How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Pet?

Burgeoning scientific research and public support for CBD-related products have created a whole new industry, which is thriving. Researchers and companies are continuously finding new applications and health benefits related to CBD use. It is facilitating an alternative approach to treating many ailments that mainstream medications have not been able to address adequately.

CBD oil comes from natural sources and does not contain any harmful toxins and chemicals. The oil’s power has intrigued researchers and those that have been seeking ways to help animals with safer treatments. There are now myriad CBD oil medical applications in the pet care and medicine markets and countless testimonials about how it has relieved a family dog’s seizures or chronic pain.

In this guide, we will present the current state of CBD products intended for pet use, including potential benefits, medical parameters, and correct dosage for the best possible effect.

Is CBD Oil Safe for Pet Use?

Yes—most research on the topic points to CBD being completely safe for pet use. However, it does not mean that all pets will have an identical reaction to it. Giving CBD oil to your pets will not cause them long-term health problems.

If your pet has a chronic illness or condition affecting its liver, you should consult a veterinarian before administering pet CBD products. CBD use also comes with relatively mild side effects in both humans and animals, but correct dosages will minimize these occurrences.

The most common side effects for pet CBD oil use include:

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea
• Change in appetite
• Short-term coordination issues

The correct dosage for your pet remains the most important factor in minimizing the side effects and avoiding any short-term irritations. Side effects also tend to be stronger in the beginning, as your pet gets used to consuming CBD oil. Most of the side effects will subside as your pet’s system becomes accustomed to the treatment.

You should only purchase pet CBD products from reputable manufacturers and brands. Ensure that all products come with a certificate and available lab testing results, confirming the ingredients and additions. The CBD itself is non-toxic and cannot harm your pet, but substances added during the production process might not be as benign.

Our Supa Naturals line seeks to provide full-spectrum CBD oil that is organic and highly potent without added substances. The non-GMO, full-spectrum CBD oil is ideal for your pets. Our lab has perfected the process, creating a full-spectrum CBD product that retains the maximum cannabinoid amount without pollutants and toxins that might harm your pet.

Most pet owners will ask is whether CBD oil will get their dog or cat high? The controversy stems from the THC stigma, where psychoactive properties are widely thought to the present in every cannabis product. However, full-spectrum CBD oils extracted from hemp all contain less than 0.3% THC concentration, not enough to get your pet “high” or “stoned.”

Benefits of CBD Oil for Your Pet

There are plenty of medical applications and uses for CBD oil in pets, from mild discomfort to severe chronic conditions. Like humans, pets have an endocannabinoid system in their bodies. It regulates the other systems that keep us alive, keeping the body parts and organs working in perfect harmony.

Consuming CBD can influence a pet’s endocannabinoid system to make certain changes, which has great potential in treating numerous ailments. Homeostasis (a delicate balance) can be easily influenced by external factors, causing all kinds of health issues in animals and humans. However, a healthy cannabinoid system in animals means excellent communication between different networks in their bodies.

Clinical studies have shown that CBD oil has many beneficial properties. Medical applications may treat the following conditions in pets:

• Different types of inflammation
• Chronic pain
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea and dizziness
• Joint stiffness and lack of mobility

Giving your pet CBD oil will not make these conditions disappear. Instead, the condition will decrease in intensity or coverage, and your pet will manage the pain or discomfort better. Some breeds respond to CBD better than others, so you should expect mixed results depending on the type of condition, health of your pet, and a variety of other factors.

Numerous studies are ongoing to investigate the medicinal benefits of CBD. It also explores its use in animal wellness in general. In the years to come, our experts fully expect that several conditions and illnesses will make it onto the official list where CBD oil treatment can make a difference.

You can see more about our line of CBD oils on our web store.

How to Feed Your Pet CBD?

The best way to give your pet CBD is within their regular diet and feeding times. The animal already has a positive association to the stimuli when it is time to eat. It will take less time to get used to taking CBD oil with the food they enjoy in a daily routine.

Method of Consumption

The full-spectrum CDB oil often tastes earthy, and it may not be an easy task to make picky eaters swallow it. Manufacturers of CBD oil have thought about this eventuality and developed other delivery methods to improve the results and benefits. Effective use of these alternatives depends on the pet’s condition, but the main methods of consumption include:

• CBD oils
• CBD topicals and creams
• CBD edibles and treats

 

CBD oils remain the most popular product due to the long-lasting effects and highest bioavailability (you can easily add it to the food or drinks that you serve your pets). Full-spectrum CBD oils consist of the cannabinoid itself (called cannabidiol, or CBD) and the carrier oils that infuse it for stability. The resulting mix can have different tastes and smells.

The primary downside of CBD oils is that some dogs find the smell or taste overpowering and may refuse to take it voluntarily. An easy solution is CBD edibles or treats, which are by far the easiest products to serve a fussy pet. Another advantage is that each edible has a fixed-dose, making it extremely convenient to dose your pet according to its needs.

CBD edibles take longer to dissolve and start working compared to CBD oil. CBD metabolization will also happen in the digestive system. The location means that less of the CBD will make it to cannabinoid receptors in your pet’s body. Surprisingly, the effects of topicals are rapid compared to digestion.

CBD topicals and creams are ideal for pets with localized conditions and health issues, such as chronic pain. By rubbing the CBD topical into the skin, you will directly affect the local cannabinoids in that area. Topicals are the least efficient in terms of the amount of CBD they transfer to the cannabinoid receptors in your pets, so the application will need to be frequent and specific.

Factors influencing Dosage

At the heart of the CBD pet treatment is finding the correct dosage. Proper dosage can mean an effective treatment that lasts long enough to heal your pet. Over or under treatment can cause additional discomfort (although it would only be short-term). The best advice the SUPA Naturals professionals give for finding the correct dosage is to start conservatively and gradually increase the dosage for your pet until you find the right balance.

The five main factors that influence the pet’s type of dose include:

1. The consumption method
2. The size and breed of your dog
3. The potency of the SUPA Naturals CBD product
4. The severity of condition and symptoms
5. The activity level of your pet

Each of these factors affects the dosage required for your pet. For example, most larger dogs or dogs in more pain need bigger doses. It is expressed in milligrams since this is the widely accepted way to measure the amount of consumed CBD and the potency of a CBD product.

General dosage assumptions include:

• It will take more edibles or topical applications to deliver the same dose of CBD (compared to CBD oil).
• Younger, more active pets have faster metabolisms and tolerate higher doses.
• Pay attention to the CBD concentration on the products you will give your pet.
• If a CBD oil package indicates 500mg CBD, it refers to the whole bottle of CBD oil, not CBD per serving.
• Start with smaller doses—it is easier to adjust a dose upwards without causing unnecessary discomfort to your pet.

Through trial and error, most pet owners have reported that the following dosage pattern worked best:

• For mild relief, CBD doses of 1mg to 2mg performed well
• Moderate relief required doses between 3mg and 5mg of CBD
• For pets in heavy pain and discomfort, doses of 5+mg of CBD were needed

Dosing Instructions According to Pet Size

For the sake of this guide, we have put together a practical example of CBD dosages for dogs. Other types of pets might need different doses, so you will need to consult the instructions or seek the help of your local veterinarian. However, dogs are the most popular pets and ideal for learning about how size affects the CBD dose needed.

CBD Oil Dosage for Extra Small Dogs (2lbs to 15lbs)

Tiny dogs are extremely popular in urban environments as perfect companions for living in smaller spaces or apartments. If you have ever owned one or spent time with them, they are incredibly active and loveable but require complicated care.

• Due to their diminutive size, you should ideally start with a minimal dose (about 1mg). Slowly increase the dose by 1mg if the desired effects are not visible with the initial consumption.

Tiny dogs have extremely fast metabolisms, which requires them to take CBD several times a day. They digest food so quickly, and the same will be true for CBD. It might be a better idea to split their daily dose into several smaller doses.

Also, beware that tiny dogs should not ingest more than 15mg of CBD per day, as it might cause more severe side effects.

CBD Oil Dosage for Small Dogs (15lbs to 30lbs)

Small dogs are more common than large ones and often benefit greatly from SUPA Naturals full-spectrum CBD oil for Pets. Smaller dog breeds range between 15lbs and 30lbs.

• The recommended starting dose for this category is approximately 3mg of CBD. You can increase the dose by 2mg or 3mg if the initial dose is not giving the desired relief.

Be careful not to exceed 20mg per day for smaller dogs. Also, dogs in this category seeking relief from anxiety or disorders (like ADHD) will react better to several smaller doses over the day. Experiment with the number of doses and quantity until you see the best results.

CBD Oil Dosage for Medium Dogs (30lbs to 60lbs)

Medium-sized dogs usually fall between 30lbs and 60lbs. SUPA naturals recommends starting with a 3mg CBD dose, slowly increasing it as the dog gets used to the CBD product. If the desired relief is there, you’ve discovered the perfect dose.

Giving a dose of 5mg or 6mg would be overwhelming to some dogs, and they could feel disoriented and sleepy in the beginning. The maximum recommended daily dose of CBD for medium-sized dogs is 30mg.

CBD Oil Dosage for Lage Dogs (60lbs to 150lbs)

Large dog breeds can start conservatively at 3mg or 4mg. You will need to slowly increase the dose once you are sure that your dog is responding well to the CBD and enjoying the desired relief. If not, doubling a dose is reasonable if there’s a need for it.

A dog that is twice the size will not always need twice as much CBD—you will need to experiment with lower dosages first and increase it to find the perfect dose. Larger dog breeds have a slower metabolism, so one or two doses per day should do the trick. In general, our professionals do not recommend exceeding 50mg of CBD, even for massive breeds.

If you find that the dog is not responding to 50mg or less, consult with your veterinarian on alternative treatments.

Supa Naturals is a company on a mission to develop, manufacture, and market the highest quality full-spectrum CBD oil for pets. Help your pets or your family enjoy a healthier life—feel free to explore our website to learn more about our story and how we manufacture CBD products.