CBD Dosage Guide for Dogs [CALCULATOR & CHART]

While CBD has a laundry list of benefits for animals, determining the right dose for your dog can be pretty confusing. CBD pet products come in many strengths, and seemingly every company has a unique opinion on how much CBD you should give your pet.

We’re here to clear things up.

How much CBD should you give your dog or cat?

Starting out, our rule of thumb is to give your dog 2 mg of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight.

However, this is just a starting estimate — the amount of CBD your dog needs depends on why you’re giving it to them. Use our dosage calculator below to determine your dog’s ideal amount of CBD, or, keep reading to learn more about the benefits of CBD for dogs and how to dose it.

Trying to find the best CBD dosage for your furry friend? Use our calculator below!

Benefits of CBD for Dogs

Before calculating your dog’s CBD dosage, it’s important to pinpoint why you’re giving it to them. This will allow you to customize their dosage accordingly for the best outcome.

To do this, let’s review the ways CBD can help your dog.

Scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests CBD has a variety of benefits for dogs, for both ongoing and one-time issues:

• Anxiety & aggression — CBD has calming properties that may help dogs with separation anxiety, travel anxiety, and other forms of anxiety, as well as aggressive behaviors. One study showed that CBD reduced aggressive behavior in shelter dogs after it was administered to them.
• Inflammation and pain — Research suggests CBD may have anti-inflammatory benefits for dogs. Anecdotally, our customers find CBD effective for arthritis, joint pain, and cancer pain in their dogs.
• Epilepsy — Research has shown that CBD may help with epilepsy in dogs, although more inquiry is needed before we know if it’s a proven treatment.
• Immunosuppression and allergy reduction — CBD has been shown to have immunosuppressant properties, which may mean that it can reduce allergy symptoms in dogs.
• Sleep — CBD’s physically and mentally calming properties make it beneficial for supporting sleep in dogs. CBD may help dogs fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep for longer.
• Fear of loud noises — CBD is a refuge among pet owners during the 4th of July season. CBD may help dogs stay calm in the presence of loud noises, such as those from fireworks.
• Appetite — CBD may support your dog’s appetite by addressing situations that make your dog not want to eat, such as pain and anxiety.
• Skin health — Research shows CBD has therapeutic potential for skin conditions like eczema in humans, and may generally promote healthy skin. Anecdotally, some of the same benefits may be present for dogs.
• Heart health — Since research suggests CBD has anti-inflammatory effects for dogs, it may also help support heart health. However, there hasn’t been any research on CBD for canine heart health, specifically.

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How Much CBD Should You Give Your Dog?

We provide CBD dosage recommendations for dogs in terms of their weight and why they’re using it. This ensures you give your dog the most personalized and effective dosage possible.

Here are our dosage recommendations (formulas) for different uses:

Dog CBD Dosage for Anxiety, Aggression, and Fear of Loud Noises

For both ongoing anxiety and aggression, as well as one-off situations (e.g. for 4th of July fireworks), your dog should take a high-strength dosage of CBD, which can be calculated using this formula:

(0.3) x (your dog’s body weight in lbs.) = their daily CBD dosage

Dog CBD Dosage for Sleep Support & General Wellness

For sleep support, as well as for general wellness (e.g. skin health, heart health, etc.), a low-strength dosage of CBD is sufficient:

(0.2) x (your dog’s body weight in lbs.) = their daily CBD dosage

Dog CBD Dosage for Pain & Inflammation

For pain and inflammation, a high-strength dosage of CBD is best for your dog:

(0.3) x (your dog’s body weight in lbs.) = their daily CBD dosage

Dog CBD Dosage for Epilepsy and Other Medical Issues

For epilepsy, cancer, and other medical uses, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian before giving CBD to your dog. They’ll know whether CBD is the right option, and if so, how much you should be giving your dog.

CBD Dosing Tips for Dogs

Here are a few tips to help you help your dog get the most out of CBD:

Talk to Your Vet Beforehand

Always talk to your veterinarian before using CBD with your dog. Not only will they be able to determine if it’s a safe and effective therapeutic option for your dog’s unique situations, but they’ll be able to provide usage suggestions.

Note, however, that in some states, vets can’t discuss CBD with you due to legal restrictions.

Split The Dosage Up

For ongoing use, we recommend splitting your dog’s suggested daily CBD dosage into two parts, and giving them each dose 6-8 hours apart.

For one-time uses, giving your dog their entire dosage all at once is sufficient.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Just like with humans, each dog is different — there’s no single right answer when it comes to the right CBD dosage for your dog.

This means that it may take some experimentation to figure out what works. Try adding or subtracting 1mg of CBD from your dog’s dose, noting how they react, until you land on the right amount.

Be Consistent

For ongoing uses, CBD will take some time to start working for your dog. Be sure to give your dog their recommended dose twice a day for at least 4 to 5 days before you evaluate the results.

CBD Dosage Chart for Dogs

The calculator we provided at the beginning of the article is great for finding precise dosages.

But we’ve also made a CBD dosage chart for dogs for quick reference:

Which CBD Product Should You Give Your Dog?

Now that you know how to help your dog or cat find their perfect CBD dosage, it’s time to decide which product is best for them.

Here’s an overview of the most popular CBD options for dogs:

CBD Pet Oils

Oils are a versatile CBD delivery method for dogs because you can customize the dose down to the milligram. Oils also come in a wide variety of strengths.

CBD oil can either be mixed with your dog’s food or given to them directly. However, if you choose the direct route, you might have to pry your dog’s mouth open to give them the CBD oil — depending on the dog, this can be a bit difficult.

CBD Pet Treats

Dogs love the taste of CBD-infused pet treats, so this is an easy delivery method. Treats also offer a fixed-dose delivery method (each piece will contain the same amount of CBD) — this can be an upside or a downside, depending on the dose your dog needs.

Additionally, treats aren’t as messy as oils can be, making them a great option if you’re traveling with your dog.

CBD Dog Bones

CBD dog bones are great for keeping your dog occupied and delivering a little bit of relaxation, but they aren’t the most effective CBD delivery method.

Most bones don’t contain enough CBD to render major therapeutic benefits, and it’s hard to gauge how much CBD your dog is getting from the bone each time they chew on it.

For therapeutic uses, an oil or treat is a better choice.

How to Dose CBD Oil for Dogs

Measuring doses of CBD oil for your dog can be a bit confusing because you have to account for the strength of the oil and the dropper size. Here’s what you need to know:

Most oils come with 1-milliliter (ml.) droppers. Based on the strength of your product (our pet CBD oils come in 250, 500mg, and 1000mg bottles), here’s how much CBD will be in each full dropper of oil:

100mg bottle = 3.3mg CBD per 1 ml.

250mg bottle = 8.3mg CBD per 1 ml.

500mg bottle = 16.7mg CBD per 1 ml.

1000mg bottle = 33.3mg CBD per 1 ml.

1500mg bottle = 50mg CBD per 1 ml.

3000mg bottle = 100m CBD per 1 ml.

5000mg bottle = 166.6mg CBD per 1 ml.

For example, if your dog needs 10mg of CBD per day and you bought 1000mg oil, you’d give him or her roughly one-third of a dropper daily.

Side Effects of CBD for Dogs

Although CBD is generally well-tolerated by dogs, it can cause a few adverse side effects if consumed in too great a quantity:

• Dry mouth
• Lowered blood pressure
• Drowsiness

These side effects aren’t a big deal; if your dog exhibits any of them, simply lower their dose by a bit.

What If It’s Not Working?

You have high hopes for CBD, and you give it to your dog. Then it does… nothing. Why?

Here are the most common reasons CBD isn’t working for your dog:

• They haven’t used it for long enough — CBD takes 1-2 weeks to work in your dog’s body. Ensure you’ve given it to them for this duration before assessing the results.
• The dosage is wrong — Be sure to use weight- and situation-based formulas, like the ones provided in this article, so your dog is getting a dose of CBD that will be effective for his or her unique circumstance(s).
• Your product isn’t good quality — Make sure the CBD product you’re using with your dog is 3rd-party lab tested. This will verify that it contains the amount of CBD it’s supposed to. This is also a matter of safety; 3rd-party lab tests ensure products don’t contain unsafe ingredients from poor farming or production processes.

Conclusion: CBD Dosage for Dogs

CBD dosage for dogs isn’t an exact science — for best results, use our formulas, calculator, and/or chart to calculate your dog’s recommended dosage, and then fine-tune it until your dog is happy and relaxed.

The main things to remember when dosing CBD for dog are to start low, adjust slowly, and be consistent. If you do this, your dog’s quality of life will improve — and you’ll find peace of mind!

CBD Dosage for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions we commonly hear from customers about CBD dosage for dogs.

How Quickly Will My Pet Feel the Effects of CBD?

Once you’ve given your dog their dose of CBD, they should feel the effects in 30 minutes to an hour.

The reason for such a wide window is that different dogs will respond to CBD in different ways (it can be due to their breed, weight, age, or other factors).

Although effect onset is quick, however, it takes 1-2 weeks for CBD to begin rendering its full therapeutic benefit.

Can Dogs Overdose on CBD?

Dogs can “overdose” on CBD, but it’s not fatal. However, it will cause a variety of negative side effects:

• Vomiting
• Excessive drooling
• Prolonged lack of energy
• Imbalance
• Shaking

Can Dogs Have THC?

In very small amounts, THC won’t affect your pet adversely.

Our CBD pet products are Full Spectrum, meaning that they contain a variety of cannabinoids (including a small amount of THC) and terpenes in addition to CBD. These products actually render greater physical relaxation for dogs than those without THC — it’s beneficial in tiny amounts, combined with CBD.

However, do not give your dog a product that is primarily THC – for example, a delta 9 gummy. In moderate amounts, THC will cause side effects similar to those your dog experiences from taking too much CBD. In large amounts, THC can poison your dog and potentially kill them.

What Do Veterinarians Think About CBD?

Some veterinarians espouse CBD’s benefits and recommend it to pet owners, while others don’t think it’s beneficial for dogs. Before giving CBD to your dog, we recommend asking your vet whether it’s a good option.

However, prepare for the prospect that your vet can’t discuss using CBD for your dog. Some states have imposed regulations on CBD that mean vets lose their license to practice if they endorse it.