As a responsible pet owner, you likely do your research before giving your pet a new food, toy, or supplement. If you’re wondering about the correct amount of CBD to give your cat or dog, we have a complete guide. As a general reminder, pets cannot overdose on CBD, but it is still good to give them the best amount for their body.
1. How much CBD should you give your dog or cat?
The general guideline for giving a pet CBD is 1-2 mg of CBD per 10lbs of weight. However, you may need to experiment a little to find the right dose for your pet and the above rule of thumb is a good place to start. One of many factors is that, quite simply, each animal is completely different, with its own unique physical makeup. This means that each animal will process CBD differently. Adjust your pet’s dose in 0.25 – 3 mg increments until you see the desired result. While that’s quite a range, the lower end is more appropriate for smaller pets like rabbits, and the higher end is better for large dogs.
2. What’s the right CBD dose for your cat or dog?
One other factor involved in how much CBD to give your pet is your pet’s overall health. If your pet is healthy, then they’ll likely be reaping the benefits of CBD at a lower dose than a sick one might need.
Start at the low end of your pet’s dose and work your way up from there if you don’t see any changes within an hour. Be sure to follow the instructions on your CBD product’s packaging as they provide recommended usage recommendations based on your pet’s weight. Potencies differ between brands and products within brands, so the label’s instructions are going to be the most accurate.
3. What pet CBD brand are you choosing?
Not all pet CBD products are created equal. There is a wide range in quality between products, depending on the hemp used and how the CBD is made. This means that a low-quality CBD might not have active CBD or not as much as the label claims. Also, certain ways of manufacturing CBD can leave traces of harmful chemicals behind. Here are a few ways to tell if a CBD product is high-quality. Make sure you are using a trustworthy brand like Pet Releaf.
- They use organic hemp.
- They are certified USDA Organic.
- They have a seal from the National Animal Supplements Council (NASC).
- They don’t use heat in their production process.
- They don’t use chemicals or solvents when extracting their CBD.
- They perform third-party testing on their products to ensure safety.
What You Should Know Before Giving CBD to Your Pets
1. The Science behind CBD for pets
The way that CBD works is similar for pets and humans. We all have a central nervous system that connects the whole body and regulates processes. Part of this central nervous system is the endocannabinoid system. That’s right, your body works with cannabinoids by producing their own. The endocannabinoid system plays a role in many body functions, including regulating things like sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and reproduction. All of these functions help the body maintain homeostasis or a healthy balance. Our bodies need to find homeostasis to stay healthy. Endocannabinoids that your body, and your pet’s body, make carry signals from one nerve cell to another. These special chemicals fit into special places on a nerve cell. This process helps the body, specifically the nervous system to carry out its job of communicating with the body more effectively. And since the central nervous system controls and coordinates the whole body, this is why CBD may have such a profound impact on health in so many ways. For more information about CBD and pets, check out this article.
2. Basic CBD Usage Rules for pets
While the general guideline is 1-2 mg of CBD per ten pounds of body weight, how much actual CBD this translates to will differ by product. Here is a CBD chart for dogs showing how to dose Pet Releaf’s USDA Organic Hemp Oil for dogs. This hemp oil comes in concentrations for small dogs, cats, and pets, and medium, large, and extra-large dogs.
