Hemp Seed Oil vs CBD Oil for Dogs: Chart (Skin, Pain, Anxiety, Cancer)


image cbd vs. hemp vs. hemp seed oil for dogs.

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As Hemp Oil and CBD Oil gain popularity for both humans and dogs so to does all the confusion. Today, we put an end to the misconceptions and by the end of this article you will know EXACTLY which product can be used for which reasons and we’ll also answer your main concern: whether or not you’re dog is getting “high” in the process.

If you know everything you need to know and just want our top picks for CBD oil or Hemp Seed Oil, Click the “Jump to Top Picks” link below and you’ll get closer to your answer and our affiliate links for purchasing.

Jump to Top Picks.

If you’re looking for education on the topic and learning which oils to use for the 12 most common dog health issues, please continue reading…

Cannabis vs. CBD (Cannabidiol) vs. Hemp vs. Hemp Seed Oil vs. Marijuana (THC)

One of the reasons why people are more and more confused is because of the similar names between Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabis. They look and sound similar but are actually quite different.

The second reason it’s so confusing is because people use the scientific words interchangeably. The name of the plant from which all three of these compounds is derived is called Cannabis but some people call it hemp when they really should be calling marijuana. Let me explain….and then I’ll show you a very basic picture illustration.

Cannabis Properties: Analogy

Cannabis is the name of the plant, like maple is the name of tree. All maple trees have sugar in their sap, but the quantity of sugar varies greatly depending on the variety of the maple.

We wouldn’t tap a Japanese maple tree and expect to get good maple syrup. A sugar maple, on the other hand, has a really high concentration of sugar in it’s sap and makes the perfect tree for maple syrup production.

This is kind of how it works with the Cannabis plant. But instead of sugar levels in maple tree varieties, we’re talking about THC levels in Cannabis varieties.

Sugar is to Maple Trees as THC is to Cannabis Plants

There are 2 main species of the Cannabis plant. One has high levels of THC (which people use to get high) and the other species has high levels of CBD which people use therapeutically, without the high.

Very generally speaking, that variety with high THC levels is called Marijuana. The variety with high CBD levels and insignificant amounts of THC is called Hemp. And because hemp contains barely any THC, it’s Cannabinoids can be extracted for amazing, healthful, LEGAL, medicinal purposes.

It’s important to know that even though CBD is used as a medicine, CBD derived from the hemp plant is NOT the same as “medical marijuana.” Medical marijuana is for humans only, contains higher levels of THC and requires a prescription in the states where it is legal.

Will CBD Oil Make My Dog High?

Your Dog will not get high from CBD oil because it’s derived from the hemp species. Legal in all 50 states, it’s the hemp plant that is used to extract CBD oils that are used for treating a wide variety of health issues for dogs.

This image flowchart helps illustrate the oil we are talking about using or supplementing our dogs diet and where CBD oil comes from:

Will CBD Oil Make a Dog High? 
Follow this Flowchart Diagram to see the difference between  Hemp and Marijuana and how CBD oil for dogs is produced. It will not make your dog high.
CBD Oil Does NOT make Dogs High

The two most abundant cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant are cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Only the plants that produce high levels of THC are psychoactive (get you high).

Is There Any THC in CBD Oil for Dogs?

Yes, but it’s trace. The amount that changes the plant from hemp plant to marijuana plant is .3% THC content. It’s kind of like coffee that is labeled decaf. Decaf doesn’t have zero caffeine, but the amount of caffeine is so low that people who cannot have caffeine, can drink decaf without feeling the effects.

Hopefully, you now understand that when we talk about helping our dogs with Hemp Seed Oil or CBD Oil, we are NOT talking about getting our dogs high or stoned with the THC version of Cannabis.

So….we’re going to stop talking about THC for awhile and move onto the ways we can use Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil to help our dogs.

Hemp Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, CBD Oil

All of the above come from the hemp species cannabis plant, just different parts as follows:

Hemp Seed Oil: It’s the oil from the seeds of the Hemp Plant and it contains zero CBD (Cannabidiol Oil) and zero THC. And while Hemp Seed Oil is great for many purposes, it’s not the medicinal powerhouse like CBD Oil.

Hemp Oil: When a product is labeled simply “hemp oil” further research is required. Because it could be made from the seeds, which would make it technically Hemp Seed Oil, or it could be made from the stalks, flowers, leaves or a combination, which would make it CBD oil in disguise.

Wait….why would someone disguise their desirable CBD oil? The only reason a CBD oil would NOT be labeled as CBD oil is if it’s being sold on an online retail platform that doesn’t allow the sale of CBD products….like amazon.

That’s right, even though CBD is legal everywhere, some online retailers don’t allow the sale of medicines (or alcohol) but naughty people try to sell it anyway. More on this later…

CBD Oil: When a product is labeled CBD Oil, it means the product contains the much sought after Cannabidiol oil from the stalks, flowers and leaves of the hemp plant that are rich in CBD. A quality CBD oil will not be cut (diluted) with other oils (cheaper to make).

Which is Better for Dogs CBD Oil or Hemp Seed Oil?

They are both good for dogs but are used for entirely different purposes. They are not interchangeable and there is virtually no cross over for what they help treat. If you see a hemp seed oil label that states: may relieve anxiety, that is misleading.

Buy hemp seed oil for your dog to treat the afflictions that hemp is good for and buy CBD oil for your dog’s ailments that can be treated with CBD oil. Some owners use both, especially those of us with senior aged dogs.

When to Give Your Dog Hemp Seed Oil Vs. CBD Oil

Hemp Seed Oil is a fabulous supplement for Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and does wonders for a dog’s coat and skin. It can take the place of fish or krill oils for dogs that need omega supplements NOT from fish or shellfish. It is also rich in GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid), which is known for it’s ability to lubricate joints and ease mild cases of inflammation.

CBD Oil from Hemp, might be used to help calm a dog’s nerves during travel or vet visits, relieve separation anxiety, help dogs that fear thunder or fireworks, control seizures, provide severe pain relief and has been reported to suppress the growth of cancer cells.

See how these are two entirely different products?

Here is a better illustration for 12 common problems our dogs are facing and what to use for each:

12 Reasons to Use Hemp Seed or CBD Oil for Dogs: Image

Visual Chart shows when to give your dog hemp oil and when to give your dog CBD Oil.  CBD is used for severe dog arthritis, thunder, fireworks, dog seizures, chronic pain and cancer.  Hemp Seed Oil gives dogs Omega-3 and 6, gives healthy coat and skin and is for early arthritis.

Liquid (Oil) Vs. Chews (Treats) Which is Better for Dogs?

When it comes to which delivery method to choose : oil drops or edible treats – we recommend the following.

Hemp Seed Oil: For this Omega-3 and 6 powerhouse, we say: Stick with the oil. High quality, pure, Omega fatty acids are prone to going rancid. Therefore treats and chews with hemp seed oil will have other ingredients and preservatives that try to stop the product from degrading and these extra ingredients may be poor quality. Bonus: Oils tend to be way, way cheaper than dog chews anyway.

CBD Oil: Quality CBD Oil has a very long shelf life if you take care to keep it it out of sunlight and store it at room temperature. I like drops of oil over treats because I feel it’s more direct and my 90 pound, 12 year old dog is prone to weight gain. I simply cannot give him 8 CBD treats per day!

That being said, there are companies that make high-quality CBD oil edibles and if you want to go the edible route, its perfectly fine. The important thing is to choose high-quality products and pick the delivery method that works for you and your dog.

So just to recap: for Hemp Seed Oil-stick with real oil. For CBD Oil, pure oil or edibles are fine as long as the quality is high. That’s what we’ll get into now…

What to Look for in Quality Hemp Seed Oil for Dogs

If you’ve concluded that you want to give your dog Hemp Seed Oil because they need omegas in their diet and you want to improve their coat and skin, here is what to look for in a dog hemp seed oil:

  • Organic
  • Raw (Unrefined)
  • Dark Bottle
  • Cold Pressed
  • No Dilution
  • Refrigerate After Opening

Best Hemp Seed Oil for Dogs: Our Top Picks

Sky Organics Hemp Seed Oil (product link)

SkyOrganics: This is 100% pure, raw, organic, cold-pressed hemp seed oil made from organic hemp plants. Sold in 8oz. bottles only. Refrigerate after opening

Sweet Essentials Hemp Seed Oil (Link to Product Page)

Sweet Essentials:Again, 100% pure, raw, organic, cold pressed hemp seed oil and this manufacturer offers 3 convenient sizes based on needs. 4oz, 8oz and 16oz. Refrigerate after opening.

These hemp seed oil products are great options. You can read reviews of both products before purchasing.

What To Look for in the Best CBD Oil for Dogs

CBD oils cost a lot more than hemp seed oil so let’s make sure you are getting what you pay for. As you begin your shopping and research you are going to see these 4 types of CBD oils marketed at you:

  • CBD Isolates
  • Broad Spectrum CBD
  • PCR CBD Oil
  • Full Spectrum CBD

The maximum benefits will be derived from using Full Spectrum CBD Oil. Full Spectrum means the product contains every beneficial and medicinal offerings of the hemp plant. Nothing removed.

Coming in 2nd is PCR CBD Oil. PCR stands for phyto-cannabinoid rich. Oils that are labeled PCR may or may not have the THC and terpenes removed during extraction. It’s okay if it is Full Spectrum PCR CBD Oil, but if it doesn’t say Full Spectrum, PCR, the product is missing beneficial elements.

If you see Broad Spectrum or Isolate, it’s easy. These are not fully beneficial CBD Oils. Broad spectrum removes the trace amounts of THC (which provides medicinal value) and are often used by humans who need the oil benefits, but can not have any traces of THC in their urine such as professional athletes who need to be 100% free of THC.

What Happens When You Use Broad Spectrum or Isolates?

You can use broad spectrum and you can use isolates, but they will not provide your dog with Full Spectrum CBD Oil potential. So remember why you are using it in the first place and decide whether or not you’re okay with giving up important benefits.

Here’s an easy way to quickly distinguish the difference between these 3 product offerings by remembering this:

  • CBD Isolate: Provides Isolated Benefits
  • CBD Broad Spectrum: Provides Broad Benefits
  • CBD or PCR Full Spectrum: Provides Full Benefits

If you want (or need) your dog to experience CBD’s full potential, use Full Spectrum CBD Oil from a reputable source. A reputable source educates consumers and provides the lab analysis of their products and CBD Oil is their business.

Aside from choosing full spectrum, we recommend buying from a supplier that extracts the oils without using alcohol solvents. When these solvents are used, the product might retain trace amounts of the solvent.

Printable image shows cbd oil and hemp oil and reasons to use each.

Where to Buy CBD Oil for Dogs

We’ll go back to amazon for a moment. Can you find CBD oil on amazon? Yes, but because it’s not supposed to be sold on their site, it will be cloaked in secrecy or mislabeled: like this listing (link to product). Nevermind, they got caught.

The product I was linking to is labeled Hemp Seed Oil, but later in the description is states: contains the “whole plant profile” and is labeled “Hemp Oil” on the bottle; which as we discussed earlier is very vague.

Now you can spend a few hours reading through all of the amazon sellers of ‘hemp oil’ and try to read between the lines and you may achieve success, but time is valuable and you should know EXACTLY what you’re buying when it comes to CBD. So let’s go to the source…

Buy Direct From the Source

No matter where you live in the USA, you can get CBD right from the source manufacturers. I know, I know….it’s not amazon. But we found 2 great suppliers that ship free and I promise to update this article the moment CBD can be sold on amazon in legitimate fashion.

Here is where you can buy CBD oil for dogs or edible treats for dogs directly from the source:

Best Full Spectrum CBD Oil for Dogs

Organic CBD Oil for Dogs: Top Pick

NuLeaf Full Spectrum CBD Oil for Dogs (Link to Product) 

My website visitors save 20% at NuLeaf with the affiliate coupon code: SENIORDOGDAYS

What’s to love? Over 800 CBD reviews from pet owners like me and you and I encourage you to read them. Here is why I give NuLeaf CBD to my dog:

  • NuLeaf Produces Full Spectrum CBD Oils Only
  • Their Colorado Farm and Hemp Plants are Organic
  • They Use Sustainable Farming Methods
  • NuLeaf extracts CBD Oils without High Heat or Alcohol Solvents
  • Their 3rd Party Lab Reports are Comprehensive and they link right from their product page
  • The only thing in the bottle is 100% oil from the Hemp Extraction. Some Companies mix their CBD oil with coconut oils and flavoring. NuLeaf does NOT (see picture below)
  • The product shelf life is about 1 year from the moment it’s opened and that’s without refrigeration.
  • Free Shipping, no matter the size
  • NuLeaf offers large and small (trial size) bottles so you can try it without spending a fortune.

Is it expensive? Well it’s not when you consider a few things:

  • NuLeaf is not diluted with any other oil or flavors
  • The doses are in drops
  • Humans and Pets can Share the CBD Oil
  • It could last all year if your dog is small to medium

This is what a diluted (cheap) CBD oil looks like in comparison to NuLeaf

image shows side by side comparison of nuleaf naturals CBD oil compared to a cheap CBD oil that is diluted with coconut oil.
Diluted CBD vs. NuLeaf CBD
This image shows how a drop of nuleaf naturals cbd looks after one minute compared to another cbd oil.
CBD Drop on Paper Plate Comparison

I know it’s tempting to buy cheaper CBD, but here is an example of how you’re really not saving money with cheap CBD oil for yourself or your dog. When comparing the above two products, my 90 pound dog would need 55 drops of the CBD with coconut oil vs. 8 drops of NuLeaf Naturals.

So I would have to use 7x the amount when buying cheap/diluted CBD oil for your dog (or yourself). I bought the cheaper version (Vitality) when I ran out of NuLeaf because I didn’t wan’t my dog to be without CBD. I now make it a point to NEVER run out of NuLeaf CBD.

Here’s more information on dosing:

Dog Dosage for NuLeaf CBD Oil

Concentration matters and that’s why you should depend upon the label of the product you are purchasing. If you go with NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Oil for Dogs (link) here is their dosing chart for reference:

Directions for use: 2-3 drops per 20lbs

Pet Weight                                              Usage

Up to 25lbs/11kg                     2 drops – 1-2 times daily
25 – 50lb/11 – 23kg                 4 drops – 1-2 times daily
50 – 75lb/23 – 34kg                 6 drops – 1-2 times daily
over 75lb/34kg                        8+ drops – 1-2 times daily

*All orders include dosage recommendations

Best CBD Treats for Dogs and Runner Up in CBD Oil

For those of you who are looking for dog CBD treats, pills or if you are not looking to share the CBD with your dog, we recommend Holistapet CBD.

Holistapet is friendlier on the budget and they also satisfy all our categories of a CBD for dogs. Their CBD dog treat line is not loaded with fillers and chemicals, which makes them a great, reliable source.

Here is an affiliate link to Holistpet CBD for Pets and you can save another 15% at checkout by using code: SENIORDOGDAYS. This15% discount works on everything except bundled offerings which are already generously discounted.

Top Picks

Top Picks: Summing It all Up – Hemp Seed Oil Vs CBD Oil For Dogs

I really hope you have clarity in providing either hemp seed oil or CBD oil to your dog and that you can now do so with confidence. Here is a brief summary of what we covered and our top picks for Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil for dogs (cats too):

Hemp Seed Oil for Dogs

Hemp Seed Oil is a nutritional supplement perfect for giving Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. It’s used for healthy skin and fur and for treating mild inflammation. It should be raw, unrefined, organic, cold pressed. It comes in big bottles 4oz, 8oz, even gallon size and requires refrigeration.

TopPicks: Sky Organics or  Sweet Essentials. They are both great, and you can buy whichever suits your budget.  Here are our affiliate links:

Sky Organics Hemp Seed Oil (link to product)

Sweet Essentials Hemp Seed Oil (Link to Page)

CBD Oil for Dogs (Cats Too)

CBD Oil is medicinal. It’s used for advanced arthritis, chronic pain, seizures, anxiety from travel, storms or fireworks and has even been recommended for dogs living with cancer. It’s potent and comes in little bottles similar to essential oils. Buy Full Spectrum if you want Full Benefits. Buy from responsibly sourced farms that don’t extract with solvents and be mindful of whether or not the product is diluted with non-hemp oils or flavors.

My # 1 Pick: I give my dog this one: Nufleaf Naturals CBD for Pets

If you want to try Nuleaf, they ship free and are giving my website visitors 20% off. To take advantage of their 20% off on any size, use this my affiliate link Nuleaf CBD for Pets (affiliate link) and type: SENIORDOGDAYS into the box titled “coupon code” once you’re at the checkout page.

My #2 Pick: If I didn’t share CBD with my dog or if I was looking for treats or pills, I would absolutely be using Holistapet.

Holistapet has everything I’m looking for in a CBD for dogs and their line extends to treats and pills. To take advantage of 15% off any unbundled product, use my affiliate link here: Holistapet CBD for Pets (affiliate link) and type our website name: SENIORDOGDAYS into the coupon box at checkout.

CBD Oil for dogs reviews – No matter what you decide, read reviews and keep something in mind. If someone writes: “this hemp oil didn’t help my dog’s anxiety” you now know that they used the wrong product for treating dog anxiety.

Last but not least – neither hemp seed oil or Hemp CBD oil contain TCH in amounts that will cause your dog to get high.

Thanks for visiting SeniorDogDays!

Article and research sources

  • cbdschool.com
  • www.fundacion-canna.es/en

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