‘How much CBD can I give my dog?’ 

Just as in humans, dogs have an endocannabinoid system that regulates a wide range of physiological functions. A key role of this system is to help maintain homeostasis in the body, i.e. stable physiological conditions.

If stress, exercise, pain and nutrition can activate the endocannabinoid system to produce a certain response, so can the cannabinoids produced by cannabis. 

But what is the correct dosage of CBD oil for dogs in order to obtain a positive response?

This is the real question. 

Just like humans, dogs too can suffer from some ailment that does not make them live peacefully. Perhaps your dog is going through a period of anxiety, experiences pain from an illness or suffers from convulsions. 

And you have discovered that CBD is a great natural product with which to care for your four-legged friend. 

That’s right, CBD has beneficial properties that make it ideal for treating so many conditions. The only question is how much product to give your dog and in what formulation, as many owners are reluctant to try for fear of a THC reaction. 

There is in fact no such thing as a universal dosage of CBD oil for dogs precisely because every dog has its own characteristics. That is why we decided to write this guide on CBD for dogs where we will explain exactly what you need to do.

Benefits of CBD oil for dogs 

Hemp oil, or CBD oil, is an extremely versatile product that allows oral administration.

CBD is the non-psychoactive active ingredient produced by the hemp plant that can treat minor annoyances as well as more serious illnesses. This is possible because the plant’s cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system.  

When the system does not produce enough endocannabinoids, the substances that keep all these functions in balance, the body becomes ill. The cannabinoids produced by hemp and contained in CBD oil can restore the body to its original healthy state. 

CBD is used for:

• Pain relief: CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which may help relieve pain in dogs, such as that caused by arthritis, injuries or surgery;
• Anxiety and stress management: many dog owners use CBD oil to help their pets manage anxiety, e.g. during thunderstorms, fireworks or stressful situations such as travelling;
• Mood enhancement: it is believed that CBD can have positive effects on dogs’ moods, helping them to feel calmer and more relaxed;
• Support for skin and coat health: CBD oil can be used to treat skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema or itching, helping to maintain healthy skin and coat;
• Help with digestive problems: some dog owners use CBD oil to help treat digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite;
• Seizure control: there are preliminary studies suggesting that CBD may be useful in reducing the frequency and intensity of seizures in dogs with epilepsy or other neurological conditions.

It even seems to be able to slow down cancer and alleviate its symptoms. 

What to consider before buying CBD for dogs

CBD oil for dogs is becoming increasingly popular, but it is important to do your research before purchasing a product. 

Here are some factors to consider:

• Consult your vet: your vet can help you determine whether CBD is suitable for your dog and, if so, which product and dosage is appropriate;
• Choose a high-quality product: look for products that are tested by independent laboratories to ensure potency and purity, and made with organic ingredients to avoid exposure to pesticides and other chemicals;
• The CBD spectrum: purchase an oil specifically formulated for dogs as it is free of THC, a psychoactive component of cannabis that can be toxic to animals.

Once purchased, you will need to determine the right dose. The appropriate dose of CBD for your dog will depend on his size, weight and the reason for administering it (which we recommend you discuss with your vet).

CBD dosage calculation for dogs

The efficacy of CBD is now proven by numerous scientific tests that continue to find more and more uses for this incredible product. The real problem is figuring out how much CBD to give your dog because its effectiveness depends on it. 

The factors that affect the calculation of CBD dosage for dogs are:

• Type of product: the product can be in the form of oil as well as cream, crunch, supplements and so on, and obviously the method of absorption is different;
• CBD concentration: the entry level version of the oil has a 5% CBD composition and is ideal for first time testers, if the problem persists there are products with a higher percentage of active ingredient; 
• Weight of the dog: this is one of the key factors in establishing the correct dosage, which applies to both humans and animals; 
• Severity of the disorder: also important in choosing the dosage is the severity, i.e. whether we are talking about a nuisance or a more important disease. 

That said, we are now ready to find out how many drops of CBD oil you should give your dog depending on his size. 

Doses for very small dogs

If you have a very small dog, as a Chihuahua might be, it is advisable to start with a very low dosage, especially if it is the first time you are giving him CBD. 

You can remember this rule: 1mg per 2kg, a couple of times a day. 

Very small dogs are usually around 2 to 4 kg, which means you can give them 1 to 2mg. This is the basic dosage, which can be increased depending on the severity of the symptoms.

Chihuahuas certainly fall into this category, but also dogs such as the Maltese, Pomeranian and Yorkshire. If you don’t see immediate results, you can try administering the product 3 or 4 times a day because it is true that dogs are extremely small, but because of this they have a very fast metabolism. 

If you still do not see positive results, try increasing the dosage by 1mg per week. 

Dosage for small dogs

Small dogs are considered to be those ranging from about 6 to 12 kg such as the Shih Tzu, Boston Terrier or the Scottish Shetland sheepdog. 

The CBD dosage for small dogs varies from 3 to 5 mg depending on weight, a couple of times a day. 

Again, the rule is to increase the dosage by 1 mg until you start to see some improvement in your four-legged friend. Remember that it is always best to start with a low dose and then gradually increase it, especially if it is the first time with this product. 

CBD for medium-sized dogs

Medium-sized dogs are considered to be those ranging from 13 to 25 kg such as the French Bulldog, Beagle, Corgi or Spaniel. 

In this case the rule is: 6 to 10 mg a couple of times a day.

If the symptoms of the condition to be treated are very mild, you can also consider a dosage between 3-6mg. If, on the contrary, the symptoms are more serious, you can increase the dosage by a few mg. 

CBD dosage for large dogs

Large dogs are those from about 30 kg upwards such as Retrievers or Boxers, and even Great Danes, which fall into the extra-large size category. 

The dosage of CBD for large dogs is from 10 mg upwards, without exceeding 30 mg.

A larger dog requires a higher dosage, although its metabolism is slower than that of small dogs and this detail should not be ignored. As in all other cases, we recommend starting with a low dosage and then gradually increasing it over time.

How many drops of CBD to give the dog

So far we have seen how many mg of CBD you should give your dog, but how do you calculate the dosage? In a nutshell, how many drops of CBD should you give your dog?

Let’s take a 10 ml bottle of 5% CBD oil as an example. This concentration means that there are 500 mg of active ingredient in 10 ml. Knowing that a bottle of this size contains about 200 drops, we can easily find the concentration for each individual drop: 2.5 mg.

So how many drops of CBD 5% can you take per day? One drop is more than enough for small dogs, whereas you will have to do a simple calculation to find the drops to administer to large dogs. For example, to reach 10 mg, you would have to administer 4 drops. 

If it helps, you can create a CBD dosage table where you write down all the doses administered from the first one. You can then keep track of the effects and consciously increase the dose as needed. 

CBD dosage table for your dog

Below is a table with the dosage of CBD oil for dogs broken down according to size. In all cases, the dose should be administered twice a day, morning and evening. 

How to administer CBD oil to your dog

When we talk about CBD for animals, we have to discard several methods of administration. Your dog cannot drink a CBD infusion or inhale it with a vaporizer. 

Here are some common options for administering CBD oil to your dog:

• Add CBD oil to food: CBD oil comes with a dosing syringe that can be used to add the oil directly to your dog’s food;
• Apply the CBD oil directly on your dog’s tongue: if your dog agrees to take the CBD oil directly from the dosing syringe, you can administer it on the tongue, this way you have more precise control over the amount of CBD administered;
• Mix the CBD oil with a dog treat: if your dog loves dog treats you can mix the CBD oil with a treat, this can be an effective strategy if your dog is squeamish or has difficulty accepting the product.

In any case, make sure you only buy CBD oil specifically for pets and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the dose and best method of administration.

Are there any risks in administering CBD to dogs?

Human or animal, CBD is a substance that is generally well tolerated by all. No serious side effects have ever surfaced during scientific studies. The only effects that occurred in rare cases were dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea and dizziness. 

It is important to know that these side effects occurred mostly not due to too high a dosage but due to interaction with other drugs. This means that if you are already administering a course of treatment to your dog, you should seek your vet’s advice on both compatibility and dosage before adding CBD. 

It is not advisable to exceed the ideal dose, even if no serious side effects have ever arisen. 

How much CBD oil is too much for a dog? It is too much when it greatly exceeds the recommended dose for its size (see the CBD oil dosage calculator for dogs we provided above broken down by size). 

However, it appears that there is no risk of overdose. It is simply that when CBD is administered excessively, it tends to be ineffective. 

Where to find CBD products for pets

Now you know all you need to know about CBD dosage calculation for dogs. Are you interested in a purchase?

If you are looking for CBD oil for dogs, always remember to buy products designed for animals. They contain neither THC nor terpenes, which are natural substances that dogs and cats cannot synthesise and could cause problems. 

Also make sure that you only buy from serious sellers who are transparent about cultivation and production methods. Only in this way can you be sure of obtaining a quality, 100% natural product that contains no toxic residues. 

If your dog suffers from any ailments or you simply want to keep him healthy, visit our shop and discover the entire line of products we have created especially for pets. You will find CBD oil for dogs and many other novelties.