How much CBD oil to give your dog is dependent on (1) their weight, (2) the specific ailment being treated, and (3) their experience with CBD.

Most published CBD for dog studies have used dosages around 1 mg of CBD per pound, but we recommend a starting dose of 0.25 to 0.5 mg of CBD per pound of your dog’s weight, and increasing from their if needed. While your dog’s dosage may need to gradually increase over time, some dog owners have seen major improvements even with these lower doses.

  • start with 0.25 – 0.5 mg of CBD per pound of your dogs body weight
  • gradually increase the dose if needed, up to a maximum dose of 4 mg / pound

Daily dosage guide when introducing CBD to your dog:

Size of dog Daily CBD dosage starting point
Small (10 lbs) 2.5 – 5 mg
Medium  (30 lbs) 7.5 – 15 mg
Large (60 lbs) 15 – 30 mg
Extra-large dogs (100 lbs +) 25 – 50+ mg

Dogs with anxiety or mild pain, for example, might need a lower dose than those with chronic pain or more severe health issues that might require a higher dose.

Can I give my dog too much CBD?

Overdosing is extremely rare (if not impossible) with CBD for dogs. A 2018 study examining CBD safety for dogs showed no cases of adverse effects when 8 mg/kg CBD (roughly 4 mg per pound) was administered.

*While overdosing is almost impossible, always monitor you pup’s behavior when administering a new supplement or medication, and consult with a veterinarian if any adverse reactions do occur.

man giving CBD oil to dog

CBD dosage by ailment (and daily costs breakdown)

Here we will go over the amount of CBD to give based on the most common canine conditions treated by CBD oil: anxiety, pain / arthritis, and seizures.

Also included is the daily costs for each dosage, comparing 3 popular brands: (1) Honest Paws 1000 mg CBD Oil, (2) Penelope’s Bloom 1000 mg CBD Oil, and (3) Charlotte’s Web 500 mg Hemp Drops for dogs.

How much CBD oil to give an anxious dog:

  • 0.25 mg/lbs for mild social anxiety
  • 0.5 mg/lbs for general anxiety
  • 1.0 mg/lbs for severe anxiety or panic attacks

Based on existing CBD for anxiety research (listed below), we recommend 0.25 to 1.0 mg of CBD per pound of their body weight, depending on the severity of their stress or anxiety. While no studies have been published on CBD and canine anxiety specifically, there have been several on both mice and rats.

One study tested social interaction test on rats using 1, 5, and 15 mg/kg doses of CBD, finding that 1 mg/kg (~0.5 mg per pound) resulted in the greatest increase in social interaction and anxiolytic effect (reduced anxiety).

Another study focused on panic-like behaviors in mice found that 3 mg/kg of CBD (~1.5 mg per pound) produced a panicolytic effect (reduced panic), saying “cannabidiol modulates the defensive behaviors evoked by the presence of threatening stimuli”.

For a 20 pound dog suffering from social anxiety, a single 10 mg daily dose of CBD should be administered.

Brand & size (mg CBD) Dropper amount CBD mg per day Daily cost
Honest Paws Calm 1000 mg 1/3 dropper ~10 mg $1.00
Penelope’s Bloom 1000 mg 1/3 dropper ~10 mg $0.80
Charlotte’s Web 510 mg 2/3 dropper ~10 mg $1.15

How much CBD oil to give a dog with arthritis or pain:

A 2018 study also published in the Frontiers of Veterinary Science showed that dogs suffering from osteoarthritis that were given 2 mg/kg twice per day for four weeks (~2 mg per pound daily) experienced a significant decrease in pain and an increase in activity levels.

For dogs suffering from arthritis or chronic pain, we recommended 1.5 mg of CBD per pound of their body weight, split into two daily doses of 0.75 mg per pound. So for a 20 pound dog with arthritis, administer 15 mg of CBD twice per day, totaling 30 mg per day.

Brand & size (mg CBD) Dropper amount CBD mg per day Daily cost
Honest Paws Mobility 1000 mg 1 full dropper ~30 mg $3.00
Penelope’s Bloom 1000 mg 1 full dropper ~30 mg $2.40
Charlotte’s Web 510 mg 2 full droppers ~30 mg $3.50

How much CBD oil to give a dog with seizures:

A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 89% of dogs that were given 2.5 mg/kg CBD (just over 1 mg per pound) twice a day saw a 89% reduction in seizures, compared to the placebo group.

So, a 20 pound dog suffering from seizures should be given two daily doses of 20 mg for a total of 40 mg of CBD per day.

Brand & size (mg CBD) Dropper amount CBD mg per day Daily cost
Honest Paws Well 1000 mg 1.3 dropper ~40 mg $4.00
Penelope’s Bloom 1000 mg 1.3 dropper ~40 mg $3.20
Charlotte’s Web 510 mg 2.5 full droppers ~40 mg $4.75

How often should I give my dog CBD?

Frequency of CBD oil administration may vary based on the specific issue you’re addressing and your dog’s individual response to the supplement. Here are some general suggestions:

  • For anxiety: daily or on an as-needed basis, depending on the severity and form of your dog’s anxiety. If your dog experiences situational anxiety (e.g., from loud noises or unfamiliar situations), you can administer CBD oil 30-60 minutes before the anticipated event. For dogs with general anxiety, daily administration at the same time each day might be more effective.

  • For pain-relief & arthritis: daily or twice per day for dogs suffering chronic pain, such as arthritis or joint pain. You should adjust the dosage or frequency based on your dog’s response and the severity of their pain. For acute pain, such as post-surgery or injury, you can administer CBD oil on an as-needed basis, following your veterinarian’s guidance.

  • For seizures: once or twice per day, depending on the severity and frequency of your dog’s seizures, as well as their individual response to the supplement. In a 2018 study that saw an 89% reduction in seizures during the trial, dogs were given CBD twice per day over the course of 4 weeks.

Other CBD dosage factors to consider

CBD quality: It’s important to use a high-quality CBD oil from a reputable source that has been tested by third-party labs to ensure purity and potency. Choose a CBD oil specifically formulated for pets, as some human CBD products may contain ingredients that could be harmful to animals.

CBD accuracy: As hemp is a naturally grown product, every batch of CBD will vary slightly in terms of cannabinoid structure and actual levels of CBD. However, brands that source their CBD from more reputable farms that use better extraction processes will be more consistent.

For example, while Charlotte’s Web is a popular brand, we found that the CBD reported on its Hemp Extract for Dogs label only reflected the amount of CBD reported by its lab results by CBD by 85%, making precise and consistent dosing more difficult. Brands like Honest Paws and Penelope’s Bloom, however, reported accurate CBD levels by 97%.

CBD oil vs CBD dog treats: There can be a difference in how much CBD is absorbed by dogs when giving them CBD oil versus a CBD treat. Higher fat content in food can help with the absorption of CBD, so we recommend CBD oils for dogs over CBD dog treats. CBD is lipophilic, meaning it dissolves more readily in fats and oils.

  • CBD oil is typically administered sublingually (under the tongue) or mixed with food. When given sublingually, the CBD is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the blood vessels under the tongue. This method allows for faster and more efficient absorption compared to CBD treats, which need to pass through the digestive system before being absorbed.
  • CBD treats, on the other hand, undergo a process called “first-pass metabolism” when ingested. This means the CBD must pass through the liver before entering the bloodstream, which can lead to a lower bioavailability (the amount of CBD that reaches the bloodstream and is available for use by the body). However, CBD treats are also effective, and can be a more convenient or complimentary option to CBD oil.


Studies performed on CBD dosages for dogs

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and clinical efficacy of cannabidiol treatment in osteoarthritic dogs. Gamble, L. J., Boesch, J. M., Frye, C. W., Schwark, W. S., Mann, S., Wolfe, L., … & Wakshlag, J. J. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2018;5, 165.

  • This two-part study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of CBD in dogs with osteoarthritis. The first part of the study looked into the safety of CBD oil for dogs, by administering a single CBD dose of either 2 or 8 mg per kg of body weight (or roughly 1 and 4 mg CBD per pound of body weight). Neither dose showed any observable negative effects.
  • The second part of the study examined CBD’s effects on canine osteoarthritis. Researchers administered 2 mg/kg of CBD oil two times per day orally for four weeks (roughly 2 mg/lbs daily). The results showed that the dogs experienced a significant decrease in pain and an increase in activity levels.

Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy. McGrath, S., Bartner, L. R., Rao, S., Packer, R. A., & Gustafson, D. L. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2019;254(11), 1301-1308.

  • This study investigated the efficacy of CBD for the treatment of canine epilepsy. Dogs were given either a placebo or CBD oil at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (roughly 2.5 mg/lbs daily). The study found that dogs receiving CBD oil had a significant reduction in seizure frequency compared to the placebo group.

Cannabidiol exhibits anxiolytic but not antipsychotic property evaluated in the social interaction test. Valéria Almeida, Raquel Levin, Fernanda Fiel Peres, Suzy T. Niigaki, Mariana B. Calzavara, Antônio W. Zuardi, Jaime E. Hallak, José A. Crippa, Vanessa C. Abílio. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2013;Volume 41

  • One of the experiments in this study tested 4 groups of mice that were administered 1, 5, or 15 mg/kg of CBD, or a placebo. Social interaction tests like this have been used to study pharmacological effects on anxiety, with increases in social interaction levels indicating anxiolytic effects (a decrease in anxiety). The experiment found that 1 mg/kg (~0.5 mg per pound) of CBD showed the highest level of social interaction and produced an anxiolytic effect.

The role of 5-HT1A receptors in the anti-aversive effects of cannabidiol on panic attack-like behaviors evoked in the presence of the wild snake. Twardowschy A, Castiblanco-Urbina MA, Uribe-Mariño A, et al. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2013;27(12)

  • This study explored CBD and its potential effects on panic-like behaviors in mice, finding that 3 mg/kg of CBD caused a panicolytic-like effect (reduced state of panic) when the presence of a snake was introduced.

Summary

1. Gradual introduction: Start with a low dose between 0.25 to 0.5 mg of CBD per pound and slowly increase it over time, while closely monitoring your dog’s response. This will allow you to gauge their tolerance and find the most effective dosage for their specific needs. If you notice any adverse side effects, discontinue use and consult with your veterinarian.

2. Consistency: Administer the CBD oil consistently, using oils or treats from a reputable brand that regularly tests its products. If you can, try to administer CBD to your pup at the same time each day. This will help your dog’s body adjust to the new treatment and may make it more effective over time.

3. Monitor and adjust: Keep a close eye on your dog as you introduce CBD oil and adjust their dosage as needed. It may take some time to find the right dose for your pet, so be patient and don’t hesitate to consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns or questions.