A certificate of analysis, or COA, is a lab report on a specific batch. "Non-detectable THC" means the lab's test did not find THC above the smallest amount its method can reliably detect. It does not mean zero, and it only applies to the sample tested, so check that the lot number on the report matches what you bought.
What a COA is and is not
A certificate of analysis is a document from a testing laboratory that reports what was found in a sample. For products made with hemp extract, a COA usually covers the cannabinoid profile and, on fuller reports, contaminants such as residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbes.
A COA is not a quality seal, a promise about every future batch, or evidence that the product does anything for a pet. It is a snapshot of one sample on one date. That makes it useful, but only if you read it carefully.
Dates matter as well. Ingredients can change between harvests and suppliers, so a report from several years ago says little about a bag made this season. When a brand posts many reports, look for the most recent one that matches your product and the ingredient you care about.
The parts of a report to read first
Most COAs follow a similar layout. Work through it in this order:
- The header: lab name, sample name, lot or batch number, and date tested.
- The sample type: is it the raw hemp ingredient or the finished pet product?
- The cannabinoid panel: a list of compounds such as CBD, CBG, and THC with amounts or "ND."
- Limits: the limit of detection, sometimes the limit of quantitation, for each compound.
- Contaminant panels, if included: solvents, metals, pesticides, microbes, each with a pass or result.
- The signature or approval line from the lab.
The sample type matters more than many owners realize. A report on a bulk hemp extract tells you about the ingredient before it was blended into a powder or chew. A report on the finished product tells you about what reaches the bowl.
What "non-detectable" actually means
Every lab method has a floor below which it cannot reliably detect a compound. That floor is called the limit of detection. When a compound falls below it, the report shows "ND," for non-detectable.
Units are another place where readers trip. Cannabinoid results may be reported as a percentage, as milligrams per gram, or as milligrams per serving, and a raw extract report will show much higher numbers than a finished powder because the extract has not yet been diluted into the other ingredients. Compare like with like before drawing conclusions.
Two reports can both say ND and still differ, because labs use different methods with different detection limits. A report that lists the detection limit next to each compound is more informative than one that just says ND.
Matching a report to your product
Super Snouts Daily Thrive is a powder whose product page lists beef plasma, astaxanthin, chlorella, and broad-spectrum hemp extract (CBG) as active ingredients, with green tea extract as an inactive ingredient. In plain terms, the product contains hemp extract, as the product page lists it. The page says the bag holds 115 scoops, suggests splitting the daily amount between morning and evening, and lists ages 9 to 12 months and up. In the page text we reviewed, a per-weight scoop chart was not visible, so follow the printed label on your bag for the amount.
The product page has a section headed "COA Testing," and the Super Snouts site has a Test Results page listing lab documents by date and lot, including full-panel reports for raw CBD and CBG ingredients and potency reports. When you check one, note whether it covers a raw ingredient lot or a finished product lot, and compare the lot number with the one printed on your bag. If you cannot find a match, ask the brand which report covers your batch.
Quality programs and questions to ask
Some animal supplement makers join quality programs that audit manufacturing and labeling practices. The National Animal Supplement Council, whose quality seal program covers animal supplement companies, is one example. A seal speaks to company processes; a COA speaks to a specific sample. They answer different questions, and having both is better than having either alone.
Before giving any product made with hemp extract, check with your vet, especially if your dog takes other medications. Hemp-derived compounds can interact with drugs that the liver processes, and your vet needs the full ingredient list, not just the product name. Tell your vet before surgery, dental work, or bloodwork as well. We are not describing what hemp extract, CBD, or CBG does for any condition here; that conversation belongs with your veterinarian.
Useful questions for the brand:
- Which lab tested this batch, and is it an independent third-party lab?
- Does the report cover the finished product or a raw ingredient?
- What are the detection limits for each cannabinoid?
- Was the batch tested for solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbes?
- How often are finished lots tested?
COA questions owners ask
Is ND the same as zero?
No. It means the amount was below what the lab's method can detect. Different methods have different detection limits.
Why does my product's lot number not match any posted report?
Brands may post reports for raw ingredients or a sample of batches. Ask the company directly for the report that covers your lot.
Should a COA come from the brand's own lab?
Independent third-party labs are generally preferred because they have no stake in the result. The lab name is usually in the report header.
What if a COA has no contaminant testing?
A cannabinoid-only report tells you about potency but not about solvents, metals, or microbes. Ask whether fuller panels were run.
Do I still need to talk to my vet if the COA looks clean?
Yes. A clean report says nothing about whether the product suits your dog or interacts with medications. Share the label and your dog's medication list with your vet.
Related reading: Third-Party Testing and NASC Seals: How to Vet a Dog Supplement; Beef Plasma in Dog Supplements: What It Is and Why It Shows Up on Labels