Does CBD Help Dogs? What Research and the FDA Say

Does CBD help dogs? The evidence is thin. FDA says significant data gaps exist on CBD in animals, and in a 2019 AVMA journal trial in dogs with epilepsy, CBD lowered seizure frequency, but no more dogs had their seizures cut by half than on placebo. FDA has approved no cannabis product for animals, so ask your veterinarian first. Cat owners can read our post on marijuana and cats for the dos and don’ts.

Still, dogs and humans have a lot in common. In fact, your dog can suffer from many of the same types of illnesses that humans do, such as:

• Inflammation
• Seizures
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Glaucoma

Prescription drugs can help, but like any medicine they can have side effects, and some owners say pain medications leave their dog drowsy and less active.

And some symptoms stay hard to control even with treatment, which can leave owners looking for other options to discuss with their veterinarian.

Some dog owners also look at complementary products alongside their veterinarian’s treatment. The same goes for pet food; owners are as conscious about the foods they feed their pets (non-GMO, organic, grain-free) as they are about the foods THEY eat.

That’s why some dog owners are giving CBD products to their furry companions, although the FDA has not approved any for pets.

Some owners report changes, but owner reports are not proof. Our beginner’s guide to CBD oil for dogs covers what has been studied and the side effects.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the marijuana plant. Unlike THC, the compound in marijuana that gets you “high,” CBD is not intoxicating like THC.

Even though CBD doesn’t cause a high, it is being studied for several uses, but its only FDA approval is as a human prescription drug for certain seizure disorders. Areas under study include:

• Pain relief
• Anti-inflammation
• Anti-anxiety
• Anti-seizure

Marijuana manufacturers already make CBD-dominant products for people who want CBD’s effects but don’t want to get high.

And now some companies offer CBD for dogs in the form of products like oils and treats.

Does CBD For Dogs Actually Work?

• Seizures: some owners say their dog had fewer or milder seizures on CBD oil, but in the 2019 trial above, no more dogs had their seizures cut by half on CBD than on placebo. An owner’s account, however hopeful, is not a study result, so seizure plans belong with your veterinarian.

• Pain after surgery or cancer: owners sometimes look at cannabis when painkillers leave a dog too drowsy to get up, but the FDA has not approved cannabis for any use in animals and cannot ensure the safety or effectiveness of these products. Any change to a pain plan should go through your veterinarian.

• Arthritis: in a small 2018 crossover trial, CBD oil lowered pain scores and raised activity in dogs with osteoarthritis, yet the FDA says significant data gaps remain for CBD in animals; the FDA cautions owners against cannabis products for pets.

For the federal position, the FDA’s questions and answers on cannabis products cover pets, including the signs to watch for if a dog eats cannabis.

Can Veterinarians Prescribe or Recommend CBD For Dogs?

Not as an FDA-approved animal drug.

Hemp-derived CBD has not been a federally controlled substance since the 2018 Farm Bill, but marijuana is different: since April 28, 2026, marijuana made or sold under a state medical marijuana license has been in Schedule III, so it is still a federally controlled substance. The FDA has not approved cannabis for any use in animals, and state rules for veterinarians vary.

In a January 2025 Federal Register notice, the FDA stated that no FDA-approved, conditionally approved or indexed animal drugs contain CBD. The same notice says that

• significant data gaps exist on CBD and other cannabis-derived products in animals
• further research is needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of these products

Should I Tell My Veterinarian That I’m Giving My Dog CBD?

Absolutely. Tell your vet even if you expect doubt; the FDA says significant data gaps remain on CBD in animals.

But either way, your veterinarian needs to know if you’re giving CBD to your dog so that he or she can track your dog’s progress. Your vet can also avoid prescribing medications that could negatively interact with CBD.

Do Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Carry CBD Products For Dogs?

In Florida, medical marijuana treatment centers dispense only to registered patients and caregivers, and the law covers medical use by the certified patient, not a pet. Pet CBD products are usually hemp products sold elsewhere.

Hemp-Based Products For Dogs: What the Research Shows

Since Florida’s medical marijuana treatment centers serve only registered patients and caregivers, pet CBD comes from the hemp-based products on the market that are designed for canines.

Hemp is defined by its THC level, no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, not by CBD, and a new federal definition starts on November 12, 2026, with its THC limits delayed until at least December 11, 2026. No hemp product is FDA-approved for animals.

In a small 2018 randomized crossover trial in dogs with osteoarthritis, CBD oil lowered pain scores, and a 2019 randomized trial in 26 dogs with epilepsy found fewer seizures but no more dogs responding than with placebo.

Can Animals Safely Consume Medical Marijuana Meant For Humans?

Absolutely not. Never give your pet the medical marijuana that you use.

THC can make pets seriously ill. FDA notes that adverse events from accidental ingestion are well documented, and that a pet showing signs such as lethargy, vomiting, tremors or convulsions after eating cannabis needs a veterinarian, an animal emergency hospital or an animal poison control center right away. The FDA lists lethargy, drooling, vomiting, agitation, tremors and convulsions among the signs in pets that eat cannabis.

If you are thinking about CBD for your dog, talk with your veterinarian first; the FDA cannot ensure the safety or effectiveness of cannabis products sold for pets. And never blow marijuana smoke at your pet to help it relax.

Questions About CBD for Your Dog?

Giving your dog CBD, or thinking about it? Talk with your vet first, and bring your questions to that visit.

Your dog can’t actually get a Florida medical marijuana card, but if you personally have one of the qualifying medical conditions that Florida law (section 381.986(2), Florida Statutes) lists…

• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV (positive status)
• AIDS
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the one who certifies you
• Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by, or originating from, a qualifying medical condition and lasting beyond its usual course

…you may be able to get one yourself. After examining you, a qualified physician may also certify you for another condition if it is of the same kind or class as, or comparable to, one of the listed conditions other than a terminal condition or chronic nonmalignant pain; that decision is at the physician’s discretion, and certification is never promised.

Schedule an appointment with a Dr. Green Relief physician to learn whether you qualify under Florida law.

Last updated October 18, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including CBD
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, products containing cannabis or CBD
• Federal Register, January 16, 2025 FDA notice on cannabis-derived products in animals
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, Cannabis (Marijuana)
• McGrath S et al. Oral cannabidiol in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019 (PubMed)
• Federal Register, April 28, 2026 rule rescheduling FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana to Schedule III
• Public Law 119-37 (federal hemp definition)
• Public Law 119-103 (hemp definition delay)
• Florida Statutes, section 381.986 (2026)