CBD Dosage For Dogs: How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog? (Calculator)
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This is the most comprehensive guide to CBD dosage for dogs.
Do you know how much CBD oil to give to your dog? Do you know how to calculate the correct dosage amount in CBD dog treats and other CBD dog products? It’s not that easy.
Dog CBD doses vary based on age, weight, health conditions, and other factors, so it’s crucial to understand how to administer CBD to your dogs.
There are no clear guidelines or regulated doses, and CBD concentrations vary from brand to brand, making it even harder to get the proper dosage. This guide will clear up the confusion. Let’s dive right in!
Chapter 2
Dog CBD Dosage Calculator
Chapter 1
CBD dosage 101
What Is CBD For Dogs?
CBD oil for dogs has become extremely popular for its ability to help with many different dog health conditions. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound that comes from cannabis (marijuana or hemp plants), but it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the marijuana compound that produces the psychoactive effect gets people high. You can find CBD in several forms, including oils, capsules, topical lotions, and dog treats.
Top Dog CBD Oils
Looking for the best CBD oil and products for dogs? Check out our CBD For Dogs Reviews & Guide, where we cover every detail about CBD for dogs.
Benefits of CBD Oil For Dogs
Before learning about dog CBD dosages, read how your furry friend can benefit from CBD.
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Nausea
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Chronic inflammation
- Joint pain
- Symptoms of cancer
- Gastrointestinal issues ( Digestion problems)
- Protects the nervous system
- Increases appetite
- Cancer
Here is a more in-depth (research-based) look at the health benefits of CBD and how it can help your dog overcome his health issues. (Chapter III)
Factors That Influence CBD Dosage For Dogs
As mentioned earlier, CBD company guidelines and concentration vary from brand to brand. Before deciding how much CBD to give to your four-legged friend, keep the following factors in mind.
- Dog size, weight & age: For instance, a 50-pound dog will be more susceptible to two drops of CBD oil (of the same potency) than a 150-pound dog.
- Dog health conditions: Talk to your veterinary if your dog is on prescriptions to avoid drug interaction. If your dog cannot effectively digest CBD due to a health condition such as liver or kidney problems, make sure you seek medical advice.
- The ailment: Usually, more severe health issues (i.e., cancer) require higher dosages and a more potent concentration of CBD. The less severe the condition (i.e., anxiety or wellness), the lower the dosage.
- CBD product potency: CBD companies offer different potencies. From 75 mg for small dogs to 250+mg for large dogs. Make sure the potency is appropriate for your dog’s size.
- THC levels: Make sure you avoid products with any THC. THC is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. Look for products with less than 0.3% THC
CBD Dosage For Dogs Tips
CBD oil response can vary from dog to dog. To be on the safer side, Underdosing is preferred at first. Monitor your dog’s response. If your dog doesn’t show signs of improvement or discomfort, you can gradually increase the dosage amount to the manufacturer’s dosing guidelines.
Know that dosages will also depend on the product type (oils, treats, capsules, etc.). Consult your veterinarian before you give your pet any CBD treatment.
Dog CDB Dosage Levels
Keep in mind these three types of dosing levels to better use CBD oil drops on your dog.
Mild Dosage: Usually done for health and wellness purposes, boost immune function, and prevent potential health issues.
Regular Dosage: To treat afflictions such as allergies, appetite loss, mild inflammation, minor aches, pet stress, anxiety, and other mild ailments.
Strong Dosage: Usually administered to treat more severe pet health issues such as cancer-related symptoms, tumors, extreme anxiety, epileptic seizures, chronic pain, and more.
CBD For Dogs Dosage Chart
Basic dosing rule for dogs: 1-3 mg CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight.
Feel free to utilize our pre-calculated CBD oil for dogs dosage chart.
Weight (in pounds) | Mild Dose (1 mg per 10 lb) | Regular Dose (2 mg per 10 lb) | Strong Dose (3 mg per 10 lb) |
---|---|---|---|
10 | 1 mg | 2 mg | 3 mg |
20 | 2 mg | 4 mg | 6 mg |
30 | 3 mg | 6 mg | 9 mg |
40 | 4 mg | 8 mg | 12 mg |
50 | 5 mg | 10 mg | 15 mg |
60 | 6 mg | 12 mg | 18 mg |
70 | 7 mg | 14 mg | 21 mg |
80 | 8 mg | 16 mg | 24 mg |
90 | 9 mg | 18 mg | 27 mg |
100 | 10 mg | 20 mg | 30 mg |
110 | 11 mg | 22 mg | 33 mg |
120 | 12 mg | 24 mg | 36 mg |
How To Use This Chart To Calculate Your Dog’s Ideal CBD Oil Dosage
For instance, let’s say you have the following:
- Dog Weight: 60-pound dog
- CBD Product: 250 mg CBD oil formula (30ml bottle)
- Condition: Anxiety (This condition falls under the regular dose column)
Based on the chart above, you already know your 60-pound dog needs 12 mg of CBD oil.
For the next step, you need to divide the total amount of CBD in your formula (250 mg in this case) by the total milliliters in your bottle (30ml).
- 250/30 = 8.3 mg/ml (This is how much mg of CBD there is in each milliliter of oil)
The final step is to dive 12mg (how much CBD oil your dog needs) by 8.3 mg (how much CBD there is in a milliliter)
- 12/8.3 = 1.445 mL ( or roughly 1.5 mL to make things easier)
So for a 60-pound dog who needs 12mg of CBD (per our chart above), you’d give him 1.5 ml of a 250mg CBD formula. If you have a dropper like the one on the right side, you will fill it up one time until the oil hits the 1.0 mL mark and give it to your dog. Then you would fill it up to the .50 ml mark to complete the required dosage for your dog.
Don’t be scared of the math. It’s pretty straightforward!
Now let’s say you have a 100 lb dog and just bought a 300 mg CBD oil formula (30ml bottle), and your pup suffers from epileptic seizures, simply repeat the same calculations but use your numbers. Remember that epileptic seizures require a strong dose.
Chapter 2
CBD oil for dogs dose calculator
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
When your dog is just starting on CBD, the best advice is to always go below the recommended amount suggested by the manufacturer’s dosing guidelines. This will let you monitor any adverse effects or determine if you need to up the dosage amount.
All reputable CBD companies offer a detailed dosage guide along with their products. If your product doesn’t have one, refer to our CBD dosage for dogs chart or manually calculate the proper amount for your dog, as shown below.
Remember, If you’re using CBD oil for medical use, your dog will need a regular or strong dose, depending on the severity of the health issue. On the contrary, CBD for general well-being or preventive care may not need this higher dosage level. You can cut down the dosage to mild or regular dose levels.
Let’s learn how much CBD to give your dog from the following example.
IMPORTANT: This will not apply to your dog if the product you use is from another company and has a different potency.
Dog CBD Oil Dosage Calculator: DIY Example
To show you how to calculate the correct CBD dose for dogs, we’ve chosen the following:
- Type: Oil
- Product: We chose King Kalm CBD’s 150 mg (30ml bottle) – A popular dog CBD oil brand.
- Dog Weight: 50 pounds
With this in mind, follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine the size of your CBD bottle in milliliters (ml).
Step one, we already have the information. It’s 30 ml.
Step 2: Determining The Total Milligrams (mg) of CBD In Each Milliliter (ml) of Oil In One Bottle
This is a 30ml bottle with 150 mg CBD formula (this number is the potency, the higher the mg, the MORE POTENT the oil).
To calculate the total milligrams (mg) of CBD in each milliliter (ml) of CBD oil, you will need 150mg by 30ml. This gives you 5mg of CBD per one ml of oil.
Step 3: Determine how much CBD per pound your dog needs
Although there is no hard and fast rule to determine your dog’s exact dosage, a safe rule of thumb is 0.2 mg of CBD per pound (weight).
So if your pup weighs 50 pounds, you’ll administer 50 pounds times 0.2mg, which equals 10mg of CBD.
Step 4: Proceed to calculate
So, for a 50-pound dog who needs 10mg of CBD (per our calculation in step 3), you would administer 2ml of the 150mg CBD formula because there is 5mg of CBD per 1 ml of oil in this particular formula (per our calculation in step 2).
Here is a table depicting different formulas and dog weights to understand the concept better.
CBD formula(MG) | Bottle (mL) | CBDmg/ml | Dog Weight | CBD needs in (mg) | CBD Dosage |
75mg formula | 30ml | 2.5mg/ml | 25 pounds | 5mg | 2ml |
150mg formula | 30ml | 5mg/ml | 50 pounds | 10mg | 2ml |
300 mg formula | 30ml | 10mg/ml | 25 pounds | 5mg | 0.5ml |
600 mg formula | 30ml | 20mg/ml | 100 pounds | 20mg | 1ml |
Your formula | Your mL | Formula MG/mL | Dog’s weight | (Dog weight) times (0.2) | Your dosage |
NOTE: CBD oil formulas (MG) vary from brand to brand and the mL of the bottle you choose to purchase.
If you have a CBD oil from a different brand and different potency, you can still use the steps above. Replace our numbers with your numbers, and you will be able to calculate CBD dosage for any dog and any CBD oil brand out there.
CBD Dosage For Dogs Example (Infographic)
When you buy from most CBD oil manufacturers, you should receive a chart similar to below.
This infographic is for King Kalm dog CBD oil 300mg formula (potency).
If you get a CBD oil from a different brand or a 150mg formula, dosage amounts will differ. But this is an excellent example to help you comprehend dog CBD dosages.
Image credit: King Kalm
CBD Dog Dosage Tiered System
If you are still wondering how much CBD oil to give your dog, many experts recommend using a tiered system based on your pet’s size.
- Tier 1: 0.05 mg per lb of bodyweight
- Tier 2: 0.125 mg per lb of bodyweight
- Tier 3: 0.25 mg per lb of bodyweight
Regardless of your pet’s size, you should start with Tier 1, using that dosage twice daily. After one to two weeks of proper monitoring of your pet’s reaction to tier-one dosage, move up to Tier 2. Only if necessary, ditto for Tier 3.
CBD Dosing Chart By Your Pet’s Weight
This infographic is from King Kalm dog CBD oil 600mg formula (potency).
Don’t forget CBD dosage amounts will vary if you have a 300mg formula. Regardless, it’s another good visual helps you understand CBD oil dose by your pet’s weight.
Image credit: King Kalm
Dosage For CBD Dog Treats
To calculate the correct dose for CBD dog treats, you can use our CBD dosing chart by weight (see above), or the safe rule of thumb is 0.2 mg of CBD per pound (weight). The same calculation concept applies to both.
When buying CBD dog treats, serving size suggestions should come with it.
Here is a basic dosage example:
- 1 treat = 5 mg CBD
- 0.2mg X 1lb body-weight
So, if Fido weighs 50 pounds, here is the formula: 0.2mg X 50lbs = 10mg (This is how much CBD your dog will need)
Now, since one treat equals 5mg of CBD, then your dog should get 2 treats per day to meet the required amount of CBD, which is 10 mg in this case. Pretty simple, huh!
Top CBD Dog Treats
Running out of treats or need to find an option that works? Read our CBD Dog Treat Reviews & Guide for more.
Dosage With CBD Capsules
The same rule applies here!
Each bottle comes with 50 capsules, but depending on the potency you buy, the amount of CBD in milligrams will vary per capsule.
Here is a quick example:
- 100mg bottle: 1 capsule = 2mg of CBD
- 250mg bottle: 1 capsule = 5mg of CBD
- 500mg bottle: 1 capsule = 10mg of CBD
If you have a dog that weighs 50 pounds, the regular dose would be:
50 lbs X 0.20 mg = 10mg of CBD
The dose would be 1 capsule from the 500mg bottle, 2 capsules from the 250mg bottle, or 5 capsules from the 100mg bottle.
Chapter 3
CBD dose for dogs by health issues
Dog CBD Dosage By Health Condition
Here is a breakdown of CBD doses by health condition.
Remember that we cannot give you exact values as each dog has a different weight, CBD potency per brand varies, and the severity of their symptoms is different.
However, there are three levels of dosages you should consider administrating CBD to your dog. (i) Mild dose for health, preventive, and wellness purposes (ii) Regular for health concerns, and (iii) Strong for more severe health problems.
NOTE: Refer to our dosing chart and dosage level sections to understand this better. Depending on your dog’s size and CBD formula potency, you will have to calculate this yourself. Talk to your vet to confirm the proper dosage for your dog.
CBD Dosage For Dogs Fireworks?
How much CBD to give a dog for fireworks? If your dog has noise-related phobias such as fireworks, a regular dose should calm them down and get them into a relaxed stage. You should administer a stronger dose if you don’t notice any changes in behavior.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog For Anxiety?
How many mg of CBD for dog anxiety? The amount of CBD oil you should give your dog will depend on the severity of their anxiety. If the symptoms include mild anxiety, your dog may only need regular doses to manage it. In case of a more severe anxiety condition, you can buy a high potency oil or opt for a more potent dose of your current CBD oil. This is especially true for large dogs. One dose per day should work fine.
CBD Oil Dosage For Dog Seizures or Epilepsy?
If you notice your dog is about to have a seizure, you should give him a strong dosage to stop the convulsions.
If the seizure persists or you don’t notice any difference, increase the dosage until you see a return to your dog’s normal behavior.
However, if your dog suffers from epilepsy (recurrent seizures), a regular dose should work to keep seizures from happening. Two regular doses per day for more severe cases, but one dose per day should be okay if they only tend to happen every other day.
Always consult with your veterinarian.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog For Cancer?
Cancer is painful for our furry friends, especially if they are under chemotherapy treatment or at an advanced cancer stage. That is why, with these cases, you want to start with strong CBD dosages. Administer a full dose 2 times a day or every eight hours, depending on how your pup is feeling.
How Much CBD Oil For Dogs With Arthritis?
Giving them a strong CBD dose twice a day should do the work for dogs with osteoarthritis. If your dog is developing or showing signs of osteoarthritis, a regular dose is advised.
How Long Does it Take CBD to Start Working?
Generally, CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream faster when taken orally. Usually, you can start seeing CBD oil results for dogs as quickly as 5 to 30 minutes for things like situational anxiety. If you’re using it to treat arthritis or immune system issues, it can take as long as 2 weeks to see consistent improvement.
Other variables include the dosage, potency, consistency, and quality can also play a role in how quickly you begin to feel the benefits of CBD. The results vary depending on the condition you are treating as well.
Oils tend to kick in a little faster than treats because oils go directly into the bloodstream instead of treats that go through digestion. There’s not much difference in effectiveness between the two.
If you don’t see a change or it takes longer than usual, you may need to tweak up slightly the CBD oil dosage.
How to Give CBD Oil to Dogs
Watch this short video on administering CBD oil to dogs the right way.
How to Choose The Best CBD Product?
There are dozens of CBD products available in the market, so it can be tedious to find the right one.
Here are some tips when looking for CBD products.
- Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate containing less than 0.3 percent THC
- Made from U.S.-grown hemp
- Third-party tested
- Meant to be taken orally
- Look for transparency and lab reports
- Organic
- Free of toxins
It Takes Practice
No one amount of CBD is perfect; how much CBD you give your furry friend will depend on several factors, as discussed in this article.
Finding the right dosage amount that works for your dog will take some practice, but do not worry; CBD is completely safe and natural. So there are no severe side effects if your dog gets a little more or less than what is supposed to.
Just be sure to always talk to a professional and follow best practices when buying and giving CBD to your pet.
Also, check out our reviews of the best CBD oil for dogs and the best CBD dog treats. We give you tips on how to find high-quality CBD products and reviews of our top picks.
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