CBD Oil Dosage Guide for Dogs [With Chart & Calculator]

While CBD has a laundry list of benefits for dogs, determining how much you should give your furry friend can be pretty confusing. CBD pet products – especially CBD oil – come in many strengths, and different companies offer different directions. 

We’re here to clear things up. How much CBD should you give your dog?

Our rule of thumb is to give your dog 2mg of CBD for every 10 pounds of body weight. 

However, this is just a starting dose – many clinical trials have used significantly larger weight-based doses. Still, by starting small and adjusting from there, you can find your dog’s perfect dosage without overwhelming them with an overly large amount of CBD the first time. 

But there are other factors that play into determining your dog’s ideal CBD dosage. In this guide, we’re diving deep and covering everything you need to know about CBD dosage for dogs. 

Want to quickly calculate your dog’s CBD dosage? Use our calculator below:

Benefits of CBD for Dogs

One of the main factors influencing your dog’s CBD dose is the reason you’re giving it to them. 

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

• Anxiety & aggression: CBD has calming properties that may help dogs with separation anxiety, travel anxiety, fear of loud noises, and aggressive behaviors. In one study, CBD reduced aggressive behavior in shelter dogs [1].
• Inflammation and pain: Research suggests CBD may have anti-inflammatory benefits for dogs [2]. Anecdotally, our customers frequently use CBD with their dogs for pain and arthritis. 
• 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.
• 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 [3]. 
• Appetite: CBD may support your dog’s appetite by addressing situations that make your dog not want to eat, such as pain and anxiety.

How to Dose CBD for Your Dog: Steps for Success

There are three main steps to dosing CBD for your dog:

1. Calculate their dosage

You can do this using the calculator, chart, and formulas we provide in this article. 

Several factors will influence your dog’s dosage, namely, your dog’s body weight and the reason you’re giving them CBD. 

Contrary to the advice that some companies give, weight does matter when giving your dog CBD. It’s not just that it makes intuitive sense to us pet parents; most formal clinical research on CBD for dogs uses weight-based dosing. 

Your dog’s unique situation will also influence their dosage, but this can’t be easily accounted for in a dosage formula. As a result, dosing will always require some trial and error. 

2. Choose a product

There are several types of CBD products available for dogs, the most common being CBD oil. 

Each has its own dosing considerations which you’ll need to account for (we discuss them in more depth further down). 

3. Administer and adjust accordingly

Once you determine your dog’s ideal CBD dosage and choose a product, you can begin giving your dog the CBD. Typically, you’ll need to give your dog CBD daily for at least 2 weeks to begin seeing real results (see further down for dosing tips). 

CBD Dosage for Dogs by Use

The amount of CBD you give your dog will depend in part on why you’re giving it to them. Here are CBD dosage formulas that provide good starting places for different scenarios:

Anxiety, aggression, and fear of loud noises

For anxiety and aggression, your dog should take a high-strength dosage of CBD, which can be calculated using this formula:

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

For one-off situations, you can use the formula above. However, be sure to give your dog CBD for several days before the stressor to allow it time to begin working (e.g. if your dog is scared of 4th of July fireworks, begin the daily doses on June 30th). 

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 to start:

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

Pain & inflammation

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

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

Epilepsy

For epilepsy, 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.

To support your dog’s general wellness, you can use the following formula:

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

Cancer

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

To support your dog’s general wellness, you can use the following formula:

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

CBD Dosage Chart for Dogs

Types of CBD Products for Dogs

There are several types of CBD products for dogs – here’s a bit about each:

CBD oil

Oils consist of carrier oil (usually MCT oil or hempseed oil), CBD extract, and for pets, sometimes flavoring. 

CBD oil is a versatile delivery method for dogs because it gives you the ability to customize their 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 treats

Dogs love the taste of CBD-infused pet treats, which are typically made with a vegetables and meat base along with the hemp extract. This makes treats an easy CBD delivery method for dogs. 

Treats are also fixed-dose, meaning each piece will contain the same amount of CBD. This eliminates needing to measure their dose each time, but it also means you need to find a treat with the appropriate dose of CBD in each piece.

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.

CBD Oil Dosage 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 CBD oil = 3.3mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

250mg CBD oil = 8.3mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

500mg CBD oil = 16.7mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

1000mg CBD oil = 33.3mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

1500mg CBD oil = 50mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

3000mg CBD oil = 100m CBD per 1 ml. dropper

5000mg CBD oil = 166.6mg CBD per 1 ml. dropper

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

CBD Dosing Tips for Dogs

To see the best results with CBD for your dog, keep these tips in mind:

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 situation, but they’ll be able to provide usage recommendations. 

Note, however, that in some states, vets can’t discuss CBD as a treatment due to legal restrictions.

Split your dog’s dosage

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.

Be consistent

CBD doesn’t work instantly for either humans or animals. In most cases, you’ll need to give your dog CBD for at least 3-5 days to see any effect, and the best results come after 2 weeks of consistent use. Make sure you’re through the “trial period” before you evaluate the results. 

Experiment, experiment, 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 1 mg of CBD from your dog’s dose, noting how they react, until you land on the right amount.

What If CBD Isn’t Working for My Dog?

You had high hopes for CBD, but you give it to your dog and 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, then gradually adjust, to ensure 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, and is ideally a CBD product made specifically for dogs. 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: How Much CBD Should You Give Your Dog?

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!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching. Bookmark our Black Friday CBD Deals page to get the best prices on our pet products when the time comes!

CBD Dosage for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about CBD dosage for dogs.

Can I give my dog too much CBD?

Dogs can “overdose” on CBD, but it’s not fatal. Instead, they may experience effects such as vomiting, excessive drooling, prolonged lack of energy, imbalance, and shaking.

How soon will CBD begin working for my dog?

Once you’ve given your dog their dose of CBD, they should feel the effects in 30 minutes to an hour. However, although effect onset is quick, it takes 1-2 weeks for CBD to begin rendering its full therapeutic benefit.

Do vets recommend CBD for dogs?

Some veterinarians recommend CBD for dogs, while others don’t. We recommend asking your dog’s vet about CBD before you try it. Be advised that some veterinarians cannot recommend CBD due to state laws. 

Is dog CBD the same as human CBD?

Yes, the CBD extract used in products made for dogs is of the same quality as that used for human products. However, pet products typically have added flavoring that you won’t find in those made for humans.

What are the side effects of CBD in dogs?

Although CBD is generally well-tolerated by dogs, it may cause a few adverse effects, such as dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, and drowsiness. 

These side effects aren’t dangerous; if your dog exhibits any of them, simply lower their dose..

Sources

[1] Corsetti, Sara et al. “Cannabis sativa L. may reduce aggressive behaviour towards humans in shelter dogs.” Scientific reports vol. 11,1 2773. 2 Feb. 2021, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82439-2

[2] Gugliandolo, Enrico et al. “Effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Canine Inflammatory Response: An Ex Vivo Study on LPS Stimulated Whole Blood.” Veterinary sciences vol. 8,9 185. 4 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3390/vetsci8090185

[3] Potschka, Heidrun et al. “Cannabidiol in canine epilepsy.” Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) vol. 290 (2022): 105913. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105913