Scientists just found something big: how you give CBD to your dog changes how well it works.
Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows this truth:
When they’re in pain, anxious, stiff, or not acting like themselves, your heart breaks a little.
We notice the small things they can’t say out loud:
- The slower walks
- The tiny flinches
- The restless nights
- The sudden anxiety
- The moments when they hesitate to jump, run, or play
And instinctively, we want to help. We want to ease their discomfort without overwhelming their bodies with heavy medications.
That’s why more dog owners have turned to CBD not as a cure, but as a gentle, supportive option. Something natural. Something calm. Something that feels like you’re helping your dog have better days.
But here’s the mystery scientists wanted to solve:
Does the way dogs take CBD, swallowed or absorbed through the mouth, actually matter?
This question has never been more important now that thousands of pet products claim faster, better absorption.
A group of veterinary researchers finally put that claim to the test.
Science Snapshot
What the study tested:
Whether CBD absorbs better in dogs through the mouth (OTM) or when swallowed (oral).
What they measured:
- Peak CBD levels
- Time to peak
- Half-life
- Total CBD exposure
The big result:
Both methods worked nearly the same. No major absorption advantage with OTM.
What it means:
You can give CBD to your dog in whatever way they tolerate best; it still reaches their bloodstream.
The Big Promise Pet Owners Keep Hearing, But Is It True?
Pet CBD companies often say things like:
- “Put it under their tongue for faster absorption!”
- “Oral mucosa absorption bypasses digestion!”
- “OTM (oral transmucosal) delivery increases bioavailability!”
Those statements sound impressive, but does CBD actually absorb through a dog’s mouth?
Or does it end up being swallowed, just like a regular treat or oil?
This study wanted a clear answer.
The Experiment: Two Ways to Give Dogs CBD
Twelve dogs with mild chronic pain were enrolled. All dogs received the same CBD oil at the same dose: 1 mg/kg.
But they were divided into two groups:
- Group 1: Dogs swallowed the CBD orally
- Group 2: Dogs received the CBD inside the cheek/gums (oral transmucosal or OTM)
Researchers took blood samples for hours to track exactly how CBD moved through their system.
This wasn’t guesswork. This wasn’t opinion. This was real pharmacokinetics, the science of how substances travel through the body.
The Surprising Moment Researchers Realized the Results Were Nearly Identical
The scientists compared key measurements like:
- Cmax (peak CBD levels)
- Tmax (time to reach peak)
- Half-life
- Overall exposure (AUC)
And what they found shocked even the research team:
Both methods delivered almost the same amount of CBD into the dogs’ bloodstream.
No dramatic difference.
No meaningful boost with OTM.
No sign that the mouth absorbed CBD any better than the stomach.
The two curves, oral and OTM, were basically superimposable.
That means one thing:
Whether dogs swallowed CBD or absorbed it through their gums, the body used it in almost the same way.
The Myth Busted: CBD Doesn’t Absorb Through a Dog’s Mouth (At Least Not Much)
One of the biggest takeaways from this study?
CBD barely absorbs through the oral mucosa in dogs.
Instead:
- Dogs swallow most of what you put in their mouth
- That CBD then gets absorbed in the gut, not the gums
- The “faster absorption” claims don’t hold up scientifically
This doesn’t mean CBD doesn’t work. It means the method you use doesn’t change much. Whether you place the oil under the tongue or mix it in food, the body treats it the same.
That’s a huge relief for dog owners who struggled with messy droppers and “hold their mouth open for 20 seconds” instructions.
Why This Study Matters for Dogs Living With Pain, Anxiety, and Stress
Dogs who struggle with chronic pain, anxiety, or discomfort rely on you to make the right choices for them.
This study gives you something invaluable: Clarity.
It tells you that:
- You don’t need to fight your dog to dose under the tongue
- You don’t have to worry about losing potency if you put CBD in food
- You can choose the method that’s easiest for your dog
- CBD still reaches their system as expected
For anyone whose dog squirms, turns away, or refuses droppers, this is game-changing.
You can finally stop stressing about “perfect delivery.” Your dog will absorb CBD just fine.
What This Could Mean for Your Dog’s Comfort Journey
The problem this research is trying to solve is simple:
Pet parents want to help their dogs feel better without stress, confusion, or complicated dosing rituals.
Here’s what this study means for you and your dog:
- CBD can be given the easy way, mixed in food, on a treat, or as an oil
- You don’t need fancy “absorption boosters.”
- Your dog doesn’t need to suffer through mouth-hold dosing techniques
- CBD reaches their body reliably whether swallowed or placed in the mouth
- You can focus on consistency, comfort, and observing how your dog responds
- Your dog deserves relief without added stress, and this study supports that
At the end of the day, what matters most isn’t the method, it’s the moment your dog starts to feel like themselves again.
If CBD helps your dog walk more easily, rest better, or worry less, then you’ve already done something wonderful.
This study simply gives you confidence that you’re giving it the right way.
Original Study Section
Title: Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol following single oral and oral transmucosal administration in dogs
Date: January 2023
Authors: Giorgia della Rocca, Fabiola Paoletti, Maria Beatrice Conti, Roberta Galarini, Elisabetta Chiaradia, Monica Sforna, Cecilia Dall’Aglio, Angela Polisca, Alessandra Di Salvo
Link to Study: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1104152/full