Introduction
If you're wondering, "Exactly how much CBD oil should I give my dog?" — you're not alone. Our dogs are our best friends, and we don't want to give them too much CBD oil, even if it's good for them. But giving your dog CBD doesn't have to be confusing or scary.
In many ways, our four-legged friends are just like us: they need an appropriate diet, regular exercise, and companionship to stay healthy. They can also develop many of the same health concerns as humans. For some dogs, CBD might be a great option for comfort.
Many of the solutions used to comfort canine concerns are not universally accepted and can contain harmful or even unidentified ingredients. This leads many dog lovers on a quest for alternative options. Those looking for a safe, natural way to comfort their pets often turn to the many healthy compounds found exclusively in the hemp plant.
The Endocannabinoid system in Dogs
If you’ve been investigating the possibilities of CBD, you’ve likely noticed that this non-intoxicating cannabinoid has the potential to impact your health and wellness needs. You may have also noticed that cannabis oil is being used for a considerable number of seemingly unrelated concerns. The reason CBD is believed to be beneficial for such a diverse list of topics can be explained by the way it interacts with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, the largest regulatory system in your body, and your dog’s body, too.
All of the different cannabinoids working together produces an "entourage effect." This term refers to the combined effects of all the cannabinoids like CBD and THC working together for maximum benefits. This is why you'll find that high quality CBD products that work are full spectrum CBD oils. This means they contain all the different compounds needed to produce an entourage effect.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, from the cannabis plant has the same health and wellness potential for your dog as it could have for you, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, and more.3
Giving your Dog CBD
Although CBD-infused snacks and treats for dogs and cats are easy to find, it’s important to know that many companies use low-quality hemp extracts to create their CBD products for pets. Many of these questionable pet products contain too little CBD to be of any significant value. CBD treats can also be quite expensive. So if you want to give the best to your pet when it comes to CBD dog treats, you need to research the quality of the CBD first.
Safety first for Pet CBD Oil
You want to be sure everything in the CBD bottle will be safe for your pet, including the hemp seed oil or coconut oil that is used as a carrier oil for the CBD.
Looking for the word “organic” in the labeling, and checking third party lab tests will help you find a safe pet oil for your companion. Organic products have been created without any harmful pesticides or toxic chemicals. It's important to look for the official USDA organic certification to be sure that the product is guaranteed to be free of toxins.
How much CBD Oil do I give my Dog?
The best way to determine CBD oil dose for dogs is to find out your pet's body weight. Standard dosage charts call for 2 mg CBD per every 10 pounds in body weight.5 This is a great starting point, and is usually the perfect dosage recommendation that your pet needs.
For example, if your Golden Retriever dog weighs 50 pounds, his recommended CBD dosage would start out at 10 mg per day. The correct CBD dosage for a 150 lb Great Dane would be 30 mg CBD per day. So long as you know your dog’s body weight, you can know how many mg of CBD to give him.
Once you have an idea of what CBD dosage for dogs requires, you can split that dose up and give them a half-dose twice a day. If they have more serious needs, you may want to administer CBD in the morning and at night for maximum dose CBD comfort.
How do I give my Dog CBD Oil?
The measured dropper in CBD bottles makes it easy to get the right CBD dosages for your pet based on their weight. Since CBD oils are quite versatile, there are numerous ways to administer them. Consider the value of the following suggestions:
- Adding CBD to Food: CBD oil can be added to dry or moist dog food, or even a dab of peanut butter. You can also use it to create your own hemp CBD-infused dog treats.7
- CBD by Mouth: You can use the dropper included with your CBD tincture to dispense the oil directly into your dog’s mouth.8 If your dog enjoys the flavor, direct administration may be the best way to ensure consistent dosing.
- Adding CBD to Water: Adding a regular dose of CBD to drinking water is an easy way to give a dose of CBD to a dog reluctant to eat.9 The trick is not to use too much water to ensure your buddy is ingesting a full dose.
Benefits of CBD Oil for Dogs?
Cannabinoids are the messengers to the endocannabinoid system. Our body can create cannabinoids as needed, but a significant number of other factors can create a demand for cannabinoids that might exceed the body's natural supply.10
That’s where CBD-derived from hemp comes in. CBD mimics the functions of internally produced cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, to help keep your body in top form.11 Many researchers currently believe ECS deficiencies can could lead to other problems.12
That’s why so many people are investing in CBD for themselves and their pets. Just a few of the many potential benefits of CBD oil for your dog could include:
- A sense of calm: Maybe your pet is feeling overactive, or excessively running around the house, or chewing up your brand new flip-flops that just came in the mail.
- A sense of comfort: We all experience a little distress from time to time, and that includes pets too! When you give your dog a regular dose of CBD per day, this safe and natural product could support a myriad of comfort related issues.
Bottom line: CBD Dosage for Dogs and Cats
You don't need a dosing chart to find out the CBD dosage guidelines for dogs or cats. The best CBD dosage to start with for your four legged friend is 2 mg CBD per 10 pounds body weight. Your pets can enjoy the same benefits of CBD that we do. You may notice an increase of comfort levels in older pets, or maybe your little furry ball of worry will finally be able to chill out! Keep a journal of when you give your pet CBD, how much you give them, and monitor how they respond to it over time
