Last Updated: 05/06/2025
Get a Better Understanding on Hemp and Cannabis Oil products for pets with this article.
Author: Dr Brittany Ward BVSc
Reading Time: 19 minutes - medium read
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With growing evidence of their benefits in human health and increased legalization, hemp and cannabis oil products are gaining popularity as potential treatments for dogs and cats in Australia. Pet owners are exploring these options for managing conditions like arthritis, anxiety, cancer, and epilepsy in their furry companions.
NOTE: The information contained in this article is only general in nature and should not be taken as a recommendation or advice on how to treat your pet. Human cannabis oil products should not be given to pets as they can cause severe illness or death..
These three terms are often used interchangeably, and it can get quite confusing. Cannabis refers to material from any plant in the genus Cannabaceae, which contains 170 species of plant. When we refer to Hemp or Marijuana, these are plants from the distinct species Cannabis sativa.
There are two main active components of the plant Cannabis sativa that we are concerned with when it comes to Hemp Medicinal Products. This is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), with THC being psychoactive to cause the commonly associated "high". The CBD component can be separated from THC and can have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Hemp and Marijuana are distinguished by their THC content, with Hemp containing less than 0.3% and Marijuana containing more than 0.3% THC.
There are three common forms that Cannabis Products come in, in the pet industry: Hemp Oil, Hemp Seed Oil and Cannabis Oil/CBD Oil.
When using CBD Oil in pets, it is important to use pharmaceutical grade products that have been consistency tested and labelled with an active ingredient concentration. These products are considered scheduled medications in Australia. As of 2021 Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil became a Schedule 4 medication, meaning that Veterinarians may prescribe it for therapeutic uses in animals, as long as the Cannabinoid content is less than 2%.
Dogs and cats, comparative to humans, have a lot more Cannabinoid receptors, which makes them highly susceptible to the potential toxic effects of Cannabis. Receptors have been recorded in the salivary glands, hair follicles, skin and hippocampus of the brain. THC is also highly lipid soluble and easily stored in fatty tissues of the liver, brain and kidneys before it is eliminated.
While research is not sufficient into the topic to be certain, many studies have shown that Hemp and CBD oil products are relatively safe in dogs. They are more likely to result in mild side effects, such as diarrhoea, sedation, reddening of the skin, especially around the ears, or discharge from the eyes.
It is also important to note that multiple safety trials in dogs have reported elevations in the liver enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) although no associated symptoms were observed. Side effects reported in cats include head shaking and increased licking.
Hemp and Cannabis products should not be used in pregnant or lactating animals as they have shown to cause infertility and pregnancy loss in mice and sheep, while cats have been proven to have a high number of Cannabinoid receptors in the reproductive tract. Further study is required, but avoidance is recommended.
Pets may come into contact with Marijuana in the home by ingesting the product directly, or, more commonly, in edibles such as baked goods, chocolates or candies. Cannabis in this form contains high levels of THC and can be highly toxic to pets, although rarely fatal. Our main concern is for the secondary complications resulting from THC toxicity. If your pet has consumed Marijuana or is showing the below symptoms, you should take your pet to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.
Symptoms of Cannabis Toxicity in Pets:
Because of the general lack of evidence supporting the safety and the efficacy of CBD oil in pets, most vets will prescribe CBD oil as a last resort treatment. They will prefer to use well known medications that are backed by science and are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). However, each veterinarian will have their own preferred protocol.
Your vet may require your pet to be on a supplement or registered medication first, as well as want to perform initial blood tests and follow up blood tests to ensure there are no side effects from using CBD Oil.
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
Many veterinarians will prefer to recommend alternative medications over Hemp or CBD Oil products. This is because there is limited research into the safety, long term effects and medication reactions of these products. Your vet may prefer to reach for well researched products that have been in use for a long time with known results and interactions. This is especially true of cats, where there are only two to three studies into the safety of Cannabinoid products.
In the pet industry, we tend to extrapolate the potential benefits from research in humans, while more research in pets becomes available. The most commonly reported benefits of Hemp and CBD oil in pets are for arthritis, anxiety, seizures, skin care and cancer.
