How much CBD should you give your dog?
Discover the benefits of CBD for your furry companion and how many milligrams to give them.
As pet owners, we are constantly seeking ways to support the well-being and quality of life of our furry friends. Recently, CBD and hemp have gained popularity as wellness support supplements for humans, but did you know that they also benefit dogs and other mammals?
Emerging research suggests that CBD may help support various aspects of canine health, including easing situation-induced nervousness, providing joint support, and promoting overall skin health.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how CBD can benefit dogs and discuss the proper use of CBD products specifically formulated for pets. We will delve into the potential benefits of CBD for dogs, such as easing feelings of stress during thunderstorms, fireworks, or car rides, while also supporting their joint health and overall quality of life.
Additionally, we will provide guidelines on finding the right CBD serving for your dog and offer general serving suggestions for various CBD products, such as chews, tinctures, and treats.
Pet parents, rejoice—by the end of this article, we hope you'll better understand how CBD can be a valuable addition to your dog's wellness routine.
How can CBD benefit dogs?
By providing a range of potential health benefits and supporting overall wellness, CBD may be a valuable addition to your furry friend’s daily routine. As always, it's important to consult your veterinarian before starting your dog on any new supplement or wellness regimen—including CBD.
Dogs, like humans, may also experience the potential benefits of CBD, as they possess an endocannabinoid system that responds to cannabinoids.* Here are a few different ways CBD may benefit your furry friend.
Helps ease situation-induced nervousness*
Dogs often experience nervousness in response to various situations, such as fireworks, thunderstorms, car rides, traveling, separation from their owner, or changes in their routine.
CBD has the potential to help dogs manage these feelings of nervousness by interacting with their endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood and emotional well-being.* By maintaining a balanced endocannabinoid system, dogs may be better equipped to handle stressors and maintain a sense of calm in their lives.*
May help provide joint support*
As dogs age, they may develop joint discomfort or stiffness, which can impact their mobility and overall quality of life. Since the ECS is also involved in regulating feelings of tension in the body and supporting the immune response that can contribute to feelings of stiffness, CBD may also be able to help support joint health.*
By helping the endocannabinoid system to soothe these feelings of tension and support flexibility and movement in the joints, CBD can provide the support dogs need to stay active and playing.*
Additionally, many hemp pet products, like Sunmed's Movin' Easy Chews, are formulated to provide additional support alongside CBD. For example, these chews contain green-lipped mussels, which help with joint support.*
May work to support overall skin health*
Skin health is important for dogs, too—and CBD may support the skin beneath that luscious coat.* On top of working to support mood, joint health, and the immune system, the endocannabinoid system also helps support skin health.*
With that, CBD may help dogs maintain a balanced skin environment by providing support to the immune system, helping to minimize feelings of irritation that may have resulted from the immune system in the first place.*
Helps support overall quality of life*
CBD can help support a dog's overall quality of life by working to maintain multiple aspects of their health, such as emotional well-being, joint health, and skin health.*
Because the ECS supports the processes that deal with maintaining your body’s overall health and daily functions (like mood, appetite, sleep, and immune function), giving the ECS a helping hand also ultimately helps these processes, too.*
How do you use CBD for dogs?
When it comes to using CBD for dogs, it's essential to follow proper guidelines and serving suggestions to ensure your pet receives the appropriate, recommended amount of CBD for their needs. In this section, we'll discuss how to find the right CBD serving for your dog and provide general serving suggestions for various CBD products.
How much CBD oil can I give my dog?
The right amount of CBD for your dog may vary depending on your pet’s weight, size, and specific needs.
As a general guideline, you can consider giving your dog about 2.5 mg of CBD per 25 pounds of body weight (which equals about 1/2 chew per 25 pounds).
Monitoring your dog's response to CBD and adjusting the serving size is important. You can start with a lower serving and gradually increase it as needed, always keeping an eye on how your dog reacts to the CBD.
That said, it's essential to consult your veterinarian before starting your dog on any new supplement or wellness routine.
For more specific serving information based on your dog’s weight, you can refer to the following resources for Sunmed's pet products:
General serving suggestions
Remember, it's essential to consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on any new supplement or wellness regimen, including CBD. Your veterinarian can provide personalized recommendations based on your dog's specific needs and ensure that CBD is suitable for them.
Below are some general serving suggestions for Sunmed's pet products.
- Chillin' Out Chews and Movin' Easy Chews: The recommended serving size for these soft chews is 1/2 chew per 25 pounds of body weight. For example, if you have a large dog weighing 100 pounds, we recommend a chew and a half. On the opposite end, a small dog weighing in at 25 pounds should have the chew cut in half for the appropriate serving. Both of these best-selling chews were formulated by veterinarians with guidance from NASC (National Animal Supplement Council).
- Pet Tinctures: For Sunmed's pet tinctures, one dropper twice daily is recommended. You can administer the tincture directly into your dog's mouth or mix it into their food.
- Organic Peanut Butter Biscuits: Each peanut butter biscuit contains 5 mg of CBD, and one biscuit is recommended per serving. These biscuits can be given as a treat, and you can adjust the serving size based on your dog's needs.
- Broad Spectrum Jerky Sticks: Each jerky stick contains 7 mg of CBD, and one stick is recommended per serving. As with the biscuits, these sticks can be given as a treat—just make sure to monitor your dog’s total CBD intake if you’re giving them a variety of CBD treats like these.
The bottom line
In conclusion, CBD has shown promise in supporting various aspects of canine health, making it a valuable addition to your dog's wellness routine.
By helping to ease situation-induced nervousness, providing joint support, and promoting overall skin health, CBD has the potential to contribute to your furry friend's quality of life.
Sunmed's Movin' Easy Chews and other hemp pet products formulated with additional beneficial ingredients can offer a comprehensive approach to your pet's well-being.
Finding the right CBD serving for your dog is crucial to ensure they receive optimal support. By following the guidelines provided in this article and consulting with a veterinarian, you can select the most appropriate form of CBD and serving size for your pet's unique needs. As a rule of thumb, remember to always start with a smaller serving and gradually adjust as needed.
As the understanding of CBD's potential benefits for pets continues to grow, so does the availability of various CBD products on the market.
When using CBD for your dog, always choose high-quality CBD products specifically formulated for pets, like those offered by Sunmed. These products undergo third-party lab testing to ensure quality and safety, providing peace of mind when giving CBD to your furry friend.
Ready to shop Sunmed’s veterinarian-formulated pet CBD products? Explore our full pet collection.
Sources:
CBD: What you need to know about its uses and efficacy | Cornell University
The Endocannabinoid System of Animals | NCBI
Does CBD Work for Dogs? | American Kennel Club
CBD Oil for Dogs: What You Need to Know | American Kennel Club
Preliminary Investigation of the Safety of Escalating Cannabinoid Doses in Healthy Dogs | PMC