CBD Oil vs. Soft Chews for Pets: What’s the Difference?

CBD products for pets are more popular than ever. 

In 2018, sales of tinctures, treats, and other pet products containing cannabidiol totaled $32 million in sales, quadrupling over the previous year, according to the Brightfield Group. The cannabis-focused research firm estimates that the market could top $1 billion by 2022.

Pet owners are purchasing CBD products to help their dogs and cats overcome issues ranging from anxiety and arthritis pain to seizures and cancer. 

Thanks to their widespread popularity, the number of CBD pet products on the market has exploded—and that can make it hard for pet owners to decide which ones to choose for their four-legged companions. 

CBD Oil and CBD Soft Chews: How Are These Products Different?

Both CBD oil tinctures and CBD soft chews contain cannabidiol, a natural medicinal ingredient found in the cannabis plant. The hemp-derived ingredient is converted to an odorless oil known as a tincture or extracted as an isolate.

Let’s take a closer look and compare oils and soft chews:

CBD Oil For Pets

CBD oil comes with a dropper that can be used to give a precise dose to pets. While some pets will let their owners put the oil under their tongues or against their cheeks, most pet owners drizzle the oil on their pet’s food. 

Giving CBD oil with food is important because it increases the amount of CBD that gets absorbed, ensuring the active ingredients can take effect. 

Compared to soft chews, CBD oil has a higher concentration of cannabidiol and contains other minor cannabinoids such as cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene (CBC) as well as terpenes and flavonoids—all compounds from the cannabis plant that have healing properties—to increase the health benefits. Thanks to the marked dropper, pet owners can administer precise dosing. 

CBD Soft Chews for Pets

Soft chews are made with a CBD isolate, a product that contains CBD oil but no other cannabinoids. The cannabidiol is combined with a proprietary blend of botanicals that have been scientifically proven to offer healing properties such as reduced anxiety and inflammation. 

The soft chews can be offered as treats, making it easy for pet owners to give them during a car ride, at the veterinarian’s office, or other places where cats and dogs could use a calming boost. They may also have added natural flavoring to increase palatability for dogs and cats. 

Also, each chew contains a fixed amount of CBD, meaning the dosing is not as easily adjusted as it is with oil products. 

A Closer Look at Products From The Anxious Pet

At the Anxious Pet, it’s important for us to offer products that work for the lifestyle of you and your pet. We have a variety of formulations and offerings, including organic hemp oils and soft chews. Our soft chews are available with and without CBD. 

Read on for more information on how these products differ and how they can be used together as part of your pet’s calming routine. 

The Anxious Pet Organic Hemp Oil 

Organic hemp is grown without the addition of toxic pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and the CBD oil extracted from the plant material is organic, too. Since the products are absorbed into the bloodstream, an organic product ensures that dogs and cats are not consuming chemicals or additives.

In order for a product to be labeled organic, it must contain at least 95 percent organic material. A certified organic CBD tincture contains organic hemp oil and organic carrier oils such as the fractionated coconut oil (which is used as a carrier oil in Anxious Pet products). 

The Anxious Pet Hemp Oil is easy to give directly into a pet’s mouth or can be added to food. Dosing instructions are available on the box, and are recommended based on your pet’s age and weight. Dosing can be easily adjusted up or down with the dropper based on your pet’s needs. 

Our hemp oil products contain more CBD than our soft chews, and the tincture form allows for the oil to absorb more quickly into a pet’s bloodstream—which means it works more quickly than CBD treats or chews. 

The Anxious Pet Calming Soft Chews

The Anxious Pet Calming Soft Chews are made with a CBD isolate and the cannabidiol is combined with carefully selected botanical ingredients and the right nutritional balance to ensure maximum health benefits. Unlike CBD oil—which can be given in precise doses—each soft chew contains a set amount of CBD. This makes adjusting the dose to precise amounts more difficult.

We also offer a Soft Chew formulated without CBD. The vegan, grain-free formula contains herbs such as gingko biloba, kava kava, passionflower, and lavender that are known for their calming properties. 

Both the CBD and CBD-free soft chews are flavored. The peanut butter and bacon flavors make dogs and cats will think of them as delicious treats, not medicine.

A Closer Look at Key Differences

The Anxious Pet Organic Hemp Oil	The Anxious Pet Calming Soft Chews
Pure organic hemp oil (containing CBD) that comes in a dropper.	Soft chew format is more like a treat. Given individually.
Can be given directly into a pet’s mouth or drizzled over food.	Given directly, like a treat.
Higher concentration of CBD.	Fixed concentration of CBD, lower than hemp oil.
Can adjust amount for precision dosing	Fixed dose of CBD in each chew. Dosing not as easily adjusted.
Contains other minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, naturally derived from the hemp plant.	Does NOT contain other cannabinoids. Instead, soft chews offer a blend of botanicals with healing properties.
No added flavoring.	May include added natural flavors—like peanut butter and bacon—to help palatability.

Can Both These Products Be Used Together?

Pet owners often purchase both CBD oil and soft chews for their dogs and cats and use them together. 

Some pets get a dose of CBD oil added to meals and soft chews as occasional treats (or training tools with added health and wellness benefits). Since CBD oil must be given with food, pet owners might opt to use the oil at home and use the soft chews for an on-the-go dose. 

Dosing recommendations for Anxious Pet products ensure that the amount of cannabidiol in the products will never harm a pet—even when both products are used together.

How to Choose Which CBD Product is Right for Your Pet

Both CBD oil and soft chews are safe, effective options for helping with a range of health and wellness concerns in cats and dogs.

CBD oil is often the preferred product for moderate to severe anxiety. The tincture allows for more precise dosing and the oil is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream (making it more effective) but it requires extra effort to administer: The dose must be measured and given with food, and some pets might object to the taste. 

With soft chews, the dose of CBD oil is pre-measured and pets love the flavors. Pets get the benefits of CBD in an easy-to-use format. 

The good news: There is no need to choose between a tincture and a chew. The CBD products can be used together, allowing pet owners to choose when their dog or cat might need a higher, more precise dose with an oil or a lower-dose CBD chew that helps take the edge off, leading to healthier, more relaxed dogs and cats.