CBD Oil for Dogs and Cats: Differences and Oral Care

Anyone searching for CBD oil for dogs and cats will find very different information. It is often about stress, restlessness, age-related complaints, stomach problems or the right CBD dosage.

A distinction must be made between general research on CBD in animals and the intended use of a specific product. The CBD oils from MAGU are oral care products. They serve for care in the mouth and are not intended for the treatment of diseases. You can find out more about our standards on our page about quality and in our philosophy.

Why cats need their own CBD oil

Cats metabolise some plant substances differently from dogs. Particular caution is required with certain components of concentrated essential oils and with some phenolic compounds. This is described, among others, in the Merck Veterinary Manual.

This does not mean that every terpene in every concentration is automatically harmful. However, there is so far only little reliable data on individual hemp terpenes in cats.

That is why our Cat CBD Oil is deliberately made without THC and without terpenes. Neither group of substances is part of the formula from the outset.

The oil contains exactly 4% CBD and is based on odourless sunflower oil. It therefore has its own composition, specially developed for cats. If you would like to know how CBD works in general, you will find an overview in our article CBD oil side effects: what you should know.

Three CBD oral care products for different animals

You can find all three products together in the category CBD for animals.

Cat CBD Oil with 4% CBD

Our Cat CBD Oil contains exactly 4% CBD. It is based on sunflower oil and is made without THC and without terpenes.

Small Animal CBD Oil with 6% CBD

The Small Animal CBD Oil contains exactly 6% CBD and is intended as oral care for dogs up to 30 kilograms and smaller animals.

Large Animal CBD Oil with 12% CBD

The Large Animal CBD Oil contains exactly 12% CBD and was developed for dogs over 30 kilograms, horses and other large animals.

Using Cat CBD Oil as oral care

The Cat CBD Oil is spread in the mouth. Alternatively, the oil can be dripped onto the nose. When licking it off, the cat spreads it in its mouth by itself.

For the first application, one drop once a day is enough. This allows the cat to get used to the taste and the care routine at its own pace. After that, two to three drops can be used once or twice a day. The regular amount is up to three drops per application.

For cats, the specially developed Cat CBD Oil should be used. The formula is free of THC and terpenes and therefore differs significantly from our oral care products for dogs and larger animals.

CBD oral care for dogs up to 30 kilograms

For dogs up to 30 kilograms, our Small Animal CBD Oil with exactly 6% CBD is intended. The oral care is spread directly in the mouth.

The amount is three drops per ten kilograms of body weight and can be used up to twice a day:

Body weight	Amount
up to 5 kg	1–2 drops
5–10 kg	3 drops
10–20 kg	6 drops
20–30 kg	9 drops

For other small animal species, use should be discussed with a vet beforehand, as metabolism and sensitivity can differ depending on the species.

CBD oral care for dogs over 30 kilograms and large animals

Our Large Animal CBD Oil contains exactly 12% CBD and is intended for oral care in larger animals.

The amount is three drops per ten kilograms of body weight and can be used up to twice a day:

Body weight	Amount
30–40 kg	10–12 drops
40–60 kg	13–18 drops

For horses and other large animals, the amount is also calculated on the basis of body weight. Consulting a vet before use is advisable, especially for sick animals, animals on concurrent medication, sport horses and animals that may be used for food production.

Getting used to oral care slowly

Not every animal is immediately happy to be touched in the mouth. So start with a small amount and give your animal time to get used to the taste, the touch and the oral care routine.

As soon as the application is well accepted, the amount stated on the packaging can be used. The aim is to get used to the care routine, not to increase the amount until a particular effect occurs.

What research is being done on CBD in animals?

In veterinary research, CBD is being studied in connection with stress reactions, osteoarthritis and epilepsy in dogs, among other things. Specially defined research preparations and controlled amounts are used for this.

These studies provide interesting initial findings. However, they do not describe the intended purpose or effect of the MAGU oral care products.

CBD and stress in dogs

A controlled study with 40 healthy dogs examined a single oral dose of a THC-free CBD distillate during separation and car journeys. Changes in individual behavioural and stress parameters were observed. The results relate exclusively to the preparation studied and the specific study conditions. (Source: Hunt et al., 2023)

CBD and age-related complaints

CBD is also being researched in dogs in connection with osteoarthritis. A systematic review evaluated five studies with a total of 117 dogs. Research to date provides initial indications, but further high-quality studies are needed. (Source: Patikorn et al., 2023)

Regardless of this, age-related complaints and possible pain should always be checked by a vet.

CBD and epilepsy in dogs

The complementary use of CBD in difficult-to-treat epilepsy has also been examined in controlled studies. In these, CBD was given in addition to existing anti-epileptic medication. Such use belongs exclusively in the hands of a vet. (Source: McGrath et al., 2019)

CBD in cats

There is considerably less research in cats than in dogs. The existing studies mainly deal with the absorption and tolerability of different CBD- and THC-containing formulations.

A controlled study with 20 healthy cats showed clear differences between CBD- and THC-containing formulations. Because of the small study groups, no general recommendations for use or dosage can be derived from this yet. (Source: Kulpa et al., 2021)

Tolerability and possible interactions

In studies with orally administered CBD research preparations, tiredness, changes in appetite, increased salivation, gastrointestinal reactions, coordination problems and changes in individual liver values were observed, among other things. Our article CBD oil side effects: what you should know provides more context on this.

A study with eight healthy dogs and eight healthy cats also showed that absorption and tolerability can differ between species. (Source: Deabold et al., 2019)

There are not yet any comprehensive clinical data on possible interactions between CBD and veterinary medicines. In the case of regular medication, chronic illness or abnormal liver values, the use of a CBD-containing product should therefore be discussed with a vet beforehand.

The studies mentioned relate to orally administered research preparations and do not represent a side-effect profile of the MAGU oral care products.

When is veterinary advice necessary?

Oral care is no substitute for a veterinary examination. Inflamed or bleeding gums, strong bad breath, visible pain, loose teeth, swelling, excessive salivation or refusal to eat should be checked by a vet.

Consultation beforehand is also advisable for pregnant, nursing, very young, old or health-impaired animals.

If the animal shows an unusual reaction during or after oral care, use should be stopped and veterinary advice sought.

Conclusion: the right CBD oral care for dogs and cats

With CBD oil for dogs and cats, what matters is the species, the size of the animal and the right formula.

Our Cat CBD Oil contains exactly 4% CBD, is based on sunflower oil and is made without THC and without terpenes. For dogs up to 30 kilograms and smaller animals there is the Small Animal CBD Oil with exactly 6% CBD. The Large Animal CBD Oil with exactly 12% CBD is intended for dogs over 30 kilograms, horses and other large animals.

All three products are intended for oral care. The instructions for use on the respective packaging are authoritative.