How Much CBD Should I Give My Dog?

When it comes to medicating your pets, finding the right dosage is crucial.

CBD is a powerful compound that shows a lot of promise in helping dogs, cats, and other pets deal with a vast variety of ailments.

However, finding the right dosage with CBD can be tricky.

In this article I’m going to share some basic tips on CBD dosing for dogs. This can be applied to cats as well.

I’ll cover all you need to know about dosing CBD, and will also share some basic dosage guidelines for CBD oils, capsules, and treats

Things to Consider When Treating Your Pet With CBD

Before we look at the specifics about CBD dosage for dogs, it’s important to cover some basics.

Remember, a lot of different factors can influence the exact dose of CBD your pet needs. I’ll be discussing this in regards to dogs, because that’s where all my experience is, however the same information applies to cats and other pets.

One of the main factors influencing dosage with CBD products is the type of product you use. The supplement brand would also be something to consider.

CBD products are typically available in 3 forms:

Oils

Capsules

Treats

 

Another major factor influencing dosage is your pet’s size.

Larger dogs require more CBD.

High quality products will actually supply their own dosage charts which are specific to their products. They will have a specific formula for their products based on the weight of your dog.

Lastly, also remember that your dog’s ailment can also affect how much CBD they should be taking.

All the brands which I use and recommend will explain what ailments should get a regular dose vs. a stronger dose.

CBD Dosage Basics

In general, CBD oils are always administered in drops.

The exact amount of drops needed for a dose can vary from one product to another, but generally consist of 2-4 drops taken 2-4 times daily.

You can also adjust the dosage given the size of your pet and depending on their condition as mentioned above.

CBD capsules, on the other hand, usually contain between 5-20mg of CBD each.

Again, the exact number of capsules needed for a dose vary from one product to another, but generally consist of roughly 1 tablet taken 1-2 times per day.

Unlike oils and capsules, CBD dog treats can contain varying concentrations of CBD, and should be given to your pet as per the package instructions.

 

CBD Dosing for Dogs (HolistaPet)

A few years ago, our family dog Rosie, a gorgeous Golden Retriever, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and terminal cancer.

Looking for ways to make Rosie’s remaining time as enjoyable as possible, I soon learned about CBD and decided to try a few brands such as HolistaPet.

Dosage With CBD Oil

HolistaPet only has one type of CBD oil available for dogs and cats. This is their CBD Pet Tincture.

This is available in 150, 300, and 600mg bottles. Here are the basic dosage guidelines for this product:

For small dogs (under 20lbs):

• Use the 150mg bottle
• 1 drop = 0.5mg of CBD
• Regular dose = 0.25mg X 1lb of body-weight

For medium dogs (20lbs – 60lbs):

• Use the 300mg bottle
• 1 drop = 1mg of CBD
• Regular dose = 0.25mg X 1lb of body-weight

For large dogs (60lbs and over):

• Use the 600mg bolttle
• 1 drop = 1mg of CBD
• Regular dose = 0.25mg X 1lb of body-weight

Don’t Let These Formulas Scare You

These guidelines might look a bit complicated at first, but they’re not.

If you have a small dog under 20lbs, you need less CBD, or a less potent oil. The 150mg tincture from HolistaPet is ideal.

For example, if you have a pet who weighs 6 pounds, here is the formula:

6lbs X 0.25mg = 1.5mg

1 drop is 0.5mg

You need 3 drops for a 6lbs dog.

Now, if you have a pet that weighs 40 pounds, you should use the 300mg or 600mg bottles. The potency is the same. 1 bottle is just double the size.

In this example the formula would be:

40lbs X 0.25mg = 10 drops

How to Give Your Dog CBD Oil

Ideally CBD oil should be administered directly into your pet’s mouth, ideally under their tongue.

As I’m sure you know, dog’s aren’t too keen on taking medicine, so this can be a little tricky for some.

However, be patient and remember that your pet may even get used to the routine of taking their CBD oil. Many pet owners have told me that their dogs love licking it up.

If you’re having trouble administering the liquid, however, consider rewarding your dog with his/her favorite treat after taking their meds. This works well with our dogs.

If that still doesn’t work, you may want to consider shifting to CBD capsules or CBD Treats, which are available in a variety of flavors.

Dosage With CBD Capsules

HolistaPet offers a basic line of CBD capsules for dogs and cats.

It comes in the same bottle sizes of their oil: 150, 300 and 600mg bottles.

The same formula applies with capsules:

A regular dose is 0.25mg X 1lb of body-weight.

Each bottle size comes with 30 capsules. The capsules contain different mg of CBD:

• 150mg bottle: 1 capsule = 5mg of CBD
• 300mg bottle: 1 capsule = 10mg of CBD
• 600mg bottle: 1 capsule = 20mg of CBD

So if your dog weights 40 pounds the regular dose would be:

40lbs X 0.25mg = 10mg of CBD

The dose would be 1 capsule from the 300mg bottle.

How to Administer CBD Capsules for Dogs

Capsules are a little easier to administer than CBD oil.

You can either open the capsule and mix its contents with your pet’s regular food or wrap the entire capsule in a treat or pill pocket.

Either way, just make sure your pet receives the entire contents of the capsule to ensure a proper dose.

Dosage With CBD Treats

HolistaPet also has 3 flavors of dog treats containing CBD.

Each bag comes with about 30 treats. Each treat contains 5mg of CBD.

Here are the basic dosage guidelines using these treats:

• 1 treat = 5 mg CBD
• 0.25mg X 1lb body-weight

If your pet weighs 20 pounds here is the formula: 0.25mg X 20lbs = 5mg

A 20lbs dog should get 1 treat per day for a regular dose.