The Truth About CBD Research for Pets: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

As interest in CBD for pets continues to grow, so does the demand for clear, evidence-based guidance. At CompanionCBD, we’re committed to not only providing vet-formulated, high-quality CBD soft chews, but also helping you understand the science—and the challenges—behind CBD research.

In this post, we’re sharing a veterinarian’s perspective on why reliable studies about CBD and pets are still catching up, and what that means for you as a caring pet parent.

🧪 Why CBD Research for Pets Is Moving Slowly

One of the biggest frustrations in the veterinary community is the slow pace of CBD research—especially when we see how many pets are already benefiting from it.

Right now, most of the available studies on CBD in pets are funded by private companies. While many of these companies are genuinely interested in animal wellness, the sample sizes are often small, and the results don’t always provide the comprehensive data we need to make across-the-board clinical recommendations.

In other words: the research we do have is promising—but it’s just a small piece of a much larger puzzle.

💡 What’s Holding CBD Research Back?

The biggest hurdle? Funding and legal restrictions.

Because of how CBD is classified under federal law in many countries (including the U.S.), academic institutions struggle to get funding or approval to conduct large-scale, independent studies on its use in animals. That means much of what we know comes from anecdotal evidence, small pilot studies, or internal research by CBD companies.

This creates a gap between what veterinarians want to know and what we currently have access to.

🩺 What Vets Are Doing In the Meantime

Even without an extensive body of research, veterinarians like those at CompanionCBD are doing everything we can to make responsible, science-informed recommendations.

Many of us rely on a kind of “meta-analysis”—carefully comparing existing studies, clinical experience, and patient outcomes—to come up with the best guidance for each individual pet.

That’s also why personalized dosing matters so much. What works for one pet might not work the same way for another. Our Ask a Vet service is designed to help bridge this gap by offering free consultations to help pet parents choose the right CBD regimen.

🐶 The Future Looks Bright—for Pets and Their People

Despite the current limitations, the CBD industry for pets continues to evolve. More veterinarians, researchers, and pet parents are advocating for deeper studies and clearer guidance.

At CompanionCBD, we’re optimistic. We're proud to be part of this movement and to offer products that are vet-formulated, rigorously tested, and crafted with purpose.

Our hope is that as regulations shift and more funding becomes available, we’ll be able to provide even more detailed, specific, and science-backed recommendations to help pets live longer, healthier, and more comfortable lives.

💬 Final Thoughts

CBD has already made a difference in the lives of countless pets—but we’re still learning. At CompanionCBD, we promise to stay at the forefront of this evolving field, to advocate for better research, and to keep you informed every step of the way.

Got questions about CBD and your pet’s unique needs?

Ask a Vet here – It’s completely free.