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How Much CBD Oil Should You Give a Dog? CBD Dosing Guide

Genevieve Dugal

By Genevieve Dugal

dog taking CBD oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound produced in the resin of the Cannabis sativa plant. There has been considerable interest in the use of CBD for both humans and pets due to its alleged benefits for many health conditions, including anxiety, stress, arthritis and joint pain, and chronic inflammation.

In this article, we provide you with a dosing guide on how much CBD oil you should give your dog.

However, keep in mind that there is currently not enough scientific data to determine the proper medical use and dosage of CBD oil for dogs. Therefore, you should use this guide as a rough estimate for your pet. Although these findings are based on the latest available research on this subject, you should always exercise caution before administering any type of supplement to your dog. We strongly recommend that you talk with your vet before starting this type of treatment.

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How Much CBD Oil Should You Give Your Dog?

A typical dosing strategy for cannabis is to “start low and go slow” to avoid side effects associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The same dosing strategy can be used when giving CBD to your dog: Start with the lowest recommended dose, and monitor your dog’s behavior closely afterward.

How to Calculate CBD Oil Dosages Based on Your Dog’s Weight

Dog and CBD
Image By: Erin_Hinterland, Pixabay

Most experts recommend starting with a daily dose of around 0.2 mg of CBD per pound of body weight. So, if your dog weighs 15 pounds, you can give them 3 mg of CBD, split into two doses (in the morning and at night).

The amount of ml of CBD oil to use depends on the formulation of the product that you buy. For example, if a 30-ml bottle of oil contains 75 mg of CBD, each ml contains 2.5 mg of CBD.

If your dog needs 3 mg of CBD, divide 3 mg by 2.5 mg to find the amount of ml of oil to administer, which is 1.2 ml.

If you need more guidance, check out this CBD dosage chart. The calculations are based on a daily dose of 0.2 mg CBD/pound of body weight and on a formula of 75-mg CBD oil (75 mg/30 ml):

Weight (lbs.) CBD dose (mg) CBD oil dose (ml)
5 1 0.4
10 2 0.8
15 3 1.2
20 4 1.6
25 5 2.0
30 6 2.4
35 7 2.8
40 8 3.2
45 9 3.6
50 10 4.0

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What Are the Potential Side Effects of Giving CBD Oil to Dogs?

Current evidence on safe CBD dosages for dogs is limited. However, there are ongoing studies to assess the safety and efficacy of CBD oil for pets.

In 2020, a study published in the journal Frontiers of Veterinary Science showed interesting results regarding the tolerance and safety of CBD in healthy dogs. The purpose of the study was to determine how 20 healthy Beagles would tolerate increasing doses of three cannabis oil formulations: CBD, THC, or CBD and THC.

Overall, dogs tolerated increased CBD oil dose, with only mild side effects:
  • Gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
  • Lethargy
  • Hyperesthesia (abnormal sensitivity of the skin or some sensory organs)

Researchers used increasing doses of CBD oil, starting at around 2 mg/kg/day (0.91 mg/lb.), and gradually increasing to 62 mg/kg/day (28.2 mg/lb.) over 30 days. Their results showed that CBD oil was safer and better tolerated than oil formulations containing higher concentrations of THC.

Side note: Keep in mind that this is way more than the usual recommended dose for dogs, which is around 0.2mg/lb.

What Science Says About the Potential Health Benefits of CBD for Dogs

giving CBD oil to dog
Image By: 24K-Production, Shutterstock

Research on the potential health benefits of CBD in dogs shows interesting and promising results. Indeed, some studies show the potential of CBD to reduce pain in dogs with osteoarthritis or as a secondary treatment for seizure frequency reduction in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. These results are encouraging and support further research into CBD and its potential therapeutic uses in dogs. Thus, CBD could eventually be considered a treatment option in veterinary medicine.

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Conclusion

CBD oil is becoming a popular alternative treatment for treating dog anxiety or other ailments. There is anecdotal evidence attributed to the use of CBD in pets, including relief of pain and inflammation and reduction of stress and anxiety. However, it is not always easy to know what dose to give your dog for such treatment.

We hope that you find this CBD dosage guide useful as a starting point, but be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if there are any contraindications before giving your pup CBD.


Featured Image Credit: Aleksey Boyko, Shutterstock

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