“A standard dose is considered to be .2mg/kg of CBD (1 mg/10lbs) once to twice daily.”
-Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM
The problem with this quote is that there are no “standard” recommended doses. Until marijuana and hemp products are entirely legal and uniformly standardized, dosage recommendations are anecdotal.
At this point, dosing CBD for dogs is really a guessing game. The first thing to understand are the differences between CBD oil extracted from marijuana, and CBD oil extracted from hemp plants. Understanding how much CBD oil to give your dog is only a small part of a larger equation.
This article will help you to make an informed, educated choice about where to buy CBD oil for your dog, and how much to give your dog.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
None of the research I’ve conducted reveals precisely how much CBD oil to give your dog. It’s a bit frustrating to say the least. Ultimately, it boils down to the product not being standardized. Until it is, there are a few things to consider before administering CBD oil to your dog:
- the size of your dog
- the ailment that you are trying to treat
- the quality of the oil
- whether the CBD oil is from the marijuana plant or the hemp plant
- whether there is any THC in the oil (if there is, don’t give it to your dog)
Starting with 1 mg per every 10 pounds seems reasonable. If marijuana and CBD oil are legal in your state, you should be able to talk to your veterinarian about a proper starting dose. Again, without standardization, there is no scientifically valid dosage recommendation. Less is probably more in this case.
I thought you might find the following tweet on reviews of CBD oil interesting.
Is CBD Oil Safe For My Dog?
Anecdotally, CBD oil use in pets appears to be safe. Veterinarians can’t say that with absolute confidence, and neither can I. However, visit any forum on the topic and you’ll come across a wide-range of dog owners who swear by it.
Many people give their dogs CBD oil to soften the effects of cancer treatments, or simply as a palliative care drug to help the dog remain comfortable for his remaining days. Other uses include:
- arthritis
- dog seizure – epilepsy
- pain
- cancer
CBD, a compound extracted from either the marijuana plant or hemp is thought to be safe for people and pets. In order to legally sell CBD oil in the United States, it must contain less than 0.3% THC, the compound known for its psychoactive properties.
Click on the tweet below to get some real-life perspective on the fears and questions on administering CBD oil to dogs.
It’s easy to see from the embedded tweet above that there are other people out there with similar concerns.
Avoid giving dogs THC. The number of dogs being accidentally poisoned by THC is, in part, due to owners simply not being aware. Dogs love to eat and if there are any “edibles” left out, you can be sure they’re going to gobble them up.
Unfortunately, that happened to my dog and he ended up in the animal hospital overnight. I’m happy to report he is happy and healthy today, but I learned a big, scary lesson.
I Heard CBD Oil is Legal in the United States. Is That True?
Well, it’s sort of true. In March, 2018, the Federal Court remained steadfast in the decision that CBD is considered a Schedule I controlled substance. In Canada and the United States, CBD oil is legal with a physician’s prescription, although there are slight differences in the legality surrounding that.
There are some states in the United States where marijuana has been fully legalized.
In Canada, CBD oil is legal to buy and sell IF the oil comes from the hemp plant with no THC. However, Canadians with a valid prescription are permitted to purchase CBD/THC from the marijuana plant.
In America, CBD oil is only considered legal if extracted from industrial hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC. That’s a good thing to remember when looking for reputable sellers.
Is CBD Oil Good for Dog’s With Mast Cell Tumors or Other Forms of Cancer?
Many dog owners choose CBD oil for dogs who have cancer, especially if there is a chance that it will reduce or inhibit tumor growth. Unfortunately, there are no reputable studies done to determine whether the effects of CBD oil in dogs with cancer is useful beyond a general feeling of well-being.
It’s important to remember that CBD oil isn’t a cure-all, but it can go a long way in helping a dog who is suffering with pain, whether it’s from cancer or another chronic illness.
When trying CBD oil on your dog for the first time, I suggest subscribing to the “less is more” idiom. Build the dose gradually and remember: No THC.
How Will I Know if The CBD Oil I buy is Good Quality?
This is a difficult question to answer and it goes back to the issue of it not being legal everywhere, and not being standardized. Right now, just about anybody can sell CBD oil, but how do you know you’re getting the right stuff?
In the early days of the Internet, shoddy websites were the first indicator that something wasn’t right. Now, anybody can have a professional looking website. It doesn’t mean they are legitimate. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for CBD oil for pets:
- Anybody can pay someone to give them a good review. When reading reviews, look for the person’s actual name and photograph. Read several reviews.
- The professionalism of the website doesn’t imply the product is superior.
- Look at the ingredients. CBD oil should only contain CBD and either coconut or olive oil as the base. Some products contain essential oils and unless you’re familiar with essential oils and their toxicity to dogs, it’s best to leave it alone.
- Contact the company and ask to see the Certificate of Analysis.
- More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.
- Look for organic CBD oil.
The reality is, you might not get exactly what you thought you were paying for. The biggest concern is making sure that what you give your dog is safe, which is why you should always ask questions and shop around.
At the end of the day, we will all do whatever we can to ease a dog’s pain and suffering. So far, side-effects seem to be minimal and not harmful. The best scenario is to purchase CBD oil on the recommendation of a veterinarian. Keep in mind that if CBD oil is still considered illegal in your state, your veterinarian might not be allowed to discuss or recommend CBD oil as a treatment option for your dog.
I hope you were able to gain useful information from this post. If you did, please share with friends and other dog lovers who could benefit from the information.