With the increasing shift towards natural wellness aids, CBD products have become a top choice for pet parents. They are made from organic ingredients, don’t have any major side effects, and provide holistic relief.
However, choosing the best CBD oil for dogs can be confusing because of the sheer number of brands available in the market. Plus, new pet owners often struggle to determine how much CBD is required to relax their dogs.
Despite all this dilemma, the CBD market for pet products is expected to grow with a CAGR of 32% between 2024 and 2030. So whether you are a new dog owner looking for appropriate dosing guidelines or someone trying to shift to a new brand, this article is all you need to read.
How much CBD is enough to relax your dog?
Just like humans, all dogs have different body chemistry and physiology, so the exact dosage can vary from one dog to another. Still, there’s a baseline you can follow to get started. As per some studies and multiple anecdotal reports, it’s said that 1mg-2mg CBD per kg of body weight is enough to relax your dog.
That’s why heavy and senior dogs may require more CBD for similar conditions than young dogs. Almost all CBD brands follow bodyweight criteria to draw dosage charts on their product package. Let’s say your dog weighs around 15kg, so the ideal dosage will be 15mg-30mg per day.
Make sure to read how much CBD per ml is there in the body, this number can be quite different between brands. There is also the risk of mislabeling in the CBD industry due to a lack of regulations. Many brands have a higher or lower amount of actual cannabinoids than what’s written on the label.
That’s why you must try to buy CBD for your dog only from reputed brands that provide the latest reports of the most recent batches. Also, this is just a starting guideline. For more severe pain and anxiety you may have to increase the dosage.
Just keep an eye on how your dog is reacting, give their body time to adjust to the new compound, and then gradually increase or decrease the dosage over time.
How many times should you give CBD to your dog?
Now that we’ve figured out dosing, it’s only natural to wonder about the frequency of dosing. As per experts, the best results can be achieved when you give your dogs CBD twice a day.
But it’s not a hard and fast rule, you can adapt as per the specific condition.
For example, if you have a vet visit planned, or there’s a chance of thunderstorms and loud noises, then you can give extra CBD than usual a few minutes in advance. For everyday stuff like mobility issues, separation anxiety, recovery from over-exertion, and sleep troubles, you can stick to it twice a day.
There’s no one perfect way to determine this, whatever split you choose, just make sure to not over exceed the limit. Keep an exact count of how much CBD you’ve given to your dog in a day.
Take note of their behavior, energy levels, sleep patterns, mobility, and general response. Accidental overdosing can lead to extreme lethargy, restlessness, and upset stomach. It’s best to get in touch with a vet as soon as possible in such conditions.
What are the best ways to give CBD to my dog?
There are many ways in which you can incorporate CBD into your dog’s wellness routine. Some dogs are picky about their food habits, and some may not like to be held, so based on their nature you can try the following methods :
- Mix it in their food bowl: This is the most simple and straightforward method. Just put a few drops of CBD oil in your dog’s dry/wet food. If your dog is picky about scents, you can go with unflavored options. If your dog prefers tasty stuff, you can opt for peanut butter or salmon-flavored oils. You can also incorporate CBD treats instead of oil for slow release and strengthening their gums.
- Massage it on gums: Now this is for daring pet parents. If your dogs allow you to put your hand in their mouth, you can massage their gums with CBD oil. This will allow the oil to absorb much faster than ingesting because CBD directly gets mixed in the bloodstream through the mouth’s mucous membranes and blood capillaries. It’s a bit risky, but worth it, especially if a sudden stressful situation arises.
- Ear, skin, and belly: If your dog is picky about CBD in food or gets aggressive when you rib their gums, it’s best to opt for external massage with CBD oil. You can rub it on soft skin on the inner part of the ear, rub it on the belly, or massage the whole nonhairy part of the body with it.
This topical method is not very economical though, and effects can take quite long to kick in, but it’s worth it for overall effects your dogs will enjoy over time. Plus, CBD can help with skin infections, dryness, and patchy spots and may also improve your dog’s fur quality.
The End Note
To sum it up, CBD can do wonders for your dog’s overall well-being. The exact amount of CBD required to relax a dog is dependent on individual body chemistry, weight, tolerance, activity levels, and overall health condition.
Still, to get started you can go with 1-2mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight. Not only can it help dogs to stay calm during travel, thunderstorms, or environmental change, but can also improve their mobility, gut health, and sleep patterns.
The key is to start a routine and stick with it, you may not see results overnight, but in a week or two you’ll see significant positive change in your dog’s overall wellness. So be careful, take notes, and try to buy CBD oil for your dog only from reputed and well-tested brands like Colorado Botanicals.