CBD for dogs has a myriad of benefits for your canine companion, but those benefits can only be experienced if you use the appropriate serving size. So that leads many pet owners to ask, what is the right CBD dose for dogs?
This is determined primarily by your dog’s weight, but other factors like breed and lifestyle will help you find the perfect regimen for your pet. Once you understand exactly why the CBD serving size is important, finding the right amount for your dog is an easy, six-step process.
What Is the Right CBD Dose for My Dog?
How much CBD you give to your dog daily is crucial to ensure your pet is getting all the benefits of this wellness support resource. If you don’t use a large enough CBD dose for your dog, they won’t experience all the advantages, and if you give them too much, they might feel lethargic or seem sluggish.
The Right Dose of CBD for Dogs Works Best
Your dog experiences the most benefits of CBD when they are given the appropriate serving size. As with so many things in life, balance is key.
The appropriate CBD dose for dogs will depend on their personal physiology, which includes their size, lifestyle habits, activity level, personality, breed, and other factors. Products and companies can give you suggestions for how much to give to your dog, but you have to put in the time and effort to discover the perfect regimen for you and your beloved furry friend.
Not Enough CBD and Your Dog Won’t Experience Benefits
If you give your dog a serving size of CBD that is too small for them, they may not experience all the benefits. Using a serving size that is too small defeats the purpose of using CBD at all! The whole point of incorporating this wellness resource into your dog’s daily routine is so they experience comfort, sleep support, relaxation, and other health maintenance outcomes.
Too Much May Cause Undesirable Side Effects
Alternatively, if you use a CBD dose that is too large for your dog’s size, they might have some side effects such as lethargy or sluggishness. You want your pooch to be energized and ready to approach their day with a great attitude, and giving them too much CBD might make playtime less fun.
How to Find the Perfect CBD Dose for Dogs
With six easy steps, you’re only a few weeks away from having your pooch experiencing the impressive power of the hemp plant. Here’s what you need to do to find out what dose of CBD to use for your dog:
- Read the labels
- Start with the recommended amount
- Monitor your dog closely
- Be consistent for 30 days
- Adapt the dose as needed
- Consult your veterinarian
The Label on the Dog CBD Product Should Have Detailed Instructions
When you purchase any type of CBD for dogs, the product should come with a detailed label that explains proper dosage instructions. The first step in finding your dog’s perfect serving size is reading the label on the product you’ll be using.
The label instructions will relate to a weight range for your pet. For example, the label on our 300 mg jar of calming CBD for dogs suggests one treat per day for a dog that weighs between 25 and 50 pounds.
Always Start with the Smallest Appropriate Amount
You should always start with the smallest suggested CBD dose listed on the package. Even if your dog is on the higher end of the weight range, stick with that amount to start and see how it goes.
You can always add more, but you don’t want to give your dog too much at the very beginning. You might be surprised to find your dog experiences the benefits pretty quickly, even with the smallest recommended dose.
Monitor Your Dog Closely After Starting a CBD Regimen
Because your dog can’t tell you how they feel, you’ll need to watch them very carefully after starting a new wellness regimen. Your anecdotal assessment is the only way to know how CBD is affecting your pet. Look for subtle signs that your pet is experiencing the wellness benefits by maintaining his or her calm, content demeanor in the face of things that might otherwise stress him out, such as separation from you or the noise of a thunderstorm. These signs are an indicator that you’ve found the right CBD dose for your dog.
Give Your Dog the Same Amount for 30 Days
CBD builds up in your dog’s system over time, so it’s unlikely your pet will see immediate benefits the day they start taking CBD. But that doesn’t mean you should increase their serving size because you don’t see an immediate wellness advantage. You need to allow time for the CBD to build up in your pet’s body so it can have the intended impact. Once you’ve chosen a serving size, stick with it for at least 30 days before making any changes.
Adapt the Amount If You Don’t See the Benefits
If you don’t feel the CBD has supported your pet’s wellness after 30 days, you might not have found the right CBD dose for your dog and you may need to increase the amount you’re giving to them. This should be a small, incremental change, and the new amount should also be delivered consistently for another 30 days to see how it impacts your pooch.
Consult Your Veterinarian
Your veterinarian is a valuable resource and should be consulted when you make significant changes to your pet’s wellness routine, including the addition of CBD, especially if your pet is on any medications. If you are thinking of increasing your dog’s daily serving size of CBD, consult your veterinarian about your plans. Just remember that veterinarians are legally limited in what they can say about CBD for dogs.
Other Considerations When Deciding How Much CBD to Give Your Dog
When choosing the right serving size of CBD oil for dogs, you need to consider a few other factors to ensure your dog is getting exactly the same amount every day. Other elements that will play into your dog’s daily wellness regimen include:
- Strength or concentration of the product
- How it’s delivered (treats, soft chews, oil)
- Whether your dog is consuming all of their CBD or hiding it for later
Always Know the Strength of Your CBD Product
Different products have different amounts of CBD oil for dogs in each serving. You can’t assume that a dropper of oil for dogs always delivers the same dose to your dog. A product intended for a larger canine will have a higher concentration than a product designed for a smaller pet.
For example, if you have a 150 mg jar of our CBD hip and joint chews for dogs, each of the 30 chews will deliver about 5 mg of CBD. But with the 600 mg jar, each chew will have about 20 mg of CBD. So the strength of the product you’re using will be an important factor in determining how much to give to your pet.
Consider the Delivery Method of Your Dog’s CBD
When it comes to the serving size in dog CBD, what is most important is that your canine is getting the same total amount daily. This might mean you give it all to them at breakfast or a little at breakfast and the rest at dinner. Or maybe they get their daily serving in two tasty, turkey-flavored calming dog treats right before bedtime. Or maybe they get a crunchy peanut butter treat in the morning and the rest of their CBD serving as a drizzle of oil over their dinner.
That’s one of the great things about CBD oil for dogs: with plenty of products to choose from and a variety of ways to deliver CBD to your pet, you can find what works for you. Whatever you choose, you will need to consider the individual strength of each product you’re giving to your pet over the course of the day to ensure it totals out to the perfect CBD dose for your dog.
Watch Closely for Unfinished Food or Hidden Treats
Most dogs will scarf down their food quickly, especially if it’s coated in some delicious peanut butter-flavored CBD oil for dogs. Likewise, our crunchy CBD treats for dogs come in flavors like baked cheese or peanut butter, making them likely to disappear quickly, with no crumbs left behind!
While it’s unusual for dogs not to consume all of their food or treats, it’s still important to keep an eye out to see if they are storing away anything for later. You want to be sure your pet is consuming all of their CBD in front of you, so you know exactly how much they’re getting.
This is important because if your dog is hiding away some of their CBD treats, they might end up consuming too much on a given day when they return to their stash. Or, if they aren’t quite finishing their CBD-infused dinner, you might not see the benefits you want for your pet because they aren’t getting their full serving size.
The Right CBD Dose for Dogs Will Be Unique for Your Pet
You are the only person who can figure out the right CBD dose for your dog and answer the question of how much you should use. You know your pet better than anyone. You know their favorite blanket, their favorite treats, and that special spot where they love to be scratched. So it makes sense that you would be the pro when deciding how much CBD they need to stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next adventure. Use these tips and instructions along with your unique knowledge of your pet to find the best daily regimen for your furry best friend.
