How Much CBD Can You Give to Your Dog for Pain Relief? – With different brands, CBD concentration, and quality of products, it can get confusing to understand the proper CBD dosage for dogs. If your dog is suffering from pain, full-spectrum CBD products are a safe and natural alternative to provide them relief.
There have been veterinary studies conducted where CBD significantly decreased pain and improved mobility among animals. However, several factors like regular vet checkups, having reliable pet insurance, and constant exercise can help keep your pet healthy and happy. If your vet has recommended CBD for your pet, it is crucial to know how to determine the appropriate dosage. This article will take you through dosage aspects and the best ways to include this compound in your pet’s diet.
How to Understand the Right CBD Dosage for Dogs?
Every dog’s health and lifestyle are different. Thus, giving the same CBD dosage does not help alleviate their issues.
The common belief in the market is that a dog’s weight and size are the two factors that decide the right dosage. Weight and size are important, but you should also look into other factors like:
- Age
- Metabolism
- Lifestyle (active/laid-back)
- Endocannabinoid system
- Underlying health issues
Depending on the brand, CBD oil for pets come with appropriate dosage instructions that you must follow as the amount of CBD concentration. For example, 1 ml of oil may contain 9 mg of CBD, whereas another product may contain 4 mg in 1 ml. In such a case, the amount of oil you use will also vary.
How to Administer CBD to Dogs?
Oral consumption is the most effective method of using CBD. For example, you could place CBD oil on your dog’s gums using a dropper. The tissue around the gums is sensitive and helps with the quick absorption of the product from where it enters the bloodstream.
If your dog gets fussy, you can add the oil to their food. The method works, but it is comparatively less effective. This is because the oil mixed with food has to pass through the digestive process. Depending on the dog’s metabolism, it might take 1 to 2 hours. The amount of CBD that reaches the bloodstream also reduces.
If your dog refuses the oil in oral or food form, you could try rubbing the oil on their skin. However, dropping oil on their fur will not deliver desired results; thus, get it as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
What are the Best Practices for CBD Dosage?
If you are new to CBD, you could start with 0.2 mg per pound of your dog’s weight. This is just a number to get you started with your dog’s treatment. Then, as your pet gets comfortable with the new product, you could steadily increase the dosage to meet their needs.
You can keep track of the treatment plan by noting the dosage given and your pet’s reaction to it. This is important because dogs with the same weight can react differently to CBD, depending on their sensitivity level. Thus, keeping a journal helps with understanding the proper CBD dosage.
You could also break down one dose into microdoses. For example, instead of giving 9 mg of CBD in one dose, you could break it down into 3 doses of 3 mg for the day. CBD tends to remain in a dog’s bloodstream for 6 to 8 hours. By giving them small quantities, you ensure the concentration remains at a consistent level throughout the day.
When determining the CBD dosage for dogs, take into account all the factors mentioned above. Start with a small dose and note down your dog’s behaviour. As they get comfortable, you can increase the amount till you reach a stable dose. The trial and error method works best here as each dog is unique. Also, remember consistency is critical when it comes to deriving optimal results from CBD.
