CBD (or cannabidiol) is a compound found in hemp and cannabis. Choosing the right CBD for your canine friend can be a confusing prospect. Firstly, the dosing guidelines from each company can vary wildly due to the various levels of CBD concentration in the oils produced.
There can also be a difference in dosage depending on which condition you’re attempting to treat. Higher doses, for example, are often recommended for serious health conditions, with lower doses recommended for general well-being or occasional anxiety. Of course, you also need to account for your dog’s underlying health issues and weight.
With no regulated doses or standard guidelines available, it can be difficult to know the amount of CBD you should give your dog. Here are some ways you can work out the amount of CBD oil you should give your faithful friend, including using a calculator. You should always check the recommended amounts on the packaging of any products you buy, however.
The first thing I would suggest you do is start small before easing into the dosing guidelines provided by the manufacturer for their individual products. A company that formulates its own high-quality CBD usually provides detailed instructions on how their products should be dosed. That isn’t the case with every company, however. So it can help to know how optimal CBD doses are calculated.
Calculating the Dose
If you intend to use CBD oil for medical purposes like easing seizures or treating arthritis, here’s a way to calculate an effective and safe dosage. The first thing you need to calculate is an approximate number of milligrams of CBD you should give your dog based on his weight. A safe guideline to think with is 0.2mg of CBD per lb. So you’d give a 25lb dog 5mg of CBD, for example.
Then you should calculate the amount of CBD you should give your dog based on the milligrams in each millimeter of oil. This depends on the strength of the formula you’re using.
So, if your pet weighs 25lbs and he needs 5mg of CBD, he should be given 2ml of the 75mg formula, for example. Small pets shouldn’t be given the 600mg formula, as administering 0.25ml with the oral syringe provided by most companies is difficult and could cause for an accidental overdose.
If you’re giving CBD oil to your dog for its general well-being, it may not need the higher dosage level. You could always reduce the level if you wanted to.
CBD Dog Treats
If you buy CBD treats for your dog from a company with a strong reputation, they’ll provide you with suggestions for serving sizes based on his weight. You can use the above calculation method to figure out how many treats will work for your dog.
The Best CBD Treats and Oil
Finding the right medication dosage is vital for your dog, as their systems are more sensitive than their human counterparts. The good news, however, is that CBD isn’t toxic, as long as it’s a high-quality product. There also seems to be a lack of harmful side-effects when using this remedy, even when used regularly.
Potential Side Effects
While no scientific data exists on the side effects for dogs, based on how humans are affected by CBD, side effects are still possible. To minimize the potential of any occurring in your pet, follow the proper dosage. These are three possible side effects you should look out for:
Drowsiness: CBD has been used to treat anxiety in dogs. Its calming effect can also result in slight drowsiness, especially with higher doses.
Reduced blood pressure: High CBD doses have resulted in a temporary reduction in blood pressure. While the reduction is low, it could result in a brief light-headedness feeling.
Dry mouth: Studies have revealed that CBD can reduce saliva production. This would manifest in dogs as increased thirst.
The Risks
The risks and safety of CBD of dogs have yet to be researched. The FDA hasn’t approved it and hasn’t published a dosage chart for it either. So it’s difficult to know at what level of dosage would be toxic. Any supplement or medication comes with a risk of reaction. When giving your dog something new, you would be wise to start with a small amount and closely monitor him for effects. Always speak to your veterinarian about it first.
