When we moved from Colorado to Arkansas, my travel companion was my young cat, Freja. Freja hated everything about cars and would complain the entire trip. So, like many pet parents, I looked into CBD as a way to help keep my very picky little kitty calm. Thankfully, I was able to find a small local brand with a quality product.
However, when it came time to move to Oklahoma's greener pastures, I had to do some CBD shopping again. With no time to wait for a CBD product to arrive in the mail, I was stuck shopping in person (the horror, I know). So I visited a local pet store in search of a CBD pet specific product.
The pet store carried one brand but had a variety of options when it came to products. The tincture designed for cats was exactly what I was looking for, but it had one major problem. None of the packaging described how much CBD was in each dose nor in the bottle as a whole. With time running out and my options limited, I found an employee and asked if I could take a look at the Certificate of Analysis (COA).
When I was told they did not have a COA for any of the products, I began to look at the company's website. There was no trace of a COA to be had. All that was said was there was 2mg of hemp oil per 1ml. So I reached out to customer service with my question.
The reply I got was short and to the point, in a nonhelpful sort of way. Two lines were all I received. The first line thanked me for reaching out. The second read, "Our C of A’s are proprietary and we do not send them to customers."
A little miffed, I replied asking if they would provide the CBD and THC percentages. This should have been a simple thing to provide without divulging company secrets. However, I was once again hit with the "proprietary information" excuse.
The end result? I dealt with a very fussy kitty for five hours while I grumbled about bad drivers and shady companies. On the bright side, Freja kept me awake and alert the entire trip.
Why was it so important for me to want a COA? A COA is a verification from a third party laboratory detailing the validity of a product. Think of it as the ingredients label. A COA will provide information such as potency and potential contaminants.
Consumer Reports advises, "If an online manufacturer or a retail store doesn’t have the information, or refuses to share it, avoid the product and the retailer."
My situation was a textbook case of the steps a consumer can take to obtaining a COA. Of course, the outcome was not ideal for my particular situation, however, it demonstrates a key reason for checking out products before purchasing them. We all want the best for our pets, and there are many wonderful CBD brands out there formulated with our furry friends in mind. Finding the right product for your needs is important, and finding a quality product whose brand prioritizes transparency is one of the first steps to doing so.
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