How to understand third-party lab tests for pet CBD products
With the recent passage of the Farm Bill, CBD and hemp companies seem to be popping up everywhere. As a consumer, this is both exciting and confusing – with the increase in options also comes an increase in misleading marketing practices. With the lack of federal regulation of CBD products, the hemp industry has had to become self-regulating.
The way that CBD and hemp companies can put their money where their mouth is, is through non-biased, independent third-party lab testing. This means that the CBD or hemp company sends samples of their products, usually for each batch made, to a third-party who works as a neutral source to run a panel of tests to discern what is actually in the product.
Third-party lab testing is not required. However, if a company is not willing to test their products and provide that information to consumers, it should raise a red flag. On the flip side, if a CBD company is willing to be completely transparent about their products and their contents, it can be reassuring before you make a purchase.
Understanding lab results can not only clear up any confusion about the contents of a product but also give you a better understanding of what is actually going into your pet’s body. Labs are more than just one of our favorite breeds of dog — they are a way to keep the CBD industry honest and transparent.
What does a third-party lab test for anyway?
It’s important to note that not all tests are the same. CBD companies pay an outside laboratory to run tests. Some companies only pay the lab to test for CBD content, and while that is great information to have, a full panel lab test is what you need to show you that the product is indeed a Full Spectrum Hemp product that contains not only CBD but other important cannabinoids like CBG, CBD, CBDA and trace amounts of THC.
Full panel lab tests provide information on as many cannabinoids present as possible, as well as other factors including the presence of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. Without full panel third-party lab tests, companies could claim that any number of ingredients are in their products, while in reality the product may only contain a small portion of what they claim, or only CBD (isolate) which isn’t as effective.
Full spectrum CBD oil products have the advantage of containing many different cannabinoids and the potential for a wider effectiveness. A recent study indicated the entourage effects of a full spectrum hemp CBD oil were superior to an isolate in the effective treatment of most conditions and ailments.
What should you look for in a lab report?
Certain compounds should be present on every full panel lab report. The report should include either a chart or a key so that you can understand the measurements (for example, are the numbers measuring parts per mL? Parts per liter?). The compounds most commonly found in lab reports are:
CBD – It may seem silly, but if a CBD company is not testing for actual CBD content, they may be hiding something. The report should indicate how much CBD is present in the sample, how large the sample, and should be easy for you to determine if the amount of CBD present is the same as the amount being claimed on the bottle. Not every lab report will convert mL to mg, which means you may have to do the conversion yourself, but the math should always be the same in the end.
THC – Testing for THC is extremely important. Although hemp plants can legally only have .3 percent THC content or less, if you are purchasing a product, whether from hemp or marijuana, it is always good to verify THC content. Animals have many more CBD receptors, making them much more sensitive to THC. This means that only a very small amount is needed in pet products to maximize the full effectiveness of the CBD.
CBG, CBN, CBDA, and other cannabinoids – Full spectrum hemp products should show several other cannabinoids present in the test results, proving that the product is truly full spectrum; this means that no cannabinoids have been purposefully removed during the extracting process. The amounts of the other cannabinoids may seem insignificant, but even in small doses they provide the desired entourage effect.
Microbes – Microbes are living organisms that can be found in a sample. You do NOT want your CBD product to contain microbes. The two common microbes to test for include E. Coli and Salmonella. If the report has trace amounts of either microbe, it can cause your pet to become ill.
Pesticides and Herbicides – Companies claiming to have all-natural, organic, and pesticide- or herbicide-free ingredients should have lab reports to prove their claims. While pesticides may show in trace amounts in all plants (due to trace amounts of pesticides in water or water runoff from other farms), the number of pesticides or herbicides present in each sample should be incredibly small. Any high numbers of pesticides or herbicides should raise a red flag, as many have been proven to act as endocrine disrupters. We do not use any chemical herbicides, fertilizers or chemicals, therefore our lab results show no trace of these harmful chemicals.
Chemical solvents – If a company uses CO2 extraction, they should not have chemical solvents in their products. Chemical solvents often found in CBD oils extracted through other methods often includes alcohol, formaldehyde, or butane (lighter fluid). These solvents often are carcinogenic (which means they can cause cancer) and are dangerous. Not all labs test for these solvents, but when available it can be helpful to note.
How do you calculate if the claims match?
When evaluating a third-party lab report for a pet CBD product, it’s important to understand the units of measurement used. Labs may report cannabinoid content in various formats: milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL), parts per million (ppm), or percentages. To make accurate comparisons, first identify the unit of measurement used in the report, the amount of product tested, and the size of the sample analyzed.
Many CBD product labels list the total amount of CBD per bottle, and sometimes per serving. To verify these claims using the lab report, begin by confirming the volume of the bottle. For example, a 1 fluid ounce bottle contains approximately 29.57 mL or 28.35 grams. If the label claims 1100 mg of CBD in the full bottle, you can divide this total by the number of servings (typically 30) to get an estimated 36.67 mg per serving.
If the lab report provides CBD content per gram (e.g., 39 mg/g), multiply that figure by the total grams in the bottle (about 28.35 grams for 1 oz) to estimate the total CBD content. In this case, 39 mg/g × 28.35 g = approximately 1105.65 mg CBD in the full bottle.
If the report uses mg/mL instead, use the volume in milliliters for your calculations. The process is the same: verify whether the total cannabinoid content listed on the lab certificate matches the label’s claims, adjusting your math depending on whether the data is based on weight (grams) or volume (milliliters).
View an example third-party lab certificate
For example, here is a lab certificate below. You can see the number of cannabinoids and absence of pesticides in the sample from the batch. Transparency is the goal, and through third-party lab testing, a company is able to stand behind their claims. 
About Angela Ardolino:
Angela Ardolino, a certified cannabis and fungi clinician, brings over 20 years of expertise to the field of holistic pet wellness. As a graduate of the inaugural Medical Cannabis for Therapeutic Use program at the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she is a passionate advocate for safe, natural, and ethically-grown whole plant and fungi medicine tailored for pets.
Committed to the highest standards, Angela continues to educate and inspire pet parents through her popular podcast, Your Natural Dog, where she hosts experts to discuss holistic pet care, natural remedies, nutrition, and training. Follow Angela Ardolino on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay updated on her mission to educate and empower pet parents everywhere.