CBD for Pets UK: VMD Rules & Veterinary Prescriptions
Can You Give CBD to Dogs or Cats in the UK?
The short answer is that pet owners should not give CBD to an animal on their own initiative.
The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) considers CBD products intended for use in animals to be veterinary medicines. There are currently no CBD products authorised in the UK for veterinary use, and the VMD states that giving a pet an unauthorised CBD product obtained without a veterinary prescription is an offence under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.
If you are considering CBD for a dog, cat or other animal, the appropriate first step is to speak to your veterinary surgeon.
Why Human CBD Guidance Cannot Simply Be Applied to Pets
CBD products sold for human use are assessed and labelled for people, not animals.
An amount intended for a human cannot simply be converted into a pet dose based on weight. Different species can process substances differently, and the suitability of other ingredients in a formulation also needs to be considered.
CBD can also interact with other medicines. This is particularly important for animals already receiving veterinary treatment.
For these reasons, Valley CBD does not provide animal dosing instructions or recommend its human CBD products for use in pets.
What Is the Veterinary Prescribing Cascade?
The prescribing cascade is a legal framework that gives veterinary surgeons some flexibility when there is no suitable authorised veterinary medicine for an animal.
The decision is made case by case following a clinical assessment. Where a veterinarian considers it clinically appropriate, the cascade can in some circumstances allow them to prescribe a legally obtained medicine authorised for human use.
In relation to CBD, the VMD says a vet may be able to prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product under the cascade.
The veterinary surgeon — not the CBD retailer or pet owner — decides whether CBD is appropriate, which product may be used, the appropriate dose and what monitoring or precautions are required.
Can a Human CBD Retailer Recommend CBD for Animals?
No.
RCVS Knowledge notes that businesses supplying CBD products for human use must not indicate or recommend those products for use on animals.
That distinction is important. Valley CBD products are sold for human use. We do not sell them as veterinary medicines and do not recommend them for dogs, cats or other animals.
What About THC and Other Ingredients?
The VMD also warns that some cannabis-derived products may contain controlled cannabinoids such as THC and that THC can be toxic to animals.
However, choosing a product simply because it is labelled as CBD isolate or “THC-free” should not be treated as a substitute for veterinary advice.
If a veterinary surgeon considers CBD appropriate under the cascade, they can assess the particular formulation, ingredients, existing medicines and individual animal before recommending a product.
CBD and Specific Conditions in Animals
Research into cannabinoids in veterinary medicine is continuing, including research involving dogs with conditions such as idiopathic epilepsy.
That research should not be interpreted as evidence that an over-the-counter human CBD product is suitable for treating a pet.
For a closer look at the canine epilepsy evidence, see our guide: CBD and Canine Epilepsy: What Does the Research Show?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy CBD oil for my dog in the UK?
There are currently no CBD products authorised in the UK for veterinary use. CBD products intended for animal use require veterinary medicines authorisation. Speak to your vet rather than purchasing a CBD product and administering it yourself.
Can I give my dog or cat human CBD oil?
Do not give a human CBD product to an animal without veterinary advice. The VMD states that a veterinary surgeon may, where appropriate, prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product through the prescribing cascade.
How much CBD should I give my pet?
Valley CBD does not provide CBD doses for animals. There is no general consumer dose that should be copied between species or animals. If CBD is prescribed, the veterinary surgeon determines the appropriate product and dose.
Can Valley CBD recommend one of its oils for my pet?
No. Valley CBD products are supplied for human use and we do not recommend them for use in animals.
Is CBD proven to treat conditions in pets?
Research is developing, but the evidence varies considerably according to the species and condition. Research findings should not be treated as instructions for owners to administer CBD themselves.
Bottom Line
CBD and pets are subject to different rules from CBD food supplements intended for people.
In the UK there are currently no authorised veterinary CBD products. Pet owners considering CBD should speak to their veterinary surgeon rather than selecting a human CBD product themselves.
Where clinically appropriate, a veterinary surgeon may have options available through the prescribing cascade.