Our Final Verdict
We give CPenguin CBD products an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 4.5/5
Packaging: 3.5/5
Palatability: 5/5
Efficacy: 5/5
One of the fastest-growing industries in the United States today is CBD, formerly known as cannabidiol. This popular compound from the Cannabis plant has been shown to produce positive health outcomes for both humans and animals. Although more research is needed to understand the full scope of CBD’s benefits, what we do know is it can have both calming and pain-relieving effects on the user. Unfortunately, the explosion of the CBD market has led to unscrupulous companies exploiting consumer needs by selling untested and unsafe CBD products. This is where New York-based Penguin Wellness sought to change the game.
Penguin founder Deep Patel was no ordinary 20-year-old. Born and raised in poverty-stricken Macon, GA, he grew up with an entrepreneurial heart. While still a kid, Patel became an accomplished seller on eBay, and went on to publish a book on business success. The book was a hit and led to Patel becoming a consultant for up-and-coming startups, but the kid from Macon wanted more. And creating a safe and effective CBD product soon became his number one goal.
At a Glance: What We Received
About Penguin
Who Makes Penguin CBD Products and Where Are They Produced?
Penguin founder Deep Patel discovered CBD relieved his insomnia, but worried about impurities and harmful chemicals in the products he saw on the market. That’s why he started his brand in 2019 with the mission to make a better CBD. The company started out making their better, safer CBD products using organic hemp sourced from Oregon. By using only GMO- and pesticide-free Cannabis plants, performing the CBD extraction process through state-of-the-art techniques, and obtaining third-party testing reports on every batch, Penguin has become a trusted brand for CBD products. But they didn’t leave out our furry friends. Penguin offers CBD oil and treats for both dogs and cats, made to the same high standards as their human line of products.
Which Types of Dogs is Penguin Best Suited For?
Penguin CBD products for dogs have proven effective to reduce symptoms of anxiety, just as it does in people. This makes it a great tool for helping new dogs in the home to acclimate more smoothly, and is helpful for dogs with separation anxiety, noise phobias, or fear when visiting the vet or groomer.
In addition to its calming effect, CBD can ease chronic joint pain or other types of physical discomfort by reducing pain signals to the brain. This makes it a great supplement for senior dogs with arthritis, as well as dogs with musculoskeletal disorders or previous injuries. It is important before starting a CBD regimen with your pet, however, to have them examined by a veterinarian and discuss all current medications, as CBD can interact with certain prescriptions your dog may already be taking.
Key Features
The most important aspect of choosing a CBD product for yourself or your pet is finding one with quality ingredients and no unnecessary additives. In addition, accurate labeling must be present, stating all ingredients as well as the concentration of CBD within that formulation. These things all influence the safety and efficacy of your chosen CBD product.
Quality
Penguin uses only the highest quality organic hemp sourced directly from Oregon. The Cannabis used to obtain the CBD for Penguin’s products is both GMO- and pesticide-free. In addition, only state-of-the-art equipment is used for the CBD extraction process to ensure the purity of the final product. There are no harmful chemicals and nothing synthetic added. And to achieve full transparency, the brand publishes their third-party testing reports on their website, so you can analyze the components for yourself.
Options
Penguin offers two different forms of quality CBD for dogs. The first is CBD oil, in 150 mg or 300 mg strength bottles, both of which are chicken flavored. The other form of CBD available for dogs is their sweet potato-flavored treats, with molasses as a natural sweetener. Each treat contains 10 mg of CBD.
Administration
Penguin’s 10-mg CBD dog treats are the easiest to administer of the product options. Most dogs will view them as a tasty treat and readily eat them. The tub label suggests a recommended dosage of 1-2 treats a day but indicates you should consult with your veterinarian first to determine how much your pup should get.
The dog CBD oil by Penguin comes in a glass bottle with a measured dropper for drawing up the liquid and squirting either directly in your dog’s mouth or onto their food. Just as with the sweet potato treats, the label advises consulting with your vet on an appropriate dosage for your dog but suggests starting with one dropper full and adjusting from there. If you have a small dog, there is a 150-mg strength bottle, but if you have a larger dog, you should probably choose the 300-mg strength bottle.
Efficacy
While proof of efficacy in your dog may be subtle, you should be able to notice signs of improvement within 2-3 weeks of use, although the longer your pet is on it, the better it works. Both the CBD oil and treats should produce positive outcomes for both mood and mobility.
Penguin Dog CBD Product Reviews
1. Dog CBD Oil
This CBD oil conveniently comes in two strengths – 150 mg or 300 mg per bottle. The glass dropper is marked in increments of 0.25 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.75 ml, and 1 ml, but unfortunately, we found these markings very hard to see. Furthermore, the rubber bulb on the end of the dropper seems to be too small to allow a full 1 ml to be drawn up into the pipette, so close attention is needed to see that you are administering the desired amount. Aside from this, the oil version is your best option for adjusting the dosage over time, or for administering to very small dogs as you could give them as little as 1-2 drops.
Pros
- Highly adjustable dosing
- Great for dosing small dogs
- Multiple therapeutic benefits
- Natural chicken flavoring
- Can be given directly into mouth or on food
- Contains brain-beneficial coconut oil
- Minimal ingredients
- All-natural ingredients
Cons
- Ambiguous dosage recommendation on bottle
- Hard to see dosage markings on glass pipette
- Insufficient dropper bulb for full 1 ml dosage
- Opaque bottle prevents knowing when you’re running out
2. Dog CBD Treats
These tasty treats are sweet potato flavored and contain 10 mg of CBD per treat, which is generally considered a safe dosage for most dogs. If you have a smaller dog, you could start with a dosage of half, or even a quarter of a treat per day, and slowly increase from there as needed. A large dog should be able to take 1-2 treats daily without issue, but even big dogs should be introduced to this product gradually at first to avoid side effects. If your dog doesn’t readily take the treat, you could break it into pieces and disguise it in wet food or something else your dog does like.
Pros
- Tasty treat
- All-natural ingredients
- Naturally sweetened with molasses
- Strong but pleasant aroma
- Easy administration
- Third-party batch report on website
Cons
- Not vegan (contains gelatin)
- Only one flavor option
- May not be appropriate for very small dogs
- Plastic packaging
- Pricey
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will my dog like taking this product?
Most likely. The dog CBD oil from Penguin is chicken flavored, making it appealing to most pups. The dog CBD treats are sweet potato flavored. If your dog doesn’t like taking either of these products directly, the oil and treats can be disguised with something else that your dog does
Will my dog act strange or get drowsy when taking this product?
Both the CBD oil and treats are THC-free – THC is the compound in Cannabis that would cause drowsiness or a “high” effect. Neither of the dog products from Penguin will cause drowsiness but may make your dog seem more relaxed and as a result, may help them sleep more soundly.
Is this a safe supplement for my dog?
That depends largely on your dog’s medical history and current medications, which is why Penguin recommends consulting your veterinarian prior to use. But as stated above, there is zero THC in Penguin’s dog products, making them generally safe for your furry friend.
How will I know if this product is helping my dog?
Signs that the CBD is helping may be subtle, but they should be apparent to you as the person most familiar with your dog’s behavior. You might notice that your dog relaxes quicker after reacting to something that normally startles it. Your dog might seem less grumpy with other animals in the household. You may notice your arthritic older dog being more active and having better stamina during exercise. Every dog will respond differently.
Are there any negative side effects from CBD?
If you are giving an appropriate dosage of CBD, there should be few if any side effects. It is possible your dog could experience dry mouth or lack of appetite. High doses of CBD sometimes cause diarrhea. To avoid side effects, it is best to start at a low dose and gradually increase over time.
Our Experience With Penguin Dog CBD Supplements
My senior Lab-mix, Turtle, was prescribed pain medication a couple years ago when X-rays revealed arthritis in his hips. But last year, Turtle became very sick, and while the issue he was diagnosed with was unrelated to his medication, the bloodwork we did during this time indicated elevated liver enzymes. Because prescription pain medications can affect the liver, I started to investigate alternatives for Turtle. Soon, we had a whole new regimen of supplements, and eventually ditched our prescriptions. But when I came across Penguin CBD for dogs, I realized CBD was the one thing we hadn’t tried yet.
I ordered Penguin’s CBD dog treats and the 300-mg CBD oil for dogs. Upon receiving my items, I was a little concerned over the ambiguous dosage information as I was expecting a size chart on the labels. Instead, both containers stated to consult with your veterinarian for the correct dosage. As a former veterinary technician, I know that most vets are not well-versed in, or supportive of, homeopathic remedies. But both labels did offer a starting point – one 10-mg treat per day, and one dropper full of the oil, also equivalent to 10 mg. From my research, 10 mg is generally considered a safe CBD dose for most dogs, so I felt safe giving this to my 60-lb dog, Turtle.
I gave Turtle the CBD oil over his breakfast every morning, which he happily devoured. The only issue I noticed with this product was I could not draw up a full 1 ml into the pipette. The markings on the glass pipette were also very hard to see. The CBD treats were much easier to administer. I just dropped a single 10-mg treat on top of his dinner at night, and he ate it right up.
Over the next few weeks, I continued to give Turtle one 10-mg treat with his dinner, but I gradually increased the oil to 2 ml in the morning, as the label suggests, which is equivalent to 20 mg. Fortunately, the acceptable CBD dosage for dogs is vast, and many studies regarding medicinal CBD use in dogs have determined the appropriate dose to be quite high, much more than what I gave Turtle over the last few weeks.
After a couple weeks taking the Penguin CBD products, I did notice an improvement in Turtle’s mobility. Though still appearing stiff when standing up, I started seeing him running in the yard more with the other dogs. He also seemed more playful in the house, and just seemed to feel better in general. We saw zero side effects and no digestive upset during our trial course. CBD is definitely a supplement worth trying out with your dog and may be able to take the place of some other supplements or medications – but you should consult your veterinarian first, as it can interact with certain medications.
Conclusion
Penguin’s American-made Dog CBD Oil and their CBD Dog Treats are gentle, yet effective supplements made from quality organic hemp. There is nothing harsh or artificial in these CBD products, making them a safer alternative to many prescription products aimed to treat anxiety or offer pain relief. If you think your dog is a candidate for CBD use, consult your veterinarian first and then give Penguin Wellness a try. Your dog will enjoy taking these tasty products, and you should be pleasantly surprised by the results. And with free shipping on orders over $75, there’s no reason you shouldn’t stock up for both you and your pets!
