CBD for Dogs and Cats: A Great Falls Owner’s Guide to Oils, Treats, Labels, and Safety

Key Takeaways

• The FDA has not approved any CBD product as a drug for animals. No pet CBD product can legally claim to treat a condition.
• Talk to your veterinarian before giving your pet CBD. CBD affects liver enzymes that process other medications.
• Dogs and cats process CBD differently. Research on cats is thinner than research on dogs.
• Label accuracy across the pet CBD market is inconsistent. Ask for a certificate of analysis.
• THC is the real danger to pets, not CBD. Store your edibles and flower out of reach of your dog.

Pet owners in Great Falls ask our team about CBD almost every week. The questions usually sound the same. Does it work? Is it safe? Which one should I buy for my dog?

This guide answers those questions directly. It also explains what nobody selling pet CBD is legally allowed to tell you. To see what we currently stock, browse our pet CBD product category. For a shorter version, read our pet CBD shopping guide.

Infinity Wellness serves adults 21 and older with a valid physical ID. Nothing on this page is veterinary advice.

What CBD Is, and What It Is Not

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is one of more than a hundred compounds found in the cannabis plant.

Hemp-derived CBD comes from cannabis plants containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. That threshold comes from the 2018 Farm Bill. THC is the compound that causes intoxication. CBD does not produce a high in people or in animals.

That distinction matters more than most product labels suggest. For a fuller breakdown of state rules, see our guide on whether CBD oil is legal in Montana.

Start With Your Veterinarian, Not With a Product

This is the single most important step, and most owners skip it.

The liver metabolizes CBD with cytochrome P450 enzymes. Those same enzymes process many common medications. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center notes that CBD can affect liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism. That creates a real risk of interaction with other drugs. Dosages of existing prescriptions may need adjusting.

If your dog takes a daily NSAID for stiff hips, that interaction is not theoretical. If your cat is on any long-term medication, the same applies. Your vet knows the full picture. A budtender does not.

Cornell also reports that the side effects owners mention most often are increased appetite and sedation.

What the Research Shows, and What It Does Not

Search “best CBD for dogs” or “CBD for dog pain,” and you will find confident answers. The published science is far less confident.

The FDA has stated that no approved, conditionally approved, or indexed animal drug contains CBD. Any product claiming to treat pain, anxiety, seizures, or inflammation in your pet is making an unapproved drug claim. In April 2025, the FDA issued warning letters to three pet CBD companies for exactly that.

Research is active but early. The AVMA describes research into cannabis-derived products for animals as being in its infancy. Many questions remain unanswered. Some small studies have looked at mobility and quality of life in dogs. Results are preliminary, and sample sizes are small.

Safety data is somewhat stronger than efficacy data. The Merck Veterinary Manual reports a pattern in dogs on long-term CBD. Some studies saw temporary rises in the liver enzyme ALP. Those elevations did not indicate liver damage, but they are a reason your vet may want periodic bloodwork.

None of this means CBD is useless. It means the honest answer to “does it work” is that we do not know yet. We are also not permitted to guess in print.

Dogs and Cats Are Not Interchangeable

Most pet CBD marketing treats dogs and cats as one category. Their bodies disagree. CBD for cats sits on a much thinner evidence base than CBD for dogs.

Those half-life ranges come from published pharmacokinetic studies compiled by Merck. Cats clear CBD more slowly. A product formulated for an 80-pound Lab is not a smaller dose for a cat.

Buy species-specific products. Do not split a dog product because the math looks close.

How to Read a Pet CBD Label

Pet CBD labeling is uneven across the industry. One analysis of 75 products found THC was labeled accurately in only 17% of them. It was underlabeled in 23% and overlabeled in 60%.

Check these five things before you buy anything:

1. Certificate of analysis. Third-party lab results, batch-matched. No COA, no purchase.
2. CBD milligrams per serving. Not per bottle. The big number on the front is usually the bottle total.
3. THC content. It should be listed. For a pet product, you want it as low as possible.
4. Full ingredient list. Watch for xylitol, chocolate, grape, and raisin derivatives. All are toxic to dogs.
5. Carrier oil and format. Oils allow finer measurement. Treats and chews are fixed-dose and harder to adjust.

Our staff can walk you through a label in store. We cannot tell you what it will do for your animal.

About the Brand Names You Searched

Owners often come in asking for a specific product they read about online. Terms like pet relief, K9 CBD oil, and hemp for dogs show up constantly in search.

Two things are worth knowing. First, our pet CBD stock rotates, and availability differs between our two Great Falls shops. Call ahead if you want something specific.

Second, brand recognition is not a quality signal in this category. The FDA’s April 2025 warning letters went to established pet CBD companies selling oils, chews, and pellets. Judge the certificate of analysis, not the packaging.

The Bigger Risk in Great Falls Is THC, Not CBD

Every recreational cannabis household should read this section.

The AVMA reports that cannabis toxicosis in dogs most often traces back to marijuana edibles. Those cases often involve chocolate, raisins, or xylitol too, which worsens the outlook. Cats tend to chew plant material directly. A classic presentation is a depressed, uncoordinated dog dribbling urine.

Signs typically resolve within one to three days with supportive care. Death is extremely rare. That is reassuring. That is reassuring.

Practical steps for local households:

• Store edibles in a latched container, not a nightstand drawer or a coat pocket.
• Keep gummies off counters. Countertop height is not out of reach for a tall dog.
• On the River’s Edge Trail and around Giant Springs, dogs eat things off the ground. Leash walks reduce that risk.
• Winter matters here. Chinook thaws expose whatever was dropped in the snow along Gibson Park and the Sun Prairie paths.

If you suspect exposure, call your veterinarian immediately. You can also reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. It is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A consultation fee may apply. The Pet Poison Helpline is available at (855) 764-7661.

Veterinarians treat these cases routinely. Be honest about what your pet got into.

Expert Insight

Owners frequently ask us for a starting dose. We do not provide one, and any retailer who does is overstepping.

Dosing depends on your animal’s weight, age, kidney and liver function, and current medications. Because no CBD-containing animal drug has FDA approval, no standardized veterinary dosing guidance exists. Your veterinarian is the only person positioned to weigh those variables for your pet.

We can help you compare formats and read a certificate of analysis. We can explain what a label actually says.

Shopping for Pet CBD in Great Falls

Infinity Wellness operates two Great Falls locations, both open seven days a week.

Our 6th St SW dispensary sits at 721 6th St SW Suite 3. It is convenient for Fox Farm, Riverview, and the west side. Our 11th St N dispensary at 920 11th St N sits closer to the Northside, Black Eagle, and Malmstrom AFB.

Bring a valid physical government-issued ID. Adults 21 and older are welcome. Pet CBD selection varies by location and by week, so calling ahead saves a trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBD safe for dogs and cats? Research suggests CBD is generally well tolerated in healthy dogs, with less data available for cats. Safety in animals with existing conditions or medications is not established. Ask your veterinarian before starting.

Will CBD get my pet high? No. CBD is not intoxicating. THC is the intoxicating compound, and THC exposure in pets requires veterinary attention.

Are CBD dog treats better than CBD oil for dogs? Neither is better. Oils allow more precise measurement. Treats are simpler to give. Your vet can advise which format suits your dog.

Can I give my cat a dog product? No. Cats clear CBD more slowly than dogs and need species-appropriate formulations. Use a product labeled for cats.

Do I need a medical card to buy pet CBD? No. Adults 21 and older can shop with a valid physical ID. Medical customers should bring a Montana state-issued medical card for medical purchases.

Before You Buy

CBD for dogs and cats is a reasonable thing to be curious about. It is also a category where marketing has run well ahead of the science.

Talk to your veterinarian. Read the certificate of analysis. Buy species-specific products. Store your THC products where your animals cannot reach them.

This page is for general educational purposes only. It is not medical or veterinary advice. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease in humans or animals. The FDA has not approved CBD for use in animals. Consult a licensed veterinarian before giving any CBD product to your pet. Product availability varies by location. Adults 21 and older with valid physical ID. Please consume responsibly.

Shop Pet CBD at Infinity Wellness

Browse our current pet CBD selection. Or stop by either Great Falls location and ask our team to walk you through a label.

Shop Now | 6th St SW: (406) 315-1875 | 11th St N: (406) 315-1270

Cited Sources