Pet Releaf Review (2026): Is the Brand Worth the Price?
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If you walk into a pet boutique, you’ll almost certainly see Pet Releaf on the shelf. As one of the original pioneers of the industry, they bring in around $4.9 million each year selling CBD products.
Despite this success, a closer look reveals a disconnect between the products’ quality and the experience they provide. The oils are excellent, but our analysis shows a growing frustration among customers regarding subscriptions, billing, and palatability.
Furthermore, with their flagship oils costing up to $0.56 per milligram, they’ve essentially created an inaccessible luxury product in an economy where owners need sustainable, long-term solutions.
In this Pet Releaf review, we dismantle the marketing behind the “Ultra line,” crunch the numbers on daily costs, and examine if this legacy brand is still the best choice for your dog.
What Is Pet Releaf?
Pet Releaf is a US-based family-owned business co-founded, owned, and operated by mother-daughter duo Alina Smith and Chelsea Gennings. Their mission began in 2015 with a personal desire to find an alternative to the opioid prescriptions often given to aging pets.
Looking for a “less is more” natural approach without the harsh side effects of pharmaceuticals, they developed their own hemp-based formulas. Today, they’re a widely recognized brand whose reputation is built on:
- Farm-to-pet quality: They use a specific strain of hemp (PR-33) grown on their own joint-venture farms in Colorado.
- Triple-certification: They’re one of the few brands to hold USDA Organic, NASC, and US Hemp Authority certifications simultaneously.
- Clean manufacturing: Like Innovet, they use CO₂ extraction to pull the cannabinoids from the plant without using toxic solvents like butane or ethanol.
- Rescue work: Through their “Rescue Releaf” initiative, they work directly with 501(c)(3) organizations to support at-risk animals. To date, they’ve donated over 15,000 products (valued at nearly $300,000) to more than 200 rescue organizations across the country.
What Products Does Pet Releaf Offer?
Pet Releaf has one of the largest catalogs in the industry.
While they market specific items for specific conditions (like “Digestive” vs. “Stress”), their products generally break into distinct technologies.
1. Standard CBD Oils
This is their standard collection. These are traditional tinctures using full-spectrum hemp extract mixed with organic MCT (coconut) oil. They’re USDA organic certified and come in various potencies tailored to pet size.
- You’ll see bottles labeled Daily Releaf (general wellness), Hip & Joint (inflammation), and Stress Releaf.
- The potencies range from 100 mg to 750 mg.
- Pricing starts at $26.99 for trial sizes (100 mg) and goes up to $90.99 for extra-large breed bottles (750 mg).
These bottles are solid, clean, and include organic oil, though they’re priced slightly higher than the market average.
2. Ultra Releaf Liposomal Oils
This is their premium line. Unlike standard oils that sit on top of liquid, these are water-soluble. They use a proprietary liposomal technology intended to make the CBD absorb faster and more efficiently.
- This line is best for owners dealing with acute panic (like thunderstorms) who need the medicine to kick in quickly. They work up to 14x faster than standard oil.
- It’s available in three potencies: 100 mg, 300 mg, and 600 mg.
- This is the most expensive CBD oil on the market. The small bottle starts at $55.99, while the large 600 mg bottle costs $144.99.
3. Edibites (CBD Chews)
“Edibites” are Pet Releaf’s trademarked soft chews. They differentiate these from standard treats by adding functional superfoods (such as chamomile, noni, and blueberry) to full-spectrum CBD to target specific health issues.
These come in several varieties and flavors:
- Digestive (sweet potato)
- Stress (peanut butter and carob/peppered bacon)
- Daily Releaf (blueberry and cranberry)
- Hip & Joint (peanut butter and banana)
The pricing for standard bags starts at $25.99. Travel-size packs are available starting at $10.50. This makes each treat cost around $1.
4. General Wellness Supplements
Pet Releaf recently introduced high-end supplements that go beyond hemp to target general longevity and gut health. These include:
- Sentesa ($100.99): A premium tri-active longevity supplement.
- Fish-Free Omega 3 ($46.99): A sustainable algae-based oil for coat health.
- Postbiotic ($40.99): A supplement that supports gut health and the immune system.
5. Grooming and Topicals
To treat inflammation from the outside in, Pet Releaf offers a range of skin-focused products, including Skin & Paw Releaf ($25.99), a topical CBD salve, and shampoos for different skin conditions that start at $23.99.
6. Curated Bundles
To simplify shopping, Pet Releaf also bundles products for specific seasonal or lifestyle issues. These include the:
- Winter Walk Bundle ($73.47)
- Seasonal Allergies Bundle ($57.73)
- Puppy Starter Kit ($65.99)
- Stocking Stuffers Bundle ($71.98)
- NYE Fireworks Calming Bundle ($71.98)
These bundles help you save up to 20% on individual products and combine different products based on your dog’s needs. For example, the Fireworks Calming Bundle contains the Stress Releaf Edibites and CBD oil and is designed to provide stress relief during thunderstorms, fireworks, or vet visits.
Pricing Tip: Subscribing for recurring shipments helps you save 15% and unlocks free shipping. Orders over $75 are shipped for free.
Pet Releaf’s Strengths
Pet Releaf has been around since the beginning of the CBD boom, and they’ve used that time to build a brand that feels safe and reliable. Here’s where they excel:
- Product safety: Buying supplements online can be scary, but Pet Releaf holds USDA Organic, NASC, and US Hemp Authority certifications. Their products are 100% safe, potent, and free from pesticides.
- Retail availability: Sometimes you can’t wait for shipping. If your dog is in pain or anxious right now, you can likely drive to a local pet boutique and pick up Pet Releaf’s products immediately. That convenience is a giant lifesaver.
- Liposomal technology: While we question the cost-benefit of liposomal oil for daily use, the technology is legitimate. For acute panic attacks where every minute counts, having a water-soluble option helps you provide relief within minutes.
- Travel sizes: It’s frustrating to spend $50 on a supplement only for your dog to spit it out. Pet Releaf offers small “travel sizes” of their oils and chews so you can see if they work on your pet without committing to the full-sized version.
Pet Releaf’s Weaknesses
While the ingredients inside the bottle are undeniably high quality, the experience of buying and using Pet Releaf can be frustrating.
Between the high costs and recurring complaints about customer support, there are notable friction points you should know before hitting “subscribe.”
1. The “High-Tech” Liposomal Tax
Pet Releaf offers two distinct lines of CBD oil: their Standard (USDA Organic) line and their premium “Ultra Releaf” (Liposomal) line. The Standard line is priced competitively for small dogs, but the costs skyrocket once you step up to their high-tech liposomal options.
They justify this with faster absorption speeds, but when you look at the price per milligram (the actual cost of the medicine), the premium becomes difficult to justify.
We compared similar potency tiers to see exactly how much more you pay for Pet Releaf’s technology.
| Dog Size | Product | Total Potency | Price | Cost Per mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovet Pet | 125 mg | $27.95 | $0.22/mg | |
| Small Dog | Pet Releaf Standard | 100 mg | $26.99 | $0.27/mg |
| Pet Releaf Ultra | 100 mg | $55.99 | $0.56/mg |
| Dog Size | Product | Total Potency | Price | Cost Per mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovet Pet | 250 mg | $39.95 | $0.16/mg | |
| Medium Dog | Pet Releaf Standard | 200 mg | $36.99 | $0.18/mg |
| Pet Releaf Ultra | 300 mg | $80.99 | $0.27/mg |
| Dog Size | Product | Total Potency | Price | Cost Per mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovet Pet | 750 mg | $86.96 | $0.12/mg | |
| Large Dog | Pet Releaf Standard | 750 mg | $90.99 | $0.12/mg |
| Pet Releaf Ultra | 600 mg | $144.99 | $0.24/mg |
If you choose the “high tech” Ultra 100 mg bottle over a standard Innovet bottle, you’re paying 154% more for less medicine (or over 50 cents per milligram). This is one of the highest rates in the entire industry, just for the claim of faster absorption.
Even within their own brand, Pet Releaf charges you double the price per milligram to upgrade from Standard to Liposomal. On paper, a few cents extra doesn’t look like much. However, those small differences add up.
Here’s what it costs to treat a medium-sized dog (40 lbs) for general wellness for one year:
- Innovet Pet: Using our standard 250 mg bottles, a full year of daily support costs approximately $585.
- Pet Releaf Standard: Sticking to their standard organic oil increases that annual cost slightly to roughly $660.
- Pet Releaf Ultra: The real shock is the liposomal line. For that same dog, you would spend nearly $985 per year. You’re essentially paying a premium of $400 just for the oil to absorb 15 minutes faster.
2. Liposomal Technology vs. Real-World Use
Pet Releaf justifies the high price of their Ultra line with the liposomal technology it uses. They claim that encapsulating the CBD in a water-soluble layer makes it bypass digestion and absorb up to 14x faster.
The science is real, but for 90% of pet owners, this is an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.
Standard CBD oil acts fast enough on its own. When you apply drops directly to your dog’s gums or under their tongue (the sublingual method), it enters the bloodstream in about 15 to 30 minutes.
Is it worth paying double the price just to shave 15 minutes off the onset time? For most scenarios, the answer is no.
- If you give CBD for stress, then you likely already know your pet’s triggers (fireworks, vet visits, and car rides) and administer the oil 30 to 60 minutes beforehand anyway. Paying a premium for “fast acting” is essentially paying extra because you didn’t plan ahead.
- If you give CBD daily for arthritis or anxiety, speed is irrelevant. Your goal is to build up a steady level of cannabinoids in your dog’s system. Whether the morning dose hits in 10 minutes or 30 minutes makes absolutely no difference to their long-term comfort.
The Ultra line effectively charges you a “luxury tax” for a speed benefit that most organized pet parents simply don’t need.
3. The Potency Ceiling
If you own a large breed like a German Shepherd, Great Dane, or Mastiff, Pet Releaf’s product line simply doesn’t scale with you.
Their product line effectively hits a ceiling that makes daily management inconvenient and expensive for big dogs. In fact, they have the lowest potency ceiling among the popular CBD brands, including HolistaPet, ElleVet, and Honest Paws.
- Pet Releaf’s strongest standard oil is 750 mg. Their strongest Ultra oil is 600 mg.
- Innovet’s clinical-strength oil contains 6,000 mg, roughly 8 to 10 times more medicine in a single bottle.
A 100-lb dog managing severe joint pain may need 50 mg to 100 mg of CBD daily.
- With Pet Releaf, a single bottle would last you roughly one week. You would be constantly reordering bottles and paying for shipping.
- With Innovet’s 6,000 mg bottle, that same dog is covered for 3 to 4 months.
By capping their potency so low, Pet Releaf forces owners of large dogs to buy multiple small bottles at a higher retail markup, rather than offering a bulk option that saves money.
4. Subscription and Service Issues
The backend experience of buying from Pet Releaf can be frustrating. Multiple verified reviews note that their problems are less about CBD and more about billing.
Trustpilot and consumer forums highlight recurring systemic friction:
- Difficulty cancelling: Users report that once an order hits “processing,” it can’t be stopped, even days before shipment.
- Billing errors: Several reviews cite “phantom charges,” where subscriptions are renewed after being cancelled. One verified reviewer warned, “Don’t give out your CC number,” after struggling to stop shipments.
- Legacy support: Support is often handled via voicemail callbacks rather than instant chat, which delays resolving billing errors and stopping shipments.
The subscription discount (15%) is appealing, but if you can’t easily turn it off, you might end up paying for products you don’t need.
5. Palatability and Design Issues
With flavors like “Peppered Bacon” and “Blueberry and Cranberry,” Pet Releaf sounds delicious to humans. But in practice, many dogs disagree.
Reviews across retailer sites (like Chewy) reveal that dogs frequently reject some of Pet Releaf’s products, especially the Edibites chews. One reviewer noted their dog “literally spit it back out,” while others mentioned needing to hide the expensive chews in wet food or cheese just to get them down.
Since a bag of Edibites costs $25.99 (roughly $1 per treat), finding out your dog hates the texture or flavor is a costly experiment.
Professional reviewers and users have also flagged a frustrating design issue with the oil droppers. The glass pipette often traps air bubbles, making it difficult to pull a full, consistent dose. This makes measuring a precise milligram amount for a dog in pain very difficult.
Is Pet Releaf Right for Your Dog?
Is Pet Releaf a good brand? Yes. They’re industry pioneers, and their commitment to organic farming is genuine. If you need a bottle today from a local shop, or if you need water-soluble oil for extreme panic attacks, they’re a safe, premium choice.
However, the "Liposomal Luxury" creates a cost burden that isn't necessary for most pets.
If you’re managing a chronic condition, paying double or triple per dose for absorption speed offers no long-term benefit. Combine that with the "potency ceiling" that prices out large dogs and the frustrating subscription practices, and the value proposition starts to crumble.
If you want the same USDA-organic quality and clinical potency but want to save $500 to $1,000 a year on maintenance, Innovet Pet is the smarter, more sustainable path to wellness. We’re ready to answer your question at (310) 817-5731.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pet Releaf a legitimate company?
Yes. They’re one of the original brands in the pet CBD space and hold impressive credentials, including USDA Organic and US Hemp Authority certifications. While we critique their pricing and customer support tools, the product safety and quality are high standards.
Why are Pet Releaf oils so expensive?
You’re paying for the "nano-encapsulation" process. Making oil water-soluble (liposomal) requires advanced manufacturing. While scientifically valid, this process drastically increases the cost per milligram without increasing the long-term effectiveness of the CBD for chronic issues.
Is Pet Releaf safer than other brands?
They’re among the safest, but not alone. Like Pet Releaf, Innovet uses cold CO₂ extraction and third-party lab testing to ensure zero solvents or pesticides. The primary difference is the delivery method (liposomal vs. standard oil) and the price tag.
Does Pet Releaf get my dog high?
No. Like Innovet, Pet Releaf uses hemp-derived extract with less than 0.3% THC. This amount contributes to the "entourage effect" (helping the CBD work better) but isn’t nearly enough to cause intoxication or a "high" in pets.
Can I cancel my Pet Releaf subscription easily?
Proceed with caution. Reviews indicate this is a major pain point. If you subscribe, we recommend setting reminders to manage your account well before the renewal date, as "last minute" cancellations are often rejected by their system.
What is the difference between Edibites and the CBD oil?
Precision and cost. Edibites (chews) are convenient, but they have a fixed dose and cost about $1.00 per treat. Oils allow you to measure exact doses down to the drop and generally cost much less per day. If you have a picky eater or a large dog, oil is almost always the better financial choice.
Are the Edibites better than oil?
For convenience, yes. For value, no. The Edibites are high quality but cost roughly $1.00 per treat. Oil allows you to measure precise doses and generally costs much less per day. For picky eaters or budget-conscious owners, oil mixed into food is usually the superior choice.
