Pets, like rescue dogs Puka and Willie and their tortoise brother Rocket Larry, seen in this photo and in the adorable video below, are turning to CBD for help with discomfort. Below, we answer pet owners’ questions about pet versus human CBD.

Hawaiian Choice recently launched a Pet CBD oil to cater to people’s beloved cats, dogs and even pet tortoises! Since then, we’ve had a lot of people ask us about the differences between our CBD for humans and our CBD for pets. Can humans take pet CBD? Can pets take human CBD? Here’s a full breakdown of questions and answers pertaining to our CBD products and those of other brands.

Do pet and human CBD products contain the same CBD?

All Hawaiian Choice products contain the same CBD. We only use broad spectrum CBD from Hawaiian hemp. Broad spectrum means that our CBD starts as a full spectrum oil with all of the rare cannabinoids, natural plant terpenes and phytochemicals still in it. Then, just the psychoactive THC is removed to below lab detectable levels (as seen on our third party CBD lab test results). The resulting broad spectrum oil retains its other beneficial compounds, terpenes, phytochemicals and trace amounts of CBN,CBG, CBC or THCV and offers the entourage effect.

How does THC affect pets versus humans?

THC is the main psychoactive compound in hemp and cannabis and is what gets people high. In the United States, CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC. In Japan, they must have Zero THC (below lab detectable levels). Aside from legal limits or personal preferences, the removal of THC is more important for pets than for humans as THC may be toxic to some animals.

We therefore feel that it’s important to look for a broad spectrum CBD oil for pets rather than a full spectrum product. CBD isolates do not contain THC but they also do not contain any of the other healthy compounds that are found in a broad spectrum oil. CBD isolate products are generally much cheaper to purchase but again nowhere near as beneficial.

What other ingredients differ between human and pet CBD products?

The flavors added to CBD products may vary greatly. While a dog may enjoy beef flavoring or a cat a chicken salmon taste, it’s unlikely their human will agree! Conversely, animals probably won’t like a mint or artificial watermelon flavor.

For Hawaiian Choice products, all CBD oil tinctures designed for humans contain Hawaiian fruits or essences. These are organic or wild gathered real Hawaiian pineapple, passionfruit, noni and organic Big Island honey as well as Egyptian hibiscus. Most people think our tinctures taste fantastic. However, we figured that Fido and Felix might not agree.

We left all flavorings out of our Pet CBD. The Pet CBD is only mixed with certified organic MCT coconut oil, which is naturally flavorless. This makes it easy to mix into a cat or dog’s food or treats undetected.

For our human line, we also add in unique blends of terpenes for specific effects: Relax (helping you rest, recover and sleep), Relief (helping you deal with discomfort),  Focus (helping you stay sharp and alert) and Active (helping you exercise and control your appetite). In addition to amplifying specific physical and mental effects in CBD, terpenes also have distinct scents and flavors. For example, limonene has a citrus taste, eucalyptol smells like eucalyptus and linalool like lavender. We therefore left these out of our Pet CBD.

How much CBD should my pet take? 

Unless you own an English Mastiff or a Great Dane, your pet probably weighs a lot less than an adult man or woman. Their CBD dosage should therefore be less than yours as it is calculated by weight.

Our Hawaiian Choice human CBD tinctures contain 750mg broad spectrum CBD oil. They have spray caps and our recommended dosing is 1-3 sprays up to twice a day. (Each spray contains 10mg CBD).

For our Pet CBD, we lowered the dosage (and the price!) to 425mg broad spectrum CBD oil per bottle. We replaced the spray caps with measured glass droppers for more precise dosing, which is especially useful for the smallest animals. Our packaging also has a dosage/weight chart. For example, a 5 pound pet would take 3 drops, a 20 pound pet would get 0.25ml and an 80 pound animal would receive one ml. (One drop = 0.27mg CBD and 1ml = 14.2mg CBD.) They could each have that amount up to twice a day. (You can also find the weight/dosage chart by scrolling down on the Pet CBD product page.)

The quantity of CBD in CBD oil tinctures varies greatly by brand and by product. Whichever product you choose, you will want to be sure to calculate the correct amount of CBD for your pet. This should either be found on the packaging or you should consult your pet’s veterinarian.

Can I take pet CBD oil?

Yes, at least if it’s Hawaiian Choice Pet CBD oil. Since our Pet CBD contains the same premium quality CBD and organic MCT oil, it is perfectly safe and effective for humans. It contains less CBD per bottle so you’ll want to adjust the amount you take but otherwise is totally fine. It’s also a good option if you don’t want added terpenes or flavors in your Hawaiian CBD oil.

If you’re looking at another brand of Pet CBD oil, you will want to check the quality of their CBD and other ingredients to be sure that they are suitable for humans. We haven’t researched other brands extensively but believe that many pet CBD offerings will be just fine for human consumption as, like us, many brands value the health of their customer’s fur babies.

Can my pet take human CBD oil?

Yes, at least if it’s a Hawaiian Choice CBD oil tincture. However, you will want to be very careful with the dosing. We’d recommend using your own dropper for smaller pets and re-calculating our dosage chart for pets. Your pet also may not like the flavors of the fruits and terpenes added to our human tinctures.

For other CBD brands, we would recommend that you choose a broad spectrum oil rather than full spectrum oil for your pet, stay away from added flavors and again be very careful when calculating the amount you give your cat or dog.

In addition to THC, some vitamins are toxic to dogs.  Some vitamins that are good for humans such as iron and vitamin D can actually harm your pet. So, check the ingredient list carefully as some CBD oils contain other vitamin or supplement mixes.

Does CBD affect pets in the same way as humans?

The wellness promoting properties of CBD come about due to the way the cannabinoid interacts with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex cell-signaling system made up of endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes. It is complicated and experts haven’t figured out all of its functions yet, but it appears to be linked to physiological processes as diverse as appetite, metabolism, discomfort, mood, sleep, stress, and much more. The ECS exists within us whether or not we consume cannabinoids, but cannabinoids including CBD each have different effects on the it. It is this interaction between CBD and the ECS that makes CBD effective in helping reduce discomfort in humans.

Just like humans, all animals – even fish and reptiles – have an endocannabinoid system. Due to the presence of the ECS in pets, it’s believed that CBD will have a similar effect on cats, dogs, and pet tortoises as on their human.

Can I buy Pet CBD oil on Amazon?

No, there are no CBD oil products for sale on Amazon. If you go to Amazon and search for “Pet CBD Oil” you will see many pet hemp oils, hemp chews for dogs, and hemp extracts that say they have anywhere from 30,000 to 75,000mg. Milligrams of what? We’re not sure. Hemp oil contains omega 3, 6 and 9, but it does not contain any CBD. No human CBD products are sold on Amazon either. So, please beware that any product that looks like it’s trying to be sold as CBD on Amazon is not a real CBD product.

How can I trust a CBD pet product?

For any CBD product, always do your research. Check the ingredients and be sure to get lab tested CBD. Look for independent, third-party lab test result reports.

Where can I buy CBD for my pet?

You can buy Hawaiian Choice Pet CBD online and in many pet and natural food stores. Other brands will be available at other stores, veterinary offices and online. Just be sure to do your research. We hope that you find the purrfect CBD product for your cat, dog or other pet and that it offers them the relief you’re looking for.