer using an oil without THC.
Added Flavors
CBD oil has an earthy taste when made with hemp seed oil, and some dogs may prefer tinctures with added flavors. Most of the flavored oils on our lists are all-natural, and some products use coconut oil or olive oil to make the tincture more appealing to dogs. If your dog is picky about its food, you may want to avoid unflavored hemp seed oil products. Some of the most common dog-friendly flavors include bacon, beef, and peanut butter.
Third-Party Testing
When researching CBD companies, look for producers that use private facilities unrelated to the CBD business to test their oil. Third-party testing ensures that the manufacturer uses sanitary methods and produces CBD without added pesticides or other hazardous chemicals. Since CBD oils and chews are not regulated like other FDA-approved products, testing is a vital process that every pet parent should expect from CBD companies.
Marketing and Science
After hemp and marijuana became legal in several states, the health and wellness and pet industries became flooded with CBD products. While researching CBD manufacturers, we found that some companies exaggerated the effectiveness of CBD as a medical treatment. We also found online articles that back up outrageous claims with studies conducted on humans rather than dogs or cats.
Before treating a dog suffering from cancer with CBD oil, remember that CBD products have not been proven to cure disease. If a company claims that CBD shrinks tumors or inhibits cancer growth, search the bottom of the article for reliable sources. We found an article that used this study to support CBD’s ability to inhibit cancer cells, and while the results are promising, mice were used as the test subjects rather than dogs.
Although few trials have been conducted on the effects of CBD on dogs with cancer, CBD oil may be useful in treating dogs with arthritis and reducing seizure frequency. Some pet parents suggest, from personal experiences, that CBD is effective in relieving side effects associated with chemotherapy. Thankfully, CBD is safe for canines, unlike THC, but your veterinarian can help you decide if it’s appropriate for your dog. If CBD can improve the quality of your pet’s life, it’s worth trying, but start with smaller doses in the beginning.
Veterinary Advice
Because CBD is not approved for pets, veterinarians cannot prescribe oil or chews for your dog. However, you can talk to your doctor for an unbiased opinion about CBD products. Your veterinarian knows your pet’s medical history and is more qualified than anyone else to suggest cancer treatments.
Conclusion
CBD oil may help pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, and mobility issues, and several companies have created CBD oils specifically for dogs and cats. Our reviews highlighted the best CBD oils on the market, but our top choice was Royal CBD. We were impressed by the manufacturer’s commitment to product testing and liked the dosage options that are suitable for pups of all breeds and life stages. Our best value selection was CBD Pure, and we liked the low-dosage option for small dogs and the affordable price.
Featured Image Credit: Vane Nunes, Shutterstock