What is CBD for Dog’s?
Disclaimer: The information provided in our articles is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It is essential to consult with a veterinarian before starting any CBD products for your dog’s health and well-being.
- Trials reveal that mg CBD oil dosages can affect the metabolism of medications through liver enzymes. Therefore, it can affect prescription medications.
- There is no conclusive data backed by scientific research that CBD reduces pain in dogs other than dog owners claiming it does (based on AKC’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jerry Klein).
What we know from a limited but promising university trial is that:
- 80% of dogs experienced reduced osteoarthritis pain in a Cornell University test sample.
- Colorado University found evidence that CBD helps reduce seizure events when used with a prescribed medication regime.
- An Australian CannPal study found that CBD helped with dermatologic allergies in 65% of CBD trial participants and found a 50% decrease in itching symptoms.
- Cornell University also found participants in an anxiety study showed a remarkable 83% decrease.
What Is the Right CBD Oil Dosage for My Dog?

CBD is not approved or regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but that doesn’t mean it can’t produce promising results. CBD oil may provide the desired solution, but relevant veterinary-approved information is vital. It’s how we shape our research in finding the right CBD products.
Starting Dosage: 2 mg CBD per 10 lbs
CBD dosage can be confusing since there is no FDA standard, and every CBD manufacturer uses their system and content levels. It’s essential to read the package dosage information carefully. Therefore, start with a small amount and watch your pet’s reaction.

To treat osteoarthritis, manage seizure events, or other health ailments, familiarize yourself with mg and ml measurements. Your local pharmacist can show you how to draw and read a syringe dropper.
Milligram is mg and milliliter is ml. These are standard metric measurements used in medicine. CBD for medicinal treatment requires knowing your pet’s weight in pounds.
Recommendations suggest 0.2 mg CBD per pound. For example, if you have a medium-sized dog weighing 30 lbs, you will administer 6 mg CBD. (30 X 0.2). Since most dogs don’t weigh precise amounts, try 27.5 lbs X 0.2mg = 5.5 mg CBD.
But that isn’t the end of the math. As each manufacturer uses their formula for how much mg CBD oil to use, concentrations vary. We’re using a standard 30 ml bottle guide.
- 120mg formula equals 4 mg CBD /ml
- 300mg formula equals 10 mg CBD /ml
- 600mg formula equals 20 mg CBD /ml
Since we determined a 25 lb dog needs 5 mg CBD tincture (as above), you will dose your pet like this:
- 1.25 ml concentration of the 120 mg CBD formula
- 0.5 ml concentration of the 300 mg CBD formula
- 0.25 ml concentration of the 600 mg CBD formula; however don’t use this concentration on small pets as it’s challenging to use
CBD is administered with drops from a dropper, often included with the oil purchase. How to give CBD oil to dogs can be daunting. Practice measuring how much CBD tincture to draw (use water) and get your dog used to accepting the dosage for dogs recommended on the CBD dosage chart. Some experts suggest that giving with food may diminish the mg CDB and slow absorption. https://worldanimalfoundation.org/calculators/dog-cbd-dosage.html
Use this dosage calculator for your convenience:
https://worldanimalfoundation.org/calculators/dog-cbd-dosage.html
Individualized Dosage for Safety

Know your dog and monitor their reaction. Use a journal to track the experience and behavior at the time. If you have more than one dog, use their weight, age, normal health conditions, and behavior as your guide.
Experts and veterinarians suggest starting with a small CBD amount and working your way up. Like people, pets have individual reactions to medications.
For Effective Evaluation, Stay Consistent
Like prescription medications, stay consistent in your mg CBD dosage and when you administer it. If you’re using CBD for dog arthritis, it’s vital to develop a routine. Arthritis can also be affected by other influences like cold, damp weather, and over or under-exercising, but CBD might help alleviate the pain symptoms.
Whether you’re using CBD to treat chronic conditions or as occasional relief from separation anxiety or fear from fireworks and thunderstorms, stay consistent, monitor, and adjust the mg CBD medication until you find that magic dosage.
Start by dosing CBD twice daily, anywhere from 4 to 8 hours between dosages, and get a solid foundation over a minimum three-day period.
Tip: Adjust the CBD dosing slowly by decreasing or increasing by half the mg CBD recommendations according to body weight.
Tips to Remember Before Giving CBD Oil to Dogs

We love our dogs, and when we support their health with CBD, we don’t do it lightly. CBD pet health research is in its infancy, but some pet owners have successfully used CBD oil for dogs with cancer to provide relief–not as a cure.
Dog’s Size and Weight
It’s vital to follow your CBD treatment provider’s dosing recommendations, but here is a quick guide you can use based on a dog’s weight.
- Miniatures and toy-sized dogs like Yorkies, Chihuahuas, or Havanese in the 5 to 10 lb range require 1 to 2 mg/dose.
- Smalls like Boston Terriers, Schnauzers, and Pugs weighing 15, 20, or 25 lbs need 3 mg, 4 mg, or 5 mg, respectively.
- Medium breeds like Beagles, Welsh Corgies, and Spaniels weighing 30, 40, and 50 lbs need 6 mg, 8 mg, and 10 mg, respectively.
- Large dogs like Boxers, Labs, and Vizslas weighing 60, 75, and 80 lbs need 12 mg, 15 mg, and 16 mg.
- Giant breeds like St. Bernards, Rottweilers, and Akitas weighing 100 to 150 lbs need 20 to 30 mg.
Since CBD products are safe, rounding the dosage up and down is okay.
Percentage/Potency of CBD in CBD Product
Since the CBD industry isn’t regulated, it’s important to understand the percentage and potency. Reputable providers will include easy-to-use guides and dosing recommendations.
Using the formulas we provided above, or 0.2 mg CBD per pet weight in pounds and the potency of the oil in each milliliter, you can dose the proper amount. If in doubt, check it out with your vet.
The Medical Condition You’re Treating
We recommend working with your veterinarian when treating any medical condition. CBD can affect the efficacy of prescription medications, but it can also help supplement and provide relief.
There are also other differences, like your pet’s age and the state of the health condition you’re treating. Does CBD help dogs with fireworks the same as CBD for hyper dogs? Yes and no. Treating a dog with a fear of fireworks might require a twice-yearly treatment, but a hyper dog might need daily assistance, as do pets with chronic conditions.
Vet visit
We can’t stress this enough, but a vet is your best accomplice in treating your pet with CBD. Schedule regular visits with your vet clinic and report any improvements or changes in weight, behavior, appetite, and mobility. Keeping a journal helps.
High-quality CBD Oil/Treat

Drops or gummy treats are fantastic ways to help your dog alleviate health conditions. But the internet is fraught with fly-by-night CBD providers that aren’t worth their salt.
Like having a good vet, choosing high-quality CBD products is essential. We also consider peer reviews of CBD dog treats and CBD oil bottle content for value. Soft chews are popular to give your dog as a treat and provide the right dose regardless of whether you need strong or smaller doses.
CBD Dose for Dogs

Calculating CBD Dose for Medical Purposes
CBD is a talking point. Pet owners perceive CBD as a safe cannabidiol method of treating pets. Since CBD is a non-psychoactive phenolic from hemp, it has shown positive outcomes for people and animals. Ongoing research is investigating the effects of CBD on stress signals that can help control chronic inflammation and pain responses.
The veterinary medical field suggests that short-term oral doses of up to 20mg/kg daily or a single oral dose of 62mg/kg are safe, based on findings published by the NIH. However, proving the efficacy of mg CBD in treating osteoarthritis or stress requires further investigation as previous studies didn’t reach the positive outcome pet owners and CBD producers suggested.