The Differences Between Human and Dog CBD Products

Did you know that up to 50% of pet owners give their furry friends CBD? ¹ If you're thinking of joining the club, make sure to get pet-friendly products. Read on for the science behind CBD and why using human CBD products might not be the best idea for your pup.

Key Takeaways

CBD has many potential health benefits for dogs, from promoting relaxation to supporting skin health.
While CBD is safe for dogs, CBD products made for humans might not be.
Human CBD products often contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs, like xylitol.
Stick to CBD products that were specifically designed for pets, with high-quality ingredients and proper dosage recommendations.

See Related: What to Give a Dog for an Upset Stomach

Understanding Pet-Specific CBD Products

CBD has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Tens of millions of Americans use CBD products every year. ²

It's not just people, though. According to one survey, half of all pet owners use CBD for their furry friends. ³ The pet CBD market is worth a whopping $331 million and is projected to grow more than tenfold by 2033. ⁴

But what is the difference between CBD for pets and humans? Isn't CBD always the same?

To answer these questions, we need to understand how CBD actually affects our pups.

How CBD Pet Products Work

Like humans, dogs have an extensive network of receptors called the endocannabinoid system. ⁵ Cannabinoids, like CBD, bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. ⁶

This system is more important than you might think. It's connected to all kinds of critical bodily functions, from learning to memory, hunger to immunity, and more. ⁷

dog and person relaxing in hammock human cbd oil essential oils central nervous system how much cbd oil safe cbd oil for dogs

Potential Benefits of CBD Oil For Pets

When CBD binds to these receptors, it can cause all kinds of potentially beneficial effects. That's true for both humans and for dogs.

Relaxation

Perhaps the most famous effect of CBD is its ability to promote relaxation. Research shows that CBD and hemp can help keep dogs calm and relaxed. ⁸

For example, one 2024 study found that CBD helped dogs deal with the stress of a car ride. ⁹ In another study by Cornell, 83% of dogs who were given CBD chews before a stressful event showed a decrease in stress-related behaviors. ¹⁰

And a new study of almost 50,000 dogs published in 2025 found that long-term CBD use in dogs may support normal behavior. ¹¹

Gut Health

The endocannabinoid system is intimately connected to the digestive system. ¹² Studies suggest that CBD may support digestive tract health. ¹³

Skin and Coat

Your dog might love splashing in muddy puddles and getting as dirty as possible, but we pet owners know the importance of healthy skin and coat. Research suggests CBD may support skin health. ¹⁴

For one thing, CBD may help maintain the normal moisture content of skin. If your pup is dealing with dry or cracked skin, consider a topical skin balm with CBD that includes organic coconut oil, mango butter, and beeswax for animals with sensitive skin.

Research also suggests that CBD may help soothe skin-related issues associated with seasonal allergies. ¹⁵

Joints

CBD may also support joint health. ¹⁶ In fact, one study found that joint issues were one of the most common reasons people gave CBD to their dogs. ¹⁷

Bonus: How Important is L-Glutamine for Dogs?

dog jumping over water cbd for pets essential oils dogs and cats harmful chemicals regular cbd oil cbd works hemp plant brain and spinal cord artificial sweeteners immune system hemp oil

Pet CBD Products vs Human CBD Products

As you can see, CBD has plenty of potential health benefits for dogs. But what makes pet CBD products different from human CBD?

You and your dog may both have an endocannabinoid system, but that system isn't quite the same. For example, research has found that dogs generally have many more cannabinoid receptors in multiple parts of their brain. ¹⁸

This might explain why THC is so toxic to dogs. ¹⁹ That brings us to one of the main differences between pet CBD products and human CBD products.

Human-grade CBD oil and similar human CBD products often contain THC. The THC content might be low, but dogs can be very sensitive to it. ²⁰

Another significant difference between human and pet CBD products is the presence of other ingredients. For example, CBD gummies often contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that can be extremely dangerous for dogs. ²¹

The Key Difference Between CBD For Pets and Humans

Similarly, human CBD products and pet CBD products usually have different dosage requirements.

Calculating proper dosages for CBD products is difficult. Each individual human or pet's requirements depend on a number of factors, including body size and weight. ²²

You can imagine, then, how a product designed for a 200lb person might come with different dosages compared to one designed for a 25lb dog! ²³

For example, human studies have used a wide range of CBD dosages, from 20mg per day to 1,500mg per day. ²⁴

Our CBD oil for dogs, meanwhile, comes with a recommended dose of 5-9mg per day for small dogs.

Giving a Pet Human CBD Oil

You can likely imagine the potential issues of giving your pet human CBD oil. They might be exposed to too much THC, which would be bad enough in itself. Or you might accidentally give them too much CBD, which, like any potentially helpful supplement, can cause issues when taken in excess. ²⁵

CBD Isolate

The CBD fans among you may be wondering about CBD isolate. CBD isolate is pure CBD, with all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed.

While CBD isolate shouldn't contain THC or other potentially harmful compounds, the danger of giving your dog an incorrect dose is still present. So it's best to stick to reputable companies that specialize in making pet CBD oil.

Full-Spectrum CBD

You might also be wondering about full-spectrum CBD. It's effectively the opposite of CBD isolate. Where CBD isolate is just CBD with everything else removed, full-spectrum CBD contains all of those extra compounds.

Those extra compounds serve an important purpose. For one thing, they may have potential health benefits of their own. ²⁶

Most important, though, is their ability to cause a phenomenon called the entourage effect. It describes how the various compounds found in hemp extracts are thought to help make the CBD more effective. ²⁷

Full-spectrum CBD should only have tiny amounts of THC. The THC content should be less than 0.3%. In specially formulated pet CBD products, the full-spectrum CBD should contain levels of THC that are safe for dogs. ²⁸

Still, if you're concerned, you can always use broad-spectrum pet CBD. This contains all of the potentially beneficial compounds that can boost CBD's effects, but with the THC removed.

dog waiting for treat manufacturing process dogs and cats harmful substances cannabis plant body weight cbd for humans especially dogs unsafe additives digestive distress mobility support dog's weight

The Best CBD Pet Products

So, you know the differences between pet CBD and human CBD. But what are the best pet-friendly CBD products?

There are so many pet-specific CBD oils, CBD tinctures, CBD extracts, and other dog CBD products that it can be hard to choose!

When choosing CBD products, think about what your dog might like. Another thing to consider is what aspect of your pet's health you want to potentially support.

High-Quality CBD Chews

If your dog can't resist a delicious treat, you might want to opt for a tasty CBD chew.

Our pumpkin hemp hearts each contain 4mg of whole-plant hemp extract (also known as full-spectrum CBD oil). Grab them in blueberry flavor if your pup prefers something more fruity, or choose the extra strength version if you need a higher dose.

Other delectable options include beef & pumpkin and duck & apple. There's sure to be something your dog will love.

CBD Oil

Alternatively, you could grab pet CBD oil. We offer a few different sizes, from 250ml to 1,000mg. You can mix a dose into your dog's food or give it to them straight from the dropper.

Another option is using your pet CBD oil to make your own homemade pet CBD treats!

CBD Spray

If you need to help your dog stay calm and relaxed quickly, one great option is Quick Calm CBD spray. With a couple of pumps, you can give your dog the ideal dose of CBD to help promote relaxation.

Topical CBD Products

If your dog's skin is the focus, consider opting for a topical CBD product. These are applied to the skin rather than ingested. Our Paw & Skin Balm, for example, blends extracts from the whole hemp plant with other organic ingredients to create a buttery smooth balm.

Identifying High-Quality CBD For Pets

Just as with CBD for humans, you want to give your dog high-quality CBD products. One way to tell if a product or manufacturer is reputable is to check whether they submit their products for reliable lab testing.

We have third-party labs test all our products to ensure they meet the industry standard of 0.3% THC.

It’s also important to keep in mind that many pet products with CBD may contain additives or low-quality flavorings, such as peanut butter or meat flavoring. These additives are designed to make products seem more appealing to pet parents, but they often do little to improve the palatability of the product itself.

In many cases, these additives and flavorings are simply marketing tactics that actually dilute the quality and effectiveness of a product, so it’s a good idea to steer clear. Limited-ingredient products are an ideal choice, since they focus on function and quality without additives or artificial flavorings.

Earth Buddy takes a quality-first approach to pet CBD products by keeping our formulas limited-ingredient and as natural as possible.

dog and human sleeping in bed third party lab results vet visits give my dog other foods thc free psychoactive effects give my dog broad spectrum pets thc free cbd for pets

Conclusion

Human foods might sometimes be safe for dogs, but that doesn't mean you should feed your dog a human diet. The same is true for CBD.

Some human products, like CBD isolate, might technically be safe for dogs. But without the proper dosage, it's all too easy to get things wrong. And if you accidentally give your pup a product with too much THC, you could put them in danger.

That's why it's extremely important to stick to CBD products that were specifically designed for dogs.

Keep Reading: Why Is My Dog Eating Grass?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Difference Between Human CBD and Pet CBD?

No and yes. The CBD itself is the same, but other parts of the CBD product are often different.

For example, human CBD products may contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs, like xylitol. They may also contain levels of THC that could be harmful to dogs. And human CBD products come with different dosage requirements compared to those for dogs.

Can Humans Take Pet CBD?

In some cases, humans may technically be able to take pet CBD without adverse effects. However, it's not a great idea.

For one thing, products made for pets might be delicious for them, but taste disgusting to us humans. Think about how dog food looks and smells... do you really want to eat it?

Additionally, pet products sometimes aren't held to quite the same strict standards as human products.

Can You Use Normal CBD For Dogs?

That depends on what you mean by "normal CBD." If you mean human CBD products, then no, it's not a good idea to give them to your dog.

Human CBD products often contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs, and may come with different dosage recommendations that could expose your dog to too much CBD.

CBD itself, however, isn't harmful to dogs. Quite the opposite. It has plenty of potential health benefits, from promoting relaxation to supporting joint health.

So grab a "normal" pet-friendly CBD product and see what it can do for your pup!

Sources

–

Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.

The Differences Between Human and Dog CBD Products

Key Takeaways