How to Choose the Best CBD Oil for Dogs
It seems that most aspects of the CBD industry are growing rapidly. The lightning speed at which the CBD oil for dogs market has grown is proof of that fact. Various industry reports suggest that the CBD for pets market will experience significant growth in the next few years.
One such report, published by PR News Wire, suggested that pet and animal CBD product sales will reach $125 million by 2022. This would represent a 5-year CAGR of almost 60%. This is fast growth even by the lofty standards of the CBD industry.
Hemp and cannabis companies are unsurprisingly leaping headlong into the opportunity. You can already find a huge array of pet cannabidiol products. However, the entire CBD industry is unregulated. As a result, there are, unfortunately, more than a few untrustworthy companies doing business.
It requires research on behalf of pet owners to ensure they get the best CBD for dogs, cats, and other animals. We show you how in this article. Here are three ways to ensure your pet gets the very best that the cannabidiol industry has to offer.
1 — What Is the Extraction Method Used?
Manufacturers of cannabidiol products must extract the cannabinoid from the hemp or cannabis plant. You can only use CBD from marijuana in states where that particular plant is legal. It is banned outright in 17 states, and you need an MMJ card in at least 22 others. Therefore, it is best to stick to brands that extract CBD from hemp.
Regarding extraction, there are two main methods.
Solvent-Free CO2 Extraction
This is widely regarded as the ‘gold standard’ in the industry. It is what brands such as PureKana use. CO2 extraction is more expensive than other methods, but it is worth the extra cost for reputable brands.
The process involves placing the hemp in a high-pressure chamber with carbon dioxide (CO2). The carbon dioxide places pressure on the hemp material. The CBD oil gets released as the material gets broken down. This method uses CO2 as the solvent, which means no harmful residue. Also, it produces a higher concentration of CBD than other extraction methods on average.
Although both are useful, supercritical CO2 extraction tends to get more of the cannabinoid than its subcritical counterpart. The best CBD for dogs comes from this form of extraction.
Solvent Extraction
This involves using solvents such as butane, propane, or ethanol. These are cheaper methods, but some residual solvents will remain. According to the FDA, so-called ‘Class 1’ solvents such as Benzene should NOT be employed to manufacture drug substances. Companies can use Class 2, but consumption limits are low because of the toxicity of these solvents.
In general, Class 3 solvents are used in CBD extraction. The limit, according to the FDA, is 0.5% or 5,000 ppm. Even at this level, do you want your pet to consume traces of ethanol or butanol?
In some cases, brands may use a natural solvent like olive oil. This is a safer option but can ruin the waxes of the hemp plant. The oil that remains isn’t as useful as what results after CO2 extraction.
2 — Always Check the Label & Look for Third-Party Lab Reports
You are now aware that the best CBD for dogs comes from CO2 extraction. However, how do you know if a brand is telling the truth? In an unregulated industry, it is easy to make false claims and get away with it.
A study published in JAMA in 2017 provided us with an insight into this issue. The researchers analyzed over 80 products from 31 brands. Only 31% of the products were correctly labeled in terms of CBD content. Almost 43% of the products were under labeled. This means the actual CBD content was higher than advertised. Approximately one-quarter of products contained less CBD than advertised.
There is no question that we feel ripped off by over labeling. However, under-labeling isn’t a ‘win’ either. As a pet owner, you want to know precisely how much CBD your feline or canine friend gets. It is essential to use a small amount at first to see how the pet reacts.
One way to discover a product’s contents is to look for third-party lab reports. This documentation must include a Certificate of Analysis (COA). If you can’t easily find this information on the company website, don’t make a purchase! Reports should include data on cannabinoid content, terpenes, and any pesticides, insecticides, or toxins in the product.
You owe it to your pet to take this extra step.
3 — Full-Spectrum or Broad Spectrum?
There are three main varieties of CBD products:
· Full-Spectrum: Includes all of the hemp plant’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
· Broad-Spectrum: Has all of the compounds barring THC.
· Isolate: Contains over 99% CBD.
Some dog and cat owners want to ensure their pet ingests ZERO THC, so they pick broad-spectrum. That is a perfectly reasonable decision. Your pet still gets the benefits of dozens, if not hundreds, of potentially useful compounds. Top-rated brands that sell full-spectrum products make sure there are only trace amounts of THC.
The 2018 Farm Bill permits the growth of industrial hemp with a maximum of 0.3% THC. As long as a company uses this type of hemp, it is already guaranteed to have only trace amounts of the intoxicating cannabinoid. Again, you can find out more by checking out the brand’s lab reports.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best CBD Oil for Dogs
Ultimately, Google is your friend when looking for the best CBD for dogs. It has become relatively easy to discover top-rated brands in the industry. You can also find information on companies that are leading the pet CBD niche.
Remember, you should only consider CBD products from reputable brands that have an established reputation. It is an unregulated market, so it is a risk to buy from companies that don’t offer third-party lab reports.
Finally, make sure you start with the lowest possible amount. Giving your pet too much CBD could cause adverse effects such as sedation, nausea, and dizziness. You can read more about the best CBD for dogs on the WayofLeaf website.
About the Author
Jeff Yauck is an entrepreneur who is also an expert in the CBD field. He has successfully established a few top brands in the CBD space, and is well known throughout the CBD industry for creating top quality products that work. He believes that there is still too much misinformation surrounding CBD and wants to set the record straight. This is why he spends much of his free time researching hemp and CBD and writing informative articles to help readers. Jeff contributes his knowledge throughout the industry and often appears as a guest writer on WayofLeaf.
