Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil for Dogs: Seed Oil, Hemp Extract, and How to Tell Which One You Are Holding
Search for hemp oil vs CBD oil for dogs and you will find the two names used as if they meant the same thing. They do not. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant and is a fat, like other plant oils. A CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant carried in an oil, and its label states how much CBD the bottle holds.
The trouble is that “hemp oil” on a front panel can mean either one. The ingredient list, the milligram figure and the lab report are what tell you which product you have.
Key takeaways
- “Hemp oil” can refer to seed oil or hemp extract; check the ingredient list.
- A CBD amount is a product-label fact, not a serving recommendation.
- Match the lot number on the package to the laboratory report before relying on its figures.
Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: Two Products From One Plant
Both come from Cannabis sativa, and both can be sold as hemp oil. The difference is which part of the plant the oil comes from and what that part contains.
FDA explained the seed side when it reviewed three hemp seed ingredients for human food in 2018. The seeds themselves do not naturally contain THC. Hemp seed ingredients carry only trace amounts of THC and CBD, picked up from contact with other parts of the plant during harvesting and processing.
CBD and the plant’s other cannabinoids are made elsewhere on the plant. Trichomes, the small glandular hairs on its surface, are important in making them. A CBD oil starts from an extract of that plant material, which is then mixed into a carrier oil.
| Hemp seed oil | CBD oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Pressed hemp seeds | Hemp extract in a carrier oil |
| Cannabinoids | Trace amounts at most | CBD amount stated on the label |
| Ingredient line | Hemp seed oil | Hemp extract, full spectrum hemp extract, or CBD |
| What it is | A food fat | A cannabinoid product |
What Hemp Seed Oil Is
Hemp seed oil is a food oil made mostly of fat. Its fatty-acid composition differs from oils made from other sources; read the label rather than treating different oils as nutritionally interchangeable.
The omega-3 in hemp seed oil is ALA, not the EPA and DHA found in fish oil. That difference shows up on supplement labels: those for fish oil and hemp seed oil list different fatty acids.
Because it is pressed from seeds, hemp seed oil is not a source of CBD. A bottle that lists only hemp seed oil and states no cannabinoid amount is a seed oil product, whatever the front panel calls it.
What a CBD Oil Contains
A CBD oil for dogs usually has two kinds of ingredient: a hemp extract that carries the cannabinoids, and a carrier oil that holds it. Carriers described in veterinary studies include medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, fractionated coconut oil and hemp seed oil.
That last case is where the names blur. A bottle can contain hemp seed oil and still be a CBD oil, because the CBD comes from the extract mixed into it. Even veterinary research uses loose names, describing some study products as CBD-rich hemp oil.
Extracts differ in what they contain. A full-spectrum extract can contain CBD alongside other cannabinoids, including THC. Check the exact product label and matching batch report instead of assuming a spectrum term alone tells you the amount present.
FDA has not approved CBD for use in animals, and it advises pet owners to talk with their veterinarian.
How to Tell Which One You Are Holding
Three checks answer the question, and none of them is the front panel.
Read the Ingredient List, Not the Front Panel
Front panels use “hemp oil” for both products. The ingredient list is more specific. A seed oil appears as hemp seed oil or hempseed oil. A CBD product names the extract: hemp extract, full spectrum hemp extract, or CBD.
Look for wording that identifies the extract as well as the carrier oil. If a label says only “hemp oil,” ask the seller whether it means pressed seed oil, hemp extract or both, and request the stated cannabinoid amount.
Look for a Cannabinoid Amount
A CBD oil states how much CBD it holds, usually as a total for the bottle in milligrams. Many labels also give the amount per milliliter. A seed oil has no CBD amount to state.
If a label names hemp seed oil, lists no extract and gives no cannabinoid figure, you are holding a seed oil. If it names an extract and prints a CBD total, you are holding a CBD oil, even if the front says hemp oil.
Check the Lab Report
Look for a batch laboratory report, often called a certificate of analysis, that you and your veterinarian can examine alongside the package.
The cannabinoid table is the part of the report that answers the seed oil question. It lists each cannabinoid the lab tested for. Each row shows a measured result, ND (not detected), or less than LOQ (below the lowest amount the lab can quantify).
Bailey’s posts reports on its lab results page. Use the product name, strength and lot number on your package to identify the matching report. Ask Bailey’s if you cannot establish the match.
A report describes the sample that was tested. It is a record of measurements, not a promise about any other bottle or any pet.
Reading One Bailey’s Product Page
Here is what the product page for one Bailey’s oil shows. The Original CBD Oil for Dogs comes in three sizes: 15 ml with 150 mg of CBD, 30 ml with 300 mg, and 60 ml with 600 mg.
The current product description names full-spectrum hemp extract and coconut-derived MCT oil. Hemp seed oil is not named as the carrier. The extract identity, labeled CBD amount and matching batch report distinguish it from a plain seed oil.
The product pages for Bailey’s Calming CBD Oil for Dogs and Hip & Joint CBD Oil for Dogs list coconut oil (MCT) as the inactive ingredient as well.
These figures describe the package, not the amount a particular dog should receive. Discuss the product, full ingredient list and any serving directions with your veterinarian.
Where Hemp Seed Oil Fits in a Dog’s Diet
Whether to add an oil to a dog’s food is a nutrition question for the veterinarian who knows the complete diet.
FDA’s 2018 response on hemp seed ingredients concerned intended uses in human food. It should not be presented as approval of a pet product.
A human-food assessment is not a finding about suitability for a dog or cat. If you are considering an oil for your pet’s food, bring its label to your veterinarian to discuss the complete diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hemp Seed Oil Contain CBD?
Only trace amounts. FDA notes that hemp seeds do not naturally contain THC, and that hemp seed ingredients carry only traces of THC and CBD. Those traces come from other parts of the plant during harvesting and processing. A label that states a CBD amount in milligrams is describing an extract.
Is Hemp Oil the Same as CBD Oil?
Not always. “Hemp oil” can mean a seed oil or a hemp extract in a carrier oil. The ingredient list settles it. Hemp seed oil on its own means a seed oil, while a named hemp extract with a CBD amount means a CBD product.
Can a CBD Oil Contain Hemp Seed Oil?
Yes. Some CBD products use hemp seed oil as the carrier that holds the extract. The CBD comes from the extract, so check that the ingredient list names it and that the label states a CBD amount. Bailey’s Original, Calming and Hip & Joint dog oil pages list coconut-derived MCT oil as the carrier instead.
Before You Buy Either One
The name on the front matters less than whether the back answers two questions: what is the oil, and what is in it. A seed oil and a CBD oil are different purchases, and a label that will not say which one it is has not earned the sale.
If what you want is a fat for your dog’s food, that is a diet question, and your veterinarian is the person to ask. If what you want is a CBD product, its label should name the extract and print the amount, and its seller should post a batch report you can open. A product that offers neither leaves you guessing, so ask the seller before you buy and take the answer to your veterinarian.
Customer reviews
Read Bailey’s customer reviews on Trustpilot. Reviews describe individual experiences and do not establish product effects or suitability for your pet.
These products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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