Disclaimer: The information provided in our articles is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It is essential to consult with a veterinarian before starting any CBD products for your dog’s health and well-being.
The best advice in choosing a CBD dosage, a reputable brand, and a daily regimen is to work with your veterinarian and administer the right amount of mg CBD oil using a basic dosing rule. CBD oil may help control pain, improve mobility, and treat anxiety.
At WAF, we understand CBD oil dosage, CDB product quality, and how it affects your pet’s wellness routine. There are also potential risks and gray areas.
- Trials reveal that mg CBD oil dosages can affect the metabolism of medications through liver enzymes. Therefore, it can affect prescription medications.
- There is no conclusive data backed by scientific research that CBD reduces pain in dogs other than dog owners claiming it does (based on AKC’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jerry Klein).
What we know from a limited but promising university trial is that:
- 80% of dogs experienced reduced osteoarthritis pain in a Cornell University test sample.
- Colorado University found evidence that CBD helps reduce seizure events when used with a prescribed medication regime.
- An Australian CannPal study found that CBD helped with dermatologic allergies in 65% of CBD trial participants and found a 50% decrease in itching symptoms.
- Cornell University also found participants in an anxiety study showed a remarkable 83% decrease.
What Is the Right CBD Oil Dosage for My Dog
CBD is not approved or regulated by FDA (Food and Drug Administration), but that doesn’t mean it can’t produce promising results. Best CBD oil may provide the desired solution, but relevant veterinary-approved information is vital. It’s how we shape our research in finding the right CBD products.
Starting Dosage: 2 mg CBD per 10 lbs
CBD dosage can be confusing since there is no FDA standard, and every CBD manufacturer uses their system and content levels. It’s essential to read the package dosage information carefully. Therefore, start with a small amount and watch your pet’s reaction.
To treat osteoarthritis, manage seizure events, or other health ailments, familiarize yourself with mg and ml measurements. Your local pharmacist can show you how to draw and read a syringe dropper.
Milligram is mg and milliliter is ml. These are standard metric measurements used in medicine. CBD for medicinal treatment requires knowing your pet’s weight in pounds.
Recommendations suggest 0.2 mg CBD per pound. For example, if you have a medium-sized dog weighing 30 lbs, you will administer 6 mg CBD. (30 X 0.2). Since most dogs don’t weigh precise amounts, try 27.5 lbs X 0.2mg = 5.5 mg CBD.
But that isn’t the end of the math. As each manufacturer uses their formula for how much mg CBD oil to use, concentrations vary. We’re using a standard 30 ml bottle guide.
- 75mg brand formula equals 2.5 mg CBD /ml
- 150mg brand formula equals 5 mg CBD /ml
- 300mg formula equals 10 mg CBD /ml
- 600mg formula equals 20 mg CBD /ml
Since we determined a 25 lb dog needs 5 mg CBD tincture (as above), you will dose your pet like this:
- 2 ml concentration of the 75 mg CBD formula
- 1 ml concentration of the 150 mg CBD formula
- 0.5 ml concentration of the 300 mg CBD formula
- 0.25 ml concentration of the 600 mg CBD formula; however don’t use this concentration on small pets as it’s challenging to use
CBD is administered with drops from a dropper, often included with the oil purchase. How to give CBD oil to dogs can be daunting. Practice measuring how much CBD tincture to draw (use water) and get your dog used to accepting the dosage for dogs recommended on the CBD dosage chart. Some experts suggest that giving with food may diminish the mg CDB and slow absorption.
Individualized Dosage for Safety
Know your dog and monitor their reaction. Use a journal to track the experience and behavior at the time. If you have more than one dog, use their weight, age, normal health conditions, and behavior as your guide.
Experts and veterinarians suggest starting with a small CBD amount and working your way up. Like people, pets have individual reactions to medications.
For Effective Evaluation, Stay Consistent
Like prescription medications, stay consistent in your mg CBD dosage and when you administer it. If you’re using CBD for dog arthritis, it’s vital to develop a routine. Arthritis can also be affected by other influences like cold, damp weather, and over or under-exercising, but CBD might help alleviate the pain symptoms.
Whether you’re using CBD to treat chronic conditions or as occasional relief from separation anxiety or fear from fireworks and thunderstorms, stay consistent, monitor, and adjust the mg CBD medication until you find that magic dosage.
Start by dosing CBD twice daily, anywhere from 4 to 8 hours between dosages, and get a solid foundation over a minimum three-day period. The CBD for dog anxiety may not work as well as the CBD oil for dog seizures.
Tip: Adjust the CBD dosing slowly by decreasing or increasing by half the mg CBD recommendations according to body weight.
Tips to Remember Before Giving CBD Oil to Dogs
We love our dogs, and when we support their health with CBD, we don’t do it lightly. CBD pet health research is in its infancy, but some pet owners have successfully used CBD oil for dogs with cancer to provide relief–not as a cure.
Dog’s Size and Weight
It’s vital to follow your CBD treatment provider’s dosing recommendations, but here is a quick guide you can use based on a dog’s weight.
- Miniatures and toy-sized dogs like Yorkies, Chihuahuas, or Havanese in the 5 to 10 lb range require 1 to 2 mg/dose.
- Smalls like Boston Terriers, Schnauzers, and Pugs weighing 15, 20, or 25 lbs need 3 mg, 4 mg, or 5 mg, respectively.
- Medium breeds like Beagles, Welsh Corgies, and Spaniels weighing 30, 40, and 50 lbs need 6 mg, 8 mg, and 10 mg, respectively.
- Large dogs like Boxers, Labs, and Vizslas weighing 60, 75, and 80 lbs need 12 mg, 15 mg, and 16 mg.
- Giant breeds like St. Bernards, Rottweilers, and Akitas weighing 100 to 150 lbs need 20 to 30 mg.
Since CBD products are safe, rounding the dosage up and down is okay.
Percentage/Potency of CBD in CBD Product
Since the CBD industry isn’t regulated, it’s important to understand the percentage and potency. Reputable providers will include easy-to-use guides and dosing recommendations.
Using the formulas we provided above, or 0.2 mg CBD per pet weight in pounds and the potency of the oil in each milliliter, you can dose the proper amount. If in doubt, check it out with your vet.
The Medical Condition You’re Treating
We recommend working with your veterinarian when treating any medical condition. CBD can affect the efficacy of prescription medications, but it can also help supplement and provide relief.
There are also other differences, like your pet’s age and the state of the health condition you’re treating. Does CBD help dogs with fireworks the same as CBD for hyper dogs? Yes and no. Treating a dog with a fear of fireworks might require a twice-yearly treatment, but a hyper dog might need daily assistance, as do pets with chronic conditions.
Vet visit
We can’t stress this enough, but a vet is your best accomplice in treating your pet with CBD. Schedule regular visits with your vet clinic and report any improvements or changes in weight, behavior, appetite, and mobility. Keeping a journal helps.
High-quality CBD Oil/Treat
Drops or gummy treats are fantastic ways to help your dog alleviate health conditions. But the internet is fraught with fly-by-night CBD providers that aren’t worth their salt.
Like having a good vet, choosing high-quality CBD products is essential. We also consider peer reviews of CBD dog treats and CBD oil bottle content for value. Soft chews are popular to give your dog as a treat and provide the right dose regardless of whether you need strong or smaller doses.
CBD Dose for Dogs
Calculating CBD Dose for Medical Purposes
CBD is a talking point. Pet owners perceive CBD as a safe cannabidiol method of treating pets. Since CBD is a non-psychoactive phenolic from hemp, it has shown positive outcomes for people and animals. Ongoing research is investigating the effects of CBD on stress signals that can help control chronic inflammation and pain responses.
The veterinary medical field suggests that short-term oral doses of up to 20mg/kg daily or a single oral dose of 62mg/kg are safe, based on findings published by the NIH. However, proving the efficacy of mg CBD in treating osteoarthritis or stress requires further investigation as previous studies didn’t reach the positive outcome pet owners and CBD producers suggested.
Best CBD Product: What to Look For
The first time I was asked to use CBD on two small dogs and two cats happened when Hurricane Olaf passed over the Mexican Baja. The treatment was to reduce their anxiety and to keep them safe indoors, as pets may follow their instinct and bolt during extreme weather conditions.
Chuy, Honey, Lester, and Lola survived the tremendously loud storm unscathed while sleeping through the night. While the administered dose remains the same (unless under vet instructions), the brand of CBD can influence the outcome.
Based on WAF team experience and vetted research, these products are the best on the market. If you’re concerned about hemp vs. CBD for dogs, we’ve paved the way. Look for a brand of CBD that extracts cannabidiol using a CO2 method. It’s clean and doesn’t require other ingredients or chemicals.
The brand must provide a third-party (not Bob’s say so) NASC quality seal and come with solid customer reviews. Based on these, how much CBD oil standards to use, we’re proud to recommend these brands.
Honest Paws Best for Mobility
Honest Paws offers three CBD formulas ranging from 125 to 1000mg concentrations. From our tests, Honest Paws for mobility is perfect and best overall for helping dogs inflicted by arthritis.
Honest Paws Well Oil is another favorite that has shown positive feedback for treating dogs with cancer. Well Oil may increase your dog’s immunity and cognitive health and be an excellent partner treatment with other prescription cancer medications.
Honest Paws uses non-GMO, organic, and lab-tested quality CBD in their product lineup. Further, Honest Paw isn’t a greedy corporation but created from user experience.
Penelope’s Bloom Best for Hyper Pooches
Penelope’s Bloom is another organic lab-certified product. It contains medium-chain triglycerides, MCT oil,, and chamomile, known for its calming effect.
This product is very versatile and can help with symptoms of stress and anxiety, mobility, and inflammation to promote overall good health in cats and dogs.
Choosing a CBD product for many clients is also about relating to the product’s producer and what motivated them to create the best CBD lineup to help other pets.
Batch CBD Pet Tincture Best Extra Strength and Flavor Version
Dogs salivate when they smell bacon or wild Alaskan salmon oil, but they don’t care that it’s also good for them. With the recommended dosage under their tongue or mixed with their food, this full-spectrum oil is non-GMO hemp from Wisconsin with a guarantee that it contains less than 0.3% THC. (Something ‘Bob’ can’t promise.)
Batch focuses on a small product lineup with the best derivatives in the tincture or CBD dog treats for dogs that require extra CBD for their body weight.
For How Long Does CBD Last in Dogs
When you decide CBD tinctures or oils are the right treatment to help your dogs with health or behavior issues, here are some tips. Oils kick in faster than CBD treats or biscuits. However, there usually isn’t a discernible difference in the effectiveness.
Most pets experience the effects in about 30 to 45 minutes. We recommend staying with your pet during this time, especially if you are both new to hemp CBD for dog products.
Please note marijuana for dogs is not the same as CBD oil for pets. Pet Poison Helpline has seen a whopping 448% increase in reckless or accidental marijuana ingestion in dogs–not cool!
A CBD chewable or oil dose can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, but it stays in the pet’s system for up to 24 hours. Each dog breed, activity level, and other individual factors can compound the amount of time CBD affects a dog.
FAQ’s
CBD scientific research and finalized results require further study. This is what we know so far.
How Much Time Does CBD Take to Show Results?
CBD effects should show within under an hour. Your pet should experience relief within that dosage window.
Which is More Potent? CBD Oil or Treats?
Dog CBD treats like gummies or biscuits undergo additional cooking processes, lowering cannabinoids. Oil is in its natural state and more potent and absorbs faster in the digestive system.
What Should Be the Optimal CBD Dosage For General Wellness?
Refer to the chart we included earlier for accurate dosing, but 1–5 mg CBD for every 10 pounds of doggy weight is traditionally best for how much CBD to administer.
Final Thoughts on How Much CBD Oil Is the Right CBD Dose
As loving pet parents, we want what’s best for our furry friends and promote and prolong their health. CBD for dogs and cats and its effectiveness depends on how many milligrams for a strong dose, and following the detailed instructions on the package and your vet’s advice. We only recommend products we trust and research.
Once a vet diagnoses your pet’s health condition, whether it’s seizures, separation anxiety, or behavioral, choosing the right dosage per body weight and how much mg CBD oil works in unison with prescribed medications is best.
The overall positive feedback from pet parents about dog CBD is astonishing and promising.
