It’s no surprise that dogs are some of the most popular pets. They shower us with love and affection. When they become a part of our lives, we can no longer imagine living without them.
Dogs can suffer from various conditions throughout their lives, particularly as they age. Many pet parents refuse to put their best friend through risky surgeries or addictive medications when there are natural alternatives like CBD oils available. But how much CBD oil should you give to your dog?
This article will discuss the different types of CBD oil you can give your dog, how much to give, and what to consider before administering CBD.
Things to Consider Before Giving CBD Oil to Your Dog
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to have a myriad of benefits. People have used it to improve their well-being and address various health needs. But what about our four-legged friends? With rising interest in using CBD, many pet owners are wondering how to use CBD on dogs.
Dog parents are faced with the question of how much CBD oil to give their dog. This is not an easy question to answer because there is not much research on this topic yet.
There are many types of CBD extracts for dogs, so it’s important to choose which is right for your pet. Below are some factors that will determine how much CBD you will give your dog.
Product Type
CBD products for dogs come in a few different forms. You can give your pet a dose of CBD oil by putting it in their food, rubbing it on their skin, or giving them a treat.
Naturally, the easiest way to administer CBD oil for your dog is through their mouth. This means that you can either give them a dropper full of the oil or put the oil in their food.
Dogs can be extremely picky eaters. And even if they like the taste of CBD oil, not every brand will work. CBD dog treats are a great alternative because they come in a fixed dose and it’s easy to regulate how much CBD your pet takes.
One downside of CBD dog treats is that they’re usually slower acting than CBD oils because the cannabinoids need to be processed in the digestive system. This means that its effects occur slowly and may take longer to kick in than CBD oil.
Your Dog’s Size
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large like English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhounds, while others are small like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. The size of your pet matters when administering CBD oil.
A general rule of thumb is to give smaller dogs a lower dose, and larger dogs a higher dose. That said, it can be difficult to accurately measure a pet’s weight or thickness in order to determine the best dosage.
The next sections will provide information about dosage according to the size of your dog.
Overall Health of Your Dog
Your dog’s condition also plays a role in determining how much CBD you should consider giving them. Before giving your pet CBD oil, it’s important to understand what type of condition your pet is currently suffering from or has had in the past.
It’s always wise to administer low doses first and gradually increase them.
However, A lower dose may not be enough for more severe conditions. The higher the severity of your dog’s condition, the higher the dose is necessary to provide relief.
Still, the best way to know if your dog should take CBD oil is by consulting your veterinarian or a specialist who is knowledgeable about cannabis for dogs.
CBD Dosage Guidelines for Dogs
It has already been difficult to administer any kind of medication to pets, and the same is true when it comes to CBD. If you’re uncertain about the CBD oil dosage for dogs, you’re not alone.
For those who have been struggling to administer CBD to their pets, it is crucial to understand that CBD dosage guidelines for dogs are different from those for humans. While the latter requires a higher dosage of CBD, the former just needs a small amount of this compound.
The most common way for administering CBD to an animal is through oral administration, but other routes such as sublingual administration or topical application can also be used.
When supplementing CBD for general health or for alleviating discomforts, the dosage will vary according to the product type. The recommended CBD oil dosage for dogs is between two and four drops taken 2 to 4 times per day.
You can also adjust the dosage according to the size and condition of your dog, as discussed in the previous sections.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog? (By Weight)
Every dog is different, and their size also determines how much CBD oil they can take at once. A good way to determine the correct dosage is taking into account their weight.
Small Dogs (2–15 lbs)
Small dogs require the least amount of CBD, but since they have a very fast metabolism, they take it more frequently.
For small dogs, you will need to administer 3 to 4 doses per day instead of 1 to 2 doses for larger breeds.
If your dog suffers from pain, the CBD dose of 1 mg may be sufficient for the first few days, as this is the recommended starting dose.
A dose of CBD oil worth 0.5 mg is generally recommended for behavioral issues. If your dog isn’t improving within the next 3-5 days, you may need to add more drops gradually.
In order for the CBD to be effective, dogs should start off taking it twice a day as part of a routine. When it comes to increasing the dosage, you can do it every 2 mg until your dog is feeling better. Small dogs should not consume more than 15 mg of CBD in a day.
Note that these are just general estimates that aren’t medically or veterinarian-endorsed, so they shouldn’t be taken as medical advice.
Medium-Small Dogs (15–30 lbs)
In medium-sized dogs, people typically find that a dosage of 2 mg works, and then increase the dose by 3 mg until the symptoms subside. It has been found that 1 mg of CBD works well for dogs with psychological conditions and poor appetite.
If you wish to help your dog cope with stress, it is recommended that you increase the doses to no more than 2 mg, keeping in mind that no more than two doses should be taken every day.
For medium-small dogs, the maximum dosage of CBD should not exceed 20 mg per day.
Medium-Large Dogs (30–60 lbs)
We mentioned before that larger dogs need more CBD than smaller dogs to feel the desired effects.
Is there an appropriate initial CBD dosage for dogs who suffer from general discomfort?
Depending on its severity, 1-3 mg of CBD is a good starting point. Try increasing it by 3mg if you’re not seeing any results.
Psychological disorders require an initial dose of 1 mg twice a day. The same applies to behavioral conditions like lack of focus.
Keep a close watch on your dog’s behavior to see if CBD is working. Try increasing the dose by no more than 2 mg if there is no noticeable effect.
For medium-large dogs, the maximum dosage of CBD should not exceed 30 mg per day.
Large Dogs (60–150 lbs)
Generally, recommendations for medium-large dogs and large dogs are often the same.
If your dog is extra-large (over 150 lbs), the dose can be much higher than average. But don’t go overboard with CBD administration. For safety, you can gradually increase the dosage by 3 mg until the effects are noticeable.
Getting the Right Dose of CBD (By Product Type)
CBD Oil
Typically, when you buy CBD oil for your pets, you can find it available in bottles of 150 mg, 300 mg, and 600 mg. We’ve outlined some basic dosage guidelines below.
This quick guide will show you how CBD drops work with different CBD concentrations.
| Per Drop | Per 1 mL | |
| 150 mg CBD Oil | 0.25 mg | 10 mg |
| 300 mg CBD Oil | 0.50 mg | 20 mg |
| 600 mg CBD Oil | 1.00 mg | 40 mg |
Recommended Doses Based On Size & CBD Oil Concentrations
| Small Dogs
(2 – 15 lbs) |
Medium-Small Dogs
(15 – 30 lbs) |
Medium-Large Dogs
(30 – 60 Lbs) |
Large Dogs
(60 – 150 lbs) |
|
| CBD Dose in mg | 0.5 – 3.75 mg | 5 – 7.5 mg | 7.5 – 15 mg | 15 – 38 mg |
| 150 mg CBD | 0.05 – 0.4 mL
(2 – 16 drops) |
0.5 – 0.75 mL
(20 – 30) |
0.75 – 1.5 mL
(30 – 60 drops) |
1.5 – 4 mL
(60 – 150 drops) |
| 300 mg CBD | 0.03 – 0.2 mL
(1 – 8 drops) |
0.25 – 0.4 mL
(10 – 16 drops) |
0.4 – 0.75 mL
(15 – 30 drops) |
0.75 – 2 mL
(30 – 80 drops) |
| 600 mg CBD | Not Recommended | 0.1 – 0.2 mL
(4 – 8 drops) |
0.2 – 0.4 mL
(8 – 16 drops) |
0.4 – 1 mL
(16 – 40 drops) |
How To Calculate The CBD Dose Yourself?
You might have noticed that the dosage calculations exhibit a pattern. A simple formula can explain this.
Here’s the dosage formula:
0.25 mg x 1lb of body mass = Regular Dose
Owners of dogs under 15 pounds will particularly find this helpful.
Here’s the formula if you have a pet that weighs 8 pounds:
0.25 mg x 8 lbs = 2 mg of CBD
In addition, we need to determine the correct dose for your dog based on the CBD oil’s concentration. To do this, we need to know how much CBD is in each mL.
- 150 mg = 10 mg per mL
- 300 mg = 20 mg per mL
- 600 mg = 40 mg per mL
Here is the formula for the next step:
[regular dose in mg of CBD] / [mg CBD per mL] = Dose in mL
For example, we will assume you bought a bottle containing 150 mg of CBD:
2 mg CBD / 10 mg/mL = 0.20 mL of a 150 mg CBD Oil
To make dosing easier, this should be calculated in terms of drops.
As most droppers have about 40 drops per mL, we need to use the following formula:
[Dose in mL] x 40 = Dose in drops
Using our example, we can calculate as follows:
0.20 x 40 = 8 drops
How to Verify Your CBD Dose Calculations?
In humans, the most common way to determine how much CBD is needed is by trial and error. Pets, however, cannot tell us what they are feeling, so relying on this method is nearly impossible.
You should double-check whether you have the proper dosage by comparing it to what is written on the CBD oil bottle you purchased. If you don’t see any label, contact your CBD oil manufacturer immediately.
How Do I Give CBD Oil To My Dog?
Directly applying CBD oil to your dog’s mouth is the best way to administer it. Even better is if you can put it under his/her tongue.
Pet owners claim that their pets love licking CBD oil up and eventually become accustomed to taking it. However, this is not the case with every dog.
Some dogs don’t like the taste of CBD oil and don’t want to ingest it. Adding CBD tinctures to your dog’s food could be a solution if you find that the direct method is ineffective.
In case this method still doesn’t work, it might be necessary to try CBD treats.
CBD Dog Treats
One of the most popular ways to reward a dog is through dog treats. However, not all treats are created equal. CBD dog treats, for example, offer many potential health benefits and flavors that come with a lot less sugar and fat than other treats on the market.
CBD treats are a great way to get CBD into your dog, but it can be tricky to figure out how much to give.
CBD treat dosages aren’t standardized yet, so always check the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations before giving your dog CBD-infused treats.
With Gold Bee, you’ll find premium organic CBD extracts in a natural formula for dogs. Featuring 10 mg of hemp CBD and infused with calming ingredients, each of our peanut butter & apple CBD dog treats offers 10 mg of CBD.
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals can be useful in treating localized pain or increasing joint mobility in dogs.
CBD topical products don’t have a definite dosage guideline and are the least studied form of CBD consumption in dogs. So it’s best to consult your vet before applying CBD topical rub to your dog’s affected areas.
An experienced CBD-friendly vet will be able to suggest how to get started and how to increase the dose if necessary.
How do I use topical CBD on my dog?
Topical CBDs can be applied to specific body parts that need localized relief, such as their paws or nose. Just apply the topical CBD cream to the affected area and allow it to soak into the skin.
CBD topicals take time to take effect, so make sure to observe how your dog behaves within an hour of application.
Remember that CBD is most effective when administered by pet owners who know how to use it properly and have tried CBD themselves.
Is CBD Oil Safe for Dogs?
Generally, CBD oil is safe to administer to dogs because it doesn’t contain any psychoactive compounds that are present in cannabis. Many veterinarians are starting to use it to help animals.
CBD shouldn’t be harmful to your dog if you don’t use excessive amounts. In case you accidentally gave your pet too much CBD, here are the implications:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Lowered blood pressure
Besides these things, you don’t have to be too worried about anything else.
CBD is an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals for dogs since it does not build up a tolerance or cause severe side effects. Nonetheless, consulting your dog’s veterinarian first is highly recommended to help you calculate the proper dosage accurately.
Final Thoughts
Each dog reacts differently to CBD, just as every human responds to CBD differently.
Since dogs can’t tell us how they feel about their pain or anxiety levels, monitoring their CBD intake and managing it until significant changes are noticed would be immensely beneficial to them.
There are many misconceptions about CBD oil that pet owners need to overcome. Many people believe that all manufacturers make CBD oil equally. Due to lack of regulation, production methods and farming methods vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
You can buy CBD products online or over-the-counter since CBD is not considered a controlled substance. As CBD vendors are popping up everywhere, be cautious where you purchase your CBD so as not to harm your pets.
Still, having doubts about giving your dog CBD oil? Let us know how we can help in the comments section below.
