Medically speaking, no. You can’t give your dog too much CBD.

While there are exceptions to every rule, cannabidiol (CBD) doesn’t interact with receptors in the brainstem, or areas controlling respiration. This means that lethal overdoses from cannabis, especially CBD extracts, are statistically nil.

At the same time, dogs can only absorb so much CBD, so giving them too much will be a waste.

Even in extremely large doses, pure CBD is unlikely to cause any serious symptoms. Any negative effects from large doses of CBD are likely to top-out in drowsiness, lethargy, upset stomach, and in some cases, diarrhea.

CBD Oil Dropper

From your dog’s perspective, however, the answer is likely, yes—they do have an upper tolerance for CBD dosage.

Beyond a certain level, dogs may begin to feel sluggish, sleepy, nauseous, and generally off-color.

So while too much CBD isn’t going to hurt your pet in the same way that too many painkillers might, it’s important to start low, go slowly when increasing your dose, and work up to a CBD dosage that most benefits your pet’s quality of life.

That’s the most important piece of information in this article, so feel free to stop here!

If you’re querying the upper limits of CBD dosing, it’s likely you’ll benefit from some info on exactly how CBD functions inside the body at high concentrations, as well as advice on dosing practices according to size, breed, and intended use. So, here’s a bunch of content on both of those topics!

What happens when your dog takes (loads of) CBD?

Say your dog gets into the CBD treats while you were at work, and scoffs the whole lot at once—what would happen? Here’s how huge intakes of CBD have been known to affect the body’s biology, as well as people’s subjective experiences.

The science

While studies on CBD’s effects on humans and dogs are still being consolidated, researchers generally agree that cannabidiol is a highly safe substance at almost any concentration. CBD interacts with dogs through the endocannabinoid system, a series of receptors found throughout the body that deals in cannabinoids—molecules found in CBD and produced naturally, which affect bodily homeostasis, reduce inflammation, and induce relaxation.

The exact manner in which CBD interacts with endocannabinoid receptors is still unknown, though some believe CBD inhibits the degradation of a natural cannabinoid called anandamide. Others point to antioxidizing properties or an as yet unknown set of cannabinoid receptors.

However, we know CBD functions molecularly, flooding the body with cannabidiol is unlikely to affect the endocannabinoid system. When amounts of CBD exceed usable levels, the compound is simply flushed from the body, causing some of the mildly unpleasant symptoms listed in the next section.

What your dog is likely to experience

First up, there are few (and minor) side effects for dogs taking CBD oil. Obviously, eating a whole bag of treats or a bottle of oil is not a recipe for a happy stomach, so your dog is likely to feel pretty ill from ingesting large amounts of CBD all at once, especially at the beginning of a CBD regimen.

Aside from that, CBD is a non-toxic, non-psychoactive cannabis derivative, meaning it’s not going to produce any kind of upsetting high or psychedelic effect. Nevertheless, at intense concentrations, CBD may produce some unwanted reactions. If your dog does develop symptoms, they’re likely to include:

  • Lethargy
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Vomiting
  • Ataxia (coordination issues / drunkenness)
  • Hyperesthesia (hyper-sensitivity / overwhelming sensations)

Given the current research on CBD’s astronomical upper toxicity limits, many believe these symptoms actually derive from impurities in CBD products, rather than the CBD itself. Another possibility for these symptoms could be an intolerance to the carrier oil used with the CBD – MCT oil, for example, can cause temporary gastrointestinal issues in some.

For now, CBD remains a federally unapproved ingredient in pet products, meaning there’s little oversight of its production. So, careful purchasing choices are essential in making sure no unwanted or potentially harmful ingredients have been used in the production of your dog’s CBD.

Again, serious cases of these symptoms are unlikely, but the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center has reported an increase in calls about CBD and other cannabis consumption by dogs. If your dog is showing any signs of illness following an overly large dose of CBD, always take them immediately to the vet. They may require IV fluids, antiemetics, or specialist nursing care.

Is there such a thing as a CBD overdose?

While there may not be such a thing as a clinically defined ‘CBD overdose’, there definitely is such as thing as taking too much CBD for your intended purpose. When it comes to cannabidiol, it’s definitely not ‘the more, the better’ route.

Other derivates of the cannabis plant can be toxic to dogs. THC (marijuana’s main psychoactive component) should never be given to dogs, as even small doses may cause feelings of confusion, anxiety, or paranoia. So while CBD by itself is safe and well-tolerated, be sure that your CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC.

**Buying Guide** All our product recommendations on cbdoilfordogs.com have been third-party tested and are safe for dogs. Here are our top CBD oils for dogs based on CBD quality, accuracy, and dog owner testimonials.

What’s the recommended dosage of CBD for dogs?

Because it’s not a pharmaceutical drug, recommended dosages of CBD mostly come from product manufacturers and anecdotal reports, rather than laboratory tests. When it comes to the safety and side effects of CBD for dogs, toxicity only begins to occur when given intravenously at extremely high levels—far more than any dog could consume at once (unless maybe they’re let loose in a CBD warehouse.)

Our dosage guide recommends basing your dog’s dosing on three factors:

  • 1. The potency of the CBD oil, treat, or capsule

  • 2. The size and weight of your dog
  • 3. Which ailment or behavioral issue you plan on treating.

When starting out, it’s recommended to give between 0.25 to 0.5 mg of CBD oil per pound of your dog’s body weight. This means for a 50 lbs. dog, start with 25 mg of CBD per day and gradually increase the dosage from if necessary.

One thing to note is that when experimenting to find the dose that works, it’s important to wait about a week before increasing the dose again, giving the body time to adjust to the new level of CBD, as well as giving you time to observe your pup for any changes.

How much CBD should I give my dog for:

Pain?

Dogs aren’t great at showing us when they’re in pain, especially when they’re enduring chronic rather than acute conditions. This leaves owners to judge improvements or deteriorations in pain levels based on behavioral changes—how dogs walk, sit, stand, and interact with others.

Dosing should again start small, but be prepared to increase more dramatically until you see signs of pain easing. Dogs with chronic conditions are more likely to already be taking courses of medication, meaning that a conversation with your vet is a good idea if you plan to introduce CBD for dogs in pain as an additional element of their treatment plan.

Anxiety?

With those general recommendations in mind, owners can begin to tailor a CBD dosage that works specifically for their pup, and any disorders they’re aiming to improve.

For anxiety, a low consistent dose is normally best, particularly when given at a strategic time. A good option is to introduce CBD for anxious dogs around thirty minutes before an anxiety trigger, such as leaving the house for the day. Keep the dosage steady for around a week, to see if the CBD has any calming effect. If not, give your dog a little more and repeat.

Seizures?

As said earlier, dosing for disorders such as fits and convulsions tends to be much higher than for things like generalized anxiety. Why? It’s not exactly clear, but we do know that studies have found a significant association between CBD’s ability to reduce seizures and the concentration of CBD in a dog’s blood.

Summary

In humans and dogs, scientific research has yet to pinpoint a clear limit for how much CBD counts as too much. Currently, no dosage has been identified as hazardous, meaning that it’s not possible to conclusively rule out toxicity from very high CBD dosages in dogs.

That said, CBD has now been used by large numbers of dogs for a relatively long time, without suggestions of harmful effects. As the scientific body of research tries to catch up with mainstream usage, expect to see confirmation of the safety of responsible CBD use in the very near future.