CBD Oil for Dogs in the UK: What Owners Should Know

Is CBD oil for dogs legal in the UK?

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) regulates medicines for animals in the UK. It treats products containing CBD that are given to animals as veterinary medicines, so they need a veterinary marketing authorisation before they can be sold or supplied. The VMD has said that giving an animal an unauthorised CBD product without a veterinary prescription is an offence.

Can I give my dog CBD oil made for people?

Not without your vet. The VMD says a vet may prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product under the veterinary prescribing cascade, which sets out what a vet can use when no suitable authorised veterinary medicine is available. CBD products made for people carry serving information for people, and it doesn’t apply to animals.

Should I speak to my vet?

Yes. If you’re thinking about CBD for your dog, speak to your vet first, as the VMD also advises. Your vet can tell you whether anything is appropriate for your dog, explain the prescribing rules and how to get a product legally, and point out any precautions to consider before going ahead.

Where can I read the rules?

The VMD publishes its position on CBD products for animals on GOV.UK. Search for “VMD statement on veterinary medicinal products containing cannabidiol”. GOV.UK also lists cannabidiol as “medicinal at any level” in the VMD’s list of substances recognised as medicinal by function in veterinary medicines. The links are below.

About this guide

This guide is general information about UK rules. It isn’t veterinary advice.

Featured photo: dog standing in grass, by Alvan Nee on Unsplash (unsplash.com/@alvannee).

Useful UK references

• VMD statement on veterinary medicinal products containing cannabidiol (GOV.UK, 14 September 2018)
• VMD blog: Can I buy CBD oil (cannabidiol) for my pet? (28 June 2022)
• The cascade: prescribing unauthorised medicines (GOV.UK)
• Substances recognised as medicinal by function in veterinary medicines (GOV.UK)