Our Final Verdict
We give The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil a rating of 4.85 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 4.9/5
Effectiveness: 4.8/5
Ingredients: 4.8/5
Value: 4.9/5
If you’re hoping to take advantage of CBD’s many benefits for dogs, including its calming power, but don’t have a fortune to spend, The Brothers Apothecary K-9 Calming CBD Oil is a promising option.
This family-owned, locally sourced hemp tea company is well-known for their quality, all-natural CBD products. Their K-9 Calming CBD Oil for dogs is no exception. This simple tincture is made from US-grown hemp, MCT oil, and natural peanut butter oil for an effective, great-tasting CBD supplement your dog will love.
Best of all, this concentrated CBD oil is impressively affordable.
I had the chance to try The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil on my two senior dogs to find out how effective this pure, well-priced CBD option really is. Keep reading my full The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil review to find out what I discovered.
Overview
| Product Type: | CBD oil |
| Best Suited For: | Dogs struggling with anxiety, pain, seizures, sleep disturbances, and more |
| Price Range: | Great value |
| Concentration: | 16.7mg CBD per 1 ml; 500mg per bottle |
| Specs: | 30ml (1 ounce) bottle |
| Flavor: | Peanut butter |
| Features: | Full spectrum hemp oil, easy-dose dropper |
| THC Content: | About 0.08% |
| Storage: | Store in a dark, cool place |
Our Experience
I have been using CBD for my two senior dogs for the last few years. Ragz, my 14-year-old Dalmatian mix, struggles with sore joints in her old age. And my 16-year-old Chihuahua, Papyrus, has some arthritis in his back legs, anxiety, and trouble sleeping now that he’s older.
I’ve found that quality CBD oil really has a profound effect on these issues, helping both my dogs find relief. Unfortunately, with both dogs requiring therapeutic doses of the stuff twice every day, the cost can quickly add up. Because of this, I’m always on the lookout for well-priced, quality pet CBD options.
And that’s why I was so excited to try this tincture from The Brothers Apothecary.
Not only is this CBD oil made from simple quality ingredients, but it’s also a high-concentration formula and very affordable. All in all, this product looks great on paper, but I still had to put it to the test to find out if it was as effective as advertised.
What I Liked
To start, I’m a big fan of the ingredients that make up this CBD oil tincture. I also LOVE the price.
Calming K-9 CBD Oil contains only full spectrum hemp extract, MCT oil, and peanut butter oil flavor. There are zero filler ingredients, and the flavoring used is all-natural and potent.
I’ve already mentioned how affordable this oil is, which is why I was so surprised to learn that each bottle has an impressive 500mg of CBD. For pet CBD oil, this is a fairly high concentration. And for a dog owner who goes through a lot of CBD, it’s exactly what I like to see.
Not only do high-concentration formulas make for less added oil in your dog’s meals, but the bottles also last a lot longer, which means even more cost savings.
I added this product to my dogs’ meals twice a day at their typical therapeutic dose (15mg for Ragz, and 4mg for Papyrus). They had been off CBD for a few months due to some backorder issues with my usual brand, which provided the perfect environment to test this oil.
I first noticed results after about two weeks of continual use. Both dogs appeared less stiff and sore in the morning. There was also a clear difference in their mobility on walks starting around this time.
I have been using it for three weeks now and have just started to notice a difference in Papyrus’ anxiety. He seems calmer throughout the day and is sleeping much more soundly overnight. I’m hopeful that these effects will continue to build over the next couple of weeks.
Where I Saw Room for Improvement
Honestly, there isn’t much I don’t love about this CBD oil. And my dogs seem to agree.
They happily eat it when I mix it in with their food. And will swallow it when I put it directly in their mouth, though this is not their favorite method of administration.
I only ran into two issues with this product.
First, I had a bit of trouble with the dropper. It has volume markers on the pipette, which makes measuring the correct amount super easy. However, for some reason, squeezing the rubber bulb doesn’t fully empty the pipette.
This was problematic when trying to give Papyrus his small dose. I haven’t had this issue with other CBD oils, but it’s possible this is an uncommon defect that others won’t experience.
The other issue I ran into was finding the third-party lab results for the batch I received on the company’s webpage. The QR code on the bottle only brings me to the lab results home page and there is no category listed for “pet oils” or “tinctures.” When I was not able to locate the batch number even after sifting through all the lab results on the page, I contacted The Brothers Apothecary through their Contact Me page and using the phone number on their website. It took about a week to hear back but I did receive the information I was looking for.
Despite these minor issues, I have been really impressed with this company and this product and will continue to use it. At this price, how could I not?!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High concentration
- Simple ingredients
- Full spectrum
- Natural peanut butter flavor
- Easy to dose
- Great price
Cons
- Not certified organic
- Only one option available
Key Features
Quality Ingredients
Each bottle of The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil contains just three ingredients:
- Hemp oil extract
- MCT oil
- Peanut butter oil
The hemp extract used in this product is the same full-spectrum oil that The Brothers Apothecary uses in all their oil products. It is derived from hemp flowers and contains a full spectrum of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, including plenty of CBD. It does contain trace amounts of THC, but at just 0.08%, this amount is well below the recommended maximum of 0.3%.
While CBD is the compound in hemp that has the most well-understood medicinal applications, many of the lesser-known substances in this product are just as important. These minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes all contribute to the entourage effect and help CBD work more effectively. Many of them also have their own benefits.
The carrier oil used in this product is medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. This is an optimal carrier oil because it does a wonderful job of protecting fragile hemp compounds while making them easier for the body to absorb. MCT also has a fairly neutral flavor that most dogs enjoy.
To help make this product even more palatable, natural peanut butter oil is added. This flavoring is a favorite of many dogs. And unlike a lot of flavored CBD oils, this flavoring is quite potent.
You can easily smell the peanut butter when you use this product. In the name of providing a thorough review, I also tasted it, and I can tell you the peanut butter does a pretty good job of covering up the natural taste of hemp oil.
High Concentration for Therapeutic Dosing
The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil is only available in one size and concentration. Each bottle is 30ml and contains 500mg of CBD. This breaks out to about 16.7mg of CBD per dropper.
The general recommendation for CBD dosing in dogs is 1 to 5mg per 10 lbs of body weight. For pain management in my dogs, I use the higher end of the dosing spectrum, known as a therapeutic dose.
Many dog CBD oils contain less than 1mg of CBD per ml, which means you have to use quite a bit to reach a therapeutic dose. This is especially true if you have a large dog. The high concentration of this product makes it a great, more cost-effective option for therapeutic dosing and dosing large dogs.
How to Use
Like most CBD oil tinctures, this one can be given directly to your dog or mixed in with their food.
The advantage of direct dosing is that the CBD is absorbed into the body much more quickly, which means you’ll see the effects faster. If you are using the oil to help your dog stay calm before a stressful event, I recommend dosing this way. Luckily, the peanut butter flavor makes it quite a bit more palatable for this type of administration.
You can also add this oil to your dog’s meals for easier dosing.
Depending on your dog’s needs, you may want to dose them once or twice per day. CBD has a cumulative effect, which means you will see more consistent results the more often you use it.
The calming effects of this product are generally obvious within about 30 to 45 minutes of giving it to your dog. These results will get more pronounced with consistent use, with peak results after about two weeks. This is about the time I noticed the product affecting my dogs’ mobility, as well. You can expect full results after about three to six weeks.
About The Brothers Apothecary
The Brothers Apothecary was founded in 2015 with the mission to offer the benefits of CBD in a healthier, more synergetic way. Today, they carry a long line of CBD and hemp tea products as well as CBD superfoods, tinctures, and topicals.
| Manufacturing: | Portland, Oregon |
| Sourcing: | Hemp sourced in Oregon, all ingredients sourced locally when possible |
| Subscriptions: | None available |
| Shipping: | Flat-rate shipping available |
Is The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil a Good Value?
Compared to competitors, The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil is very well priced. It costs about the same as the lowest-priced quality CBD oils I’ve tested while having a higher concentration, making it an incredibly good value.
How We Tested
I tested this product the same way I’ve tested the dozens of other pet CBD tinctures I have reviewed—with the help of my dogs.
I dosed them twice daily with their typical therapeutic dose. I primarily added the oil to their food but also tried dosing it directly by putting it into their mouths to see how they would tolerate it. I continued using the product for three full weeks before writing this review.
I also spent ample time researching The Brothers Apothecary, their products, methods, and sourcing. I studied their third-party lab tests and extraction methods. Additionally, I called on my extensive knowledge of CBD and hemp products to determine how this option ranks against similar products on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much Calm K-9 CBD Oil should I give my dog?
The Brothers Apothecary recommends a dose of 5mg for small dogs, 10mg for medium dogs, and 16mg for large dogs. This will change depending on your dog’s needs. In general, it is recommended to give dogs 1 to 5mg of CBD per 10 lbs of body weight.
Is this product suitable for other types of pets?
Yes, The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil can also be used for cats and other mammals. There is also emerging research that CBD can be beneficial for birds and reptiles. Always talk to your holistic vet to determine safe dosing for your pets.
Is full-spectrum hemp oil safe for dogs?
Yes, full-spectrum hemp oil is safe for dogs because it naturally contains less than 0.3% THC, which is the maximum amount recommended for pets. On average, The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil contains less than 0.1% THC and is safe to give your dog every day.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a high-quality, pure, and affordable CBD oil for your dog, I can’t recommend The Brothers Apothecary Calming K-9 CBD Oil enough.
This simple yet effective CBD oil has just three pure ingredients, including full-spectrum CBD oil. Each bottle contains an impressive 500mg of CBD plus natural peanut butter oil for high palatability. Best of all, it is incredibly well priced and perfect for owners of large dogs and dogs in need of high therapeutic doses.
I have been using this on my dogs for the last three weeks and have already seen some impressive results in terms of their pain levels, mobility, and anxiety.