An honest guide from a practising veterinary surgeon.
Let me start by being direct, because most articles on this topic aren't: the UK law around CBD for pets is genuinely restrictive, and a lot of what you'll read online is incorrect or actively misleading.
I'm a practising veterinary surgeon. I'm also the founder of a human CBD oil brand. I have no commercial reason to write this article — we don't sell pet CBD products, and we can't. But because pet owners regularly ask me about this, I thought a clear, honest explanation of the actual regulatory position would be useful.
In 2018, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) — the UK regulator for veterinary medicines — issued a statement that remains the governing position today. It said, in essence:
As of today, the number of CBD products with UK veterinary marketing authorisation is zero. Not a small number — zero.
This is where most pet owners get confused. CBD for humans can currently be sold as a food supplement (subject to FSA novel food rules). So why can't it be sold as a supplement for pets?
The answer lies in how the law defines a "veterinary medicinal product." A substance becomes a veterinary medicine if either (a) it's presented as treating or preventing disease, OR (b) it exerts "a pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action." CBD meets the second definition because it acts on the endocannabinoid system. That makes it a medicine by function, even without therapeutic claims.
In the human regime, food supplement status is possible because of a different regulatory framework. In the veterinary regime, that loophole doesn't exist. There is no equivalent "pet wellness supplement" category for CBD.
Here's where the law creates a specific, narrow pathway — and understanding it properly matters.
In practice, this means:
Only a vet can initiate this. Not a pet shop. Not a website. Not a friend who gives their dog CBD. A registered MRCVS who has examined the animal and assessed whether CBD is clinically appropriate.
The animal must be "under the care" of the prescribing vet — meaning a genuine veterinary-client-patient relationship exists.
The vet must obtain informed consent from the owner, explaining that this is an unauthorised product being used under the cascade.
Clinical justification must be documented.
Records must be kept for five years.
Let me be direct. A lot of UK websites sell what they describe as "CBD oil for dogs" or similar. Technically, selling a CBD product with an explicit animal-use label, without VMD authorisation, is not legal. Enforcement has been inconsistent — the VMD has not, to my knowledge, prosecuted pet CBD companies — but the legal position is clear.
More importantly: **giving an unauthorised CBD product to your pet without a veterinary prescription is itself an offence** under Regulation 8 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013. The liability rests with the pet owner, not just the seller.
I understand pet owners don't always know this. But now you do.
Beyond the legal issue, there's a practical one. The pet CBD market is even less regulated than the human CBD market, which is already poorly regulated. Independent testing of UK CBD products has found that the majority are mislabelled — often substantially. Some contain no CBD at all. Others contain unlisted compounds. There is no reason to expect pet products to be better.
Hemp seed oil — which contains no CBD or THC — is a legal, legitimate nutritional supplement for pets. It provides omega fatty acids and can support coat and joint health. If you see a pet product labelled "hemp oil" rather than "CBD oil," check whether it actually contains CBD or just hemp seed oil. The difference matters.
If you're a pet owner considering CBD for your animal, here's my clinical advice:
In September 2025, the Cannabis Trades Association published a position paper calling for regulatory reform — proposing a two-tier system for animal CBD, separating licensed veterinary medicines (with therapeutic claims) from regulated wellbeing products (without). This would bring the UK closer to the Swiss model, which allows nutraceutical-grade CBD for animals with strict quality controls and no disease claims.
There are also reports that a formal VMD application is being prepared for a pet CBD veterinary medicine. One UK manufacturer — Pets Choice Ltd in Blackburn — has obtained a "veterinary specials" licence and is developing CBD formulations that can be prescribed under the cascade.
Whether the regulatory framework changes, and when, remains to be seen. In the meantime, the law is the law.
You cannot legally buy CBD for your pet from a non-veterinary source in the UK. You can, legally, have your vet prescribe it under the cascade. And you can — and should — ask an MRCVS for a proper clinical opinion before giving any pet a substance with pharmacological activity.
If you're looking for that opinion, my inbox is open.
Alastair Greenway MRCVS
Founder, Aponia CBD
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