Confused about how much CBD oil to give your dog? Well, you’re not alone. This is a common question pet parents ask, so we put together some quick tips to help.
The “biphasic response”
Dosing dogs with CBD can be difficult because of what is known as a “biphasic response”. This means that low dosages will generate a certain set of effects and address one specific set of clinical issues. At the same time, larger doses will produce a different set of effects and address another set of clinical issues.
Furthermore, very little research has been done on dosages for veterinary use, making it seem even more complicated. Fortunately, we do have good data available from animal studies and anecdotal evidence from veterinarians and pet parents alike.
What We Know About How Much CBD Oil to Give to Dogs
The amount of any type of CBD product you give to your dog will depend on two main factors:
- How much your dog weighs
- What you’re using the product for
Your Dog’s Weight
How much your dog weighs, is the most important starting point when determining a starting dosage for your dog. The general rule of thumb is the smaller your dog, the lower the effective starting dosage.
That is why the more reputable hemp CBD brands offer their products in a variety of potencies and strengths. They will provide options and dosage guides corresponding to weight or size categories. Always pick a product that corresponds with the weight and size of your dog.
What You’re Using if For
The second factor you need to take into account when deciding on a CBD dosage for your dog is what you are using it for.
If you give your dog a CBD product for dogs to help with general health and wellness, or as a preventative supplement, the product’s recommended dosage should be fine.
In contrast, if you are giving your dog CBD to help her recover from a serious injury, illness or disease, you should start with the recommended dosage. From there, you should steadily increase the amount of the product given until you see the desired results.
So, how much CBD oil should I give my dog?
Based on a few clinical studies, anecdotal evidence and the experience from veterinarians, we do know that it’s best to “start low and go slow”. A low CBD dosage for dogs is considered to be less than 0.5 mg CBD per kilogram of body weight per day.
The reason you want to start with small dosages, and steadily work your way up is that each animal will respond differently. A small portion of dogs may develop side effects even at these lower amounts. Similarly, because of the biphasic effect of CBD, your dog may simply just not need mega doses. In fact, veterinarians and dog owners have reported anecdotally that, CBD doses of between 5 and 40 times less than what is considered a large dose have proven to be just as effective for certain conditions.
If a small dose of CBD simply does not work, we recommended that you slowly increase this dose. Specifically, after 10 to 14 days increase the dose twofold every other week up to 2.0 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight per day. Continue until you’ve found a dosage that works for your dog.
How Much CBD Oil is Too Much for my Dog?
Many people worry about doing more harm than good by accidentally giving their dog too much CBD. Luckily the safety profile of hemp CBD for dogs is well documented. Fortunately, to date, there have been no known or documented overdoses reported in either humans or animals.
That said, in the event of an accidental overdose, you can rest assured that CBD is well tolerated. Even at very high dosages, the most common side effect of overconsumption is drowsiness. More serious side effects can include excessive itching or mild vomiting. However, with proper dosing and careful observation, these side effects are rare.
In the event that your dog does present with any of these symptoms, it’s best to stop using it immediately and consult with your vet.
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