While community interest in CBD has grown, many are hailing its wellness benefits and are encouraging others to try it as a holistic alternative to over-the-counter medications. You may have even had personal experience with using CBD to manage your lifestyle. If your furry little buddy also suffers from some of these same issues, you can try CBD with them as well. It may even hold the answer for them. As dogs can’t talk (yet), testing the dosage can be difficult. How would you even measure the dosage for your dog or incorporate it into their diet? Here’s some information that we feel you may find helpful.

The Benefits of CBD for Dogs

Researchers identified the first endocannabinoid and thus the existence of the human endocannabinoid system on March 24, 1992. Not to be confused with phytocannabinoids, which are plant-based cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system regulates mood, comfort level, and sleep patterns. It was discovered later that all adult mammals also have this endocannabinoid system.

As we share a similar endocannabinoid system as dogs, they benefit from phytocannabinoids such as CBD in the same way we do. Anecdotal evidence points to dogs benefiting from CBD in ways such as helping to keep them calm during fireworks or thunderstorms or helping older dogs who suffer from joint and muscle discomfort.

Recommended Dosage

As with humans, the recommended dosage for dogs depends on a few factors.

• Weight – the basic dosage recommendation is based on your dog’s weight, as you will see below.
• Strength of the CBD – the more milligrams of CBD per milliliter of oil that is contained in the CBD tincture you plan on giving your pet, the smaller the dosage amount needed.
• What is being treated – general maintenance of your pet’s well-being will require less CBD than treating your pet for physical discomfort.

You will need to perform a few calculations to determine the number of CBD milligrams contained per milliliter of oil. Let’s use The Hemp Doctor’s Organic CBD Oil Pet Tincture as an example. You have your choice of either 250 mg or 500 mg strength per 30 ml bottle. So if you divide each strength by the 30 milliliters contained in each bottle, you will find that the 250 mg strength contains approximately 8 mg of CBD per one milliliter, while our 500 mg strength contains a little more than 16 mg of CBD per one milliliter.

Now, the second calculation you will need to make is based on your pet’s weight. We recommend starting your dog’s dosage with one to two milligrams of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight. So if you take our 250 mg strength pet tincture and a 30-pound dog as an example, one milligram would be 1/8 of a milliliter, two milligrams would be 1/16 of a milliliter.

Keep an eye on your dog after the first dose or two. If there seems to be no effect from the CBD, increase the amount by two milligrams per 10 pounds until you see the desired results. Continue to watch your dog for signs that they may be getting too much CBD. These signs are things like lethargy or diarrhea. If your dog develops these symptoms, decrease the CBD dosage.

As we discussed before, pets with physical issues will need more potent doses of CBD than those that are just on an overall wellness plan. For general maintenance, one or two doses a day should be plenty. However, if treating your dog for discomfort, you will want to give them one dose every eight hours.

If you prefer not to worry about measuring your dog’s CBD dosage and would like to have something easy and premeasured, our Beef Flavored CBD Dog Treats are for you. Each treat contains 2 milligrams of pre-measured CBD so that you can use that as a guide. Start with one treat per 10 pounds of body weight, then increase the number of treats until the desired results are achieved.

Other Tips

Once you determine the proper dosage, it’s time to administer it to your tail-wagging friend. Most dogs enjoy the flavor of our CBD tincture right from the dropper. However, if your dog doesn’t like the taste or has issues licking it from the dropper, adding the recommended dosage to their favorite food is an easy way for your dog to enjoy the benefits of CBD. Taking the CBD with food also slows the digestive system’s breakdown and absorption of the cannabinoids within the oil. So not only does your pet get more significant benefits, but those benefits also last longer.

The Hemp Doctor Has Your Dog’s Health in Mind

At The Hemp Doctor, America’s Premier Hemp & CBD Dispensary, we understand how important man’s best friend is to each of us. This is why we donate part of our proceeds to Lake Norman Humane and is also why we ensure that our Pet Hemp CBD Products are of the highest quality available.

Take our Dog Treats, for example. Every treat is a veterinarian-approved formula with your dog’s overall health in mind. Not only do our dog treats carry 2 mg of phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil with all of its benefits for humans and canines alike, but each treat also features these other helpful ingredients as well.

• Dried Brewers Yeast – This is a high-quality source of protein, vitamin B, and amino acids to convert your pup’s food into available energy that he or she can access almost immediately.
• Flaxseed Oil – This oil is excellent for your dog’s skin, as it nourishes it from within to promote a soft and shiny coat.
• Organic Sweet Potato Powder – Sweet potato powder is a fantastic source of vitamin A, which promotes healthy muscles, nerves, eyes, coat, and skin.
• Citrus Pectin – This substance is known to contain a treasure trove of health benefits for your pooch.
• Vitamin E – Vitamin E combats free radicals that can damage healthy bodies. It also contributes to a healthy reproductive system, protects your dog’s vision, and boosts his or her immune system.

Shop The Hemp Doctor today and get your furry buddy the holistic solution that will keep his or her tail wagging for years to come!