Hemp Seeds

The seed of the hemp plant, and hemp hearts the hulled kernel — a food rich in protein and omega fats, with no meaningful cannabinoids.

Hulled hemp hearts spilling from a ceramic bowl onto light wood beside a green hemp leaf

Hemp Seeds and Hemp Hearts for Dogs: What They Are and Whether to Feed Them

Hemp seeds are the seed of the hemp plant. Hemp hearts are the same seed with the crunchy outer shell removed. Both are food, both are nutritionally impressive, and neither will get your dog high — they carry only trace cannabinoids picked up from contact with plant material at harvest.

They are also not the same thing as hemp seed oil or as hemp extract, and the distinction decides what you should expect from them.

Seeds, Hearts, Oil and Extract — Four Different Things

Hemp seeds are the whole seed, shell and all. Hemp hearts are the hulled kernel. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seed — the fat, without the protein or fibre. Hemp extract comes from the leaves and flowers entirely, and is where CBD and the other cannabinoids live.

Most confusion in this category collapses once you hold those four apart. Only the fourth contains meaningful cannabinoids.

What Is Actually In Them

Per 100 g of hulled hemp seed, USDA FoodData Central figures give roughly 553 calories, 31.6 g of protein, 48.8 g of fat (about 38 g of it polyunsaturated) and 4 g of fibre. The fat is about 27 g linoleic acid and 8.7 g alpha-linolenic acid — an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio near 3:1, unusually favourable for a plant food.

They also carry meaningful magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and iron, and all nine essential amino acids, which makes hemp seed a complete plant protein. Worth noting because several popular articles print badly garbled versions of these numbers — one widely-shared page lists 553 calories alongside 8 g of fat, which is arithmetically impossible.

Are They Safe for Dogs?

As a food, yes, in small amounts. The realistic issue is fat: at nearly half fat by weight, hemp seed is calorie-dense, and too much too quickly is a recipe for loose stool. Introduce gradually and count it inside the day's calories rather than on top.

Dogs with a history of pancreatitis or fat sensitivity should not be given a high-fat topper without asking your veterinarian first.

Whole Seeds Mostly Pass Straight Through

This is the practical detail almost nobody mentions. The outer shell is largely indigestible, and whole hemp seeds commonly appear intact in stool. Your dog gets the fibre and very little else.

If you want the nutrition to actually land, feed hemp hearts or grind the seeds. Ground seed oxidises quickly at that fat level, so grind small amounts and keep them in the fridge.

The Regulatory Position, Stated Accurately

In 2018 the FDA responded with "no questions" letters to GRAS notices for hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil. Those conclusions apply to human food only. The FDA has stated it has not received GRAS notices for hemp-derived ingredients in animal food. You can read the agency's position here.

Separately, AAFCO published an ingredient definition for hemp seed meal in its Official Publication in August 2025 — for laying hens. Nothing is AAFCO-defined for dogs or cats, and state feed registration is handled state by state.

So anyone telling you hemp is "AAFCO approved for pet food" is wrong. Feeding your dog a few hemp hearts as a topper is an ordinary food choice; it is not a regulatory endorsement.

What Hemp Seeds May Support

As part of a complete and balanced diet, the fatty acid and protein profile of hemp seed supports normal skin barrier function and coat condition. That is the defensible claim, and it is the same reason hemp seed oil earned its reputation.

What they will not do is anything cannabinoid-related. If that is what you are after, you want an extract — see CBD Hemp for Dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs eat hemp seeds? Yes, in small amounts, as an occasional topper on a complete diet. Introduce gradually — the fat content is what causes loose stool if you rush.

Are hemp hearts and hemp seeds the same? Hemp hearts are hemp seeds with the shell removed. Hearts are the better choice for dogs because the shell is largely indigestible.

Do hemp seeds contain CBD or THC? Only trace amounts, from contact with plant material during harvest. Seeds are not a cannabinoid source.

Will hemp seeds make my dog high? No.

How many hemp seeds can I give my dog? Small — think a sprinkle for a little dog and up to about a tablespoon for a large one, introduced over a week or two, counted inside daily calories. Ask your vet if your dog is overweight.

Should I grind them? Grind them or use hearts. Whole seeds frequently pass through intact. Ground seed goes rancid quickly, so refrigerate it.

Are hemp seeds a complete protein for dogs? They contain all nine essential amino acids, which makes hemp seed a complete plant protein — but as a topper it is a supplement to a balanced diet, not a protein source in its own right.

Can hemp seeds cause diarrhoea? Yes, if introduced too fast or given in too large an amount. Back off and reintroduce more slowly.

Is hemp approved by AAFCO for dog food? No. AAFCO published a hemp seed meal definition for laying hens in 2025. Nothing is defined for dogs or cats.

Can puppies have hemp seeds? Puppies are on carefully balanced growth diets where extra fat and calories matter more. Ask your veterinarian before adding anything.