How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog

written by Holistic Hound, Berkeley, CA

As pet owners, we want our fur babies to feel their best. But when it comes to new supplements, finding the right dosage can be a bit of a guessing game. Because the CBD industry is still relatively new, official guidance involving the dosage of CBD oil for dogs is still undetermined. However, there are some general veterinarian-approved guidelines regarding CBD dosage for dogs.

Follow dosing instructions

Reputable companies provide recommended dosing instructions on the labels of their products. This is important because different companies specifically formulate their products, and the recommended dosage can vary from one product to another. Generally, the amount of CBD oil is calculated by mg per kg of body weight. So a dog that weighs less than 20 pounds will receive a smaller milligram amount of CBD than a dog that weighs 50 pounds or more. At Holistic Hound, our CBD oils  include an easy to measure dropper, allowing pet owners to administer the correct amount of CBD for their pup.

Dose gradually

According to the founder of Veterinary Cannabis Education and Consulting, Casara Andre, D.V.M. recommends caution when giving CBD to dogs. In fact, she refers to cannabis as an “individualized medicine”. That said, it’s important to start CBD oil slowly, at a low dosage, and then gradually increase it until you reach the desired effect. Additionally, Andre advises that CBD oils are -easier to dose and offer much more bioavailability than edible – bites?  However, edible CBD dog bites can be highly effective and convenient once you learn how well your pet tolerates CBD.

How often should I give my dog CBD oil?

Deciding how often CBD oil should be given to your dog is determined by how CBD oil affects them. Dogs who’ve never consumed CBD oil will definitely need to start out on the conservative scale of CBD dosing. For the most part, CBD oil is recommended to be administered twice daily based on the dog’s weight. However, dogs suffering from chronic pain and symptoms from debilitating conditions may need to take CBD oil more often.

Typically, administering CBD oil every 8 hours is suggested for dogs dealing with chronic conditions. Nevertheless, the most effective way to achieve how often you should use CBD oil for dogs is by increasing and decreasing the dose to see how well your dog reacts to it. Keep in mind that while it takes patience to determine how often you should give CBD oil to dogs, the safety profile of CBD is very promising.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a veterinarian at Colorado State University, pet owners reported no adverse side effects or behavioral effects regarding CBD for dogs. However, to be completely safe and accurate, the American Kennel Club has reported just a few rare side effects of CBD in dogs.

Rare side effects of CBD oil include:

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Lowered blood pressure

Thankfully, hemp-derived CBD is not toxic and it produces less side effects than prescription meds and over-the-counter drugs. While it’s true that CBD oil is well tolerated among its users, consulting with your veterinarian is a must to ensure no adverse reactions. Here at Holistic Hound, our non-intoxicating full spectrum CBD oil is veterinarian formulated, and can be administered once or twice daily, or as needed.

What are the benefits of CBD oil for dog anxiety?

Anxiety is one of the most common behavioral issues in dogs and if left untreated it could turn into a disorder that requires medical attention.

Anxiety in dogs is often triggered by life-changing events:

• Moving into a new place
• Traveling by plane or car
• Being introduced to new family members
• A change in their normal routine

From time to time, dogs will experience a form of stress-induced anxiety. However, each dog is affected differently from this issue. A study conducted on stress-induced mice suggests that CBD not only reduced their anxiety and stress but improved their overall emotional response as well. While this study was only conducted on mice, the calming effects of CBD is also found in humans.

In addition to life-changing events, pain and inflammation can also contribute to anxious behaviors. For example, epilepsy and arthritis can contribute to anxious symptoms, and the medications that are prescribed for these conditions may elevate these symptoms even more.

Additional studies

Although it may seem that CBD is a cure-all, it’s important to know that the scientific research surrounding CBD for dogs is scarce. However, there are a few studies that suggest CBD holds therapeutic benefits for dogs.

One study demonstrated that CBD helped reduce the pain associated with Osteoarthritic dogs. And in another study, CBD reduced the frequency of seizures in dogs suffering from intractable idiopathic epilepsy. While these studies help validate CBD’s therapeutic properties, more evidence is definitely needed. However, both of these studies do showcase that CBD helps in reducing pain and inflammation in dogs. At Holistic Hound, our customers rave over the dramatic improvements they see in their pets. And we believe the benefits of our CBD products speak for themselves through our customer reviews.

Is there a difference between hemp oil for dogs and CBD oil for dogs?

CBD companies are using the terms “CBD oil” and “hemp oil” interchangeably. Because there’s a lack of FDA regulation in the CBD industry, some CBD companies replace the term “CBD oil” with “hemp oil” to avoid complications with the FDA. Unfortunately, this causes a ton of confusion among consumers. Although hemp-derived CBD (which contains less than 0.3% THC) falls under FDA jurisdiction, CBD derived from marijuana (which contains much more than 0.3% THC) is still considered a Schedule I substance.

Technically speaking, CBD oil and hemp oil are actually one in the same. While google search results differentiate the two as being derived from different parts of the hemp plant, scientific research suggests that both contain phytonutrients and cannabinoids. On the other hand, hemp seed oil is in fact different from CBD oil, as it’s only derived from hemp seeds, not the entire plant.

To make things even more complicated, hemp seed oil can also be referred to as hemp oil. Confused yet? Don’t be. When you come across a CBD company that refers to their products as CBD oil for dogs or -hemp extract for dogs, they’re typically referring to cannabinoid-rich hemp-derived CBD oil for dogs.

Reputable CBD oil for dogs

The real concern is related to how CBD companies grow, extract, and formulate their CBD products. Reputable CBD companies will provide information on their growing practices, extraction processes, and formulation methods. Additionally, reputable companies will also always have their third party test results and Certificate of Analysis (COA) available for customers to view. This ensures that whatever is on the label of the finished product is accurate, consistent, safe, and of the highest quality.