She knew something was off because her dog didn’t finish breakfast. She found herself looking at the bowl twice because he normally emptied it before she had finished her coffee. That morning, he sniffed at it, took a few bites and wandered back towards the door.

When you spend enough time with an animal, you start to recognize these little things. You know how they behave when they’re hungry, excited, tired or waiting for you to pick up the lead. You notice when they sleep in a different place, take longer to get up, or seem less interested in something they normally can’t wait for.

Animals can’t tell us whether they’re uncomfortable or anxious. They don’t explain that they haven’t slept well or that something doesn’t feel quite right. We learn to read them through their habits, their energy and the small changes in between.

It Started with a Horse

Mikko’s Choice began during a difficult period in Emma’s life. The founder was suffering from a broken back when her dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer. During that time, cannabis became part of her own journey away from opioids. Her dog continued a four-year battle with cancer before eventually going into remission.

The experience also led Emma further into the cannabis industry. Her brother operated a medical delivery service in Los Angeles, and she joined him to learn more about the business and the expanding cannabis industry.

Then there was Mikko.

In 2015, Emma was looking after a BLM Mustang named Mikko. Mikko was an anxious rescue, and caring for him meant learning to notice the difference between a difficult day and a difficult moment. At the time, there were very few cannabinoid products specifically designed for animals, let alone horses.

Emma used her animal science degree as well as her years of personal experience around animals and cannabis to develop the idea behind Mikko’s Choice. She wanted to explore whether cannabinoid products could help animals feel more comfortable.

The idea speaks to a simple reality of animal care: owners often have to read the quieter signals instead. A dog may become quieter than usual. A horse may seem less interested in its familiar routine. A rescued animal may take longer to settle into a new environment. Those changes can prompt an owner to look more closely at an animal’s overall well-being.

One customer story on the company’s website offers a glimpse into that hands-on approach. The customer described reaching out to Emma with questions about using the tincture for a dog recovering from an injury. Rather than being left to work it out alone, they were able to discuss how to introduce the product.

These products may be convenient, but responsible animal care still begins with paying closer attention.

Dogs, Horses, and Everything In Between

Different animals also have different routines, which means the way a product is given can matter almost as much as the product itself. When it comes to smaller animals, adding oil to food is a relatively simple task. However, it might not be as simple for bigger animals such as horses and livestock. For bigger animals, pellets can be added to regular feed, which can more naturally fit into the existing routine.

For animals whose routines are easier to work with through food or treats, Mikko’s Choice offers its All Animals CBD Tincture 5,000 MG. The high-potency tincture contains full-spectrum CBD hemp extract carried in MCT fractionated coconut oil, with 5,000 mg of CBD in a 60 mL bottle and 83 mg in each 1 mL dropper. Made with 100% USA-grown hemp, the product is tested for cannabinoid concentrations, pesticides and heavy metals, with third-party testing results made available through the company’s Certificate of Analysis page.

The tincture can be added to food or a treat, allowing it to become part of an animal’s existing routine rather than creating an entirely new one. The company recommends starting with a smaller amount and observing the individual animal before making adjustments, noting that its dosing approach is based on the animal itself rather than simply its weight.

For larger animals, Mikko’s Choice takes a slightly different approach with its CBD Pellets 1 LB, a format designed to fit more easily into everyday feeding routines. The pellets can be mixed into regular food or grain, given by hand or incorporated into a treat, making them particularly suited to horses, pigs, goats, camelids and other livestock. Each one-pound bag contains 3,200 mg of CBD, with two scoops providing 100 mg.

The company recommends beginning with two scoops once daily and adjusting according to the individual animal, rather than treating every animal as though its needs will be the same. As with the tincture, third-party testing is available through the company’s published Certificates of Analysis. The appeal of the format is its simplicity: for an animal already accustomed to a regular feeding routine, adding a measured amount to food can feel less like introducing something new and more like making a small addition to what is already familiar.

What to Look for in an Animal Wellness Product

When an animal is part of the family, choosing a wellness product can feel surprisingly personal. There are different formats, different concentrations and plenty of claims to sort through. The most useful question is sometimes whether the owner can understand what they are giving their animal.

Transparency is a good place to start.

A clear ingredient list makes it easier to see what is in a product and what is not. For cannabinoid products, information about the amount of CBD, the type of extract used and how the product is tested can also help an owner make a more informed decision.

The format matters, too. A product that fits naturally into an animal’s existing routine may be easier to use consistently. For some animals, that could mean adding a measured amount of tincture to food or a treat. For others, particularly larger animals accustomed to feed or grain, pellets may be more practical.

Mikko’s Choice reflects those differences in its two formats: a full-spectrum hemp tincture in MCT fractionated coconut oil, and pellets designed to be incorporated into regular feed.

There is also something to be said for keeping the rest of the routine familiar. Introducing one change at a time makes it easier to notice how an animal responds, while paying attention to appetite, energy, behavior and ordinary habits provides useful context. Those observations aren’t a substitute for veterinary advice, but they can help an owner have a more informed conversation with their veterinarian.

Knowing what is in the product, how it fits into the animal’s routine and whether the company is willing to show its testing gives owners something concrete to work with.

That may be a quieter way of approaching wellness, but it begins in the same place as the story of Mikko’s Choice: paying attention.

From One Rescue to Many More

Emma’s own experiences, her dog’s health journey, the cannabis landscape, and caring for an anxious rescue horse all came together to create Mikko’s Choice.

Her knowledge and hands-on experience shaped the brand’s approach, with an emphasis on product testing and transparency. The company’s products are grown and made in the United States, third-party tested, and accompanied by a certificate of analysis. The company’s connection to animal rescue also extends beyond its own story. It donates $5 from every sale to animal rescues and sanctuaries, with different organizations receiving donations each month.

With a story that began with a rescued animal, supporting other animals in need is a natural part of the story.

Sometimes, good animal care starts with something as ordinary as noticing that the bowl is still half full. Animals may not have the words to tell us what has changed, but if we know them well enough, we often notice before a small change becomes something harder to ignore.