How to Give Your Dog CBD Oil
Did you know that about 65% of pet owners give their pets CBD?¹ If you want to become a CBD-savvy dog owner, read on. We discuss the best methods and how to calculate the perfect dose.
Key Takeaways
- CBD interacts with your pet's endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is thought to be very similar to the ECS in humans.²
- We believe in using full-spectrum CBD, and some pet owners can use THC for palliative care.
- Our CBD products never exceed the federal limit of 0.3% THC, in line with Colorado's regulatory guidelines.
- The best way to give your dog CBD is mixed with their food. Just make sure they eat it all so that they get the correct dose!
- To calculate the appropriate dose of CBD, you need to consider your dog's size and weight.
- It's generally best to start small. Carefully monitor how your dog responds to a small dose and increase only if necessary.
See Related: Is "Grain-Free" Good for Your Dog?
How CBD Oil Affects Dogs
The key to understanding how CBD oil works in dogs is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is actually found in all mammals. Yes, that includes us humans!¹
The ECS is a signaling system. It helps regulate organs all around the body, from the liver to the lungs to the stomach, and so on. It's also connected to the central nervous system.
The ECS helps regulate all kinds of crucial bodily functions. It’s connected to memory, sleep, temperature control, learning, immune responses, and more.
There’s a lot of research on the ECS, much of it focused on how CBD interacts with this crucial system. It suggests that the ECS is similar in both humans and dogs.
However, the research also shows that dogs have more endocannabinoid receptors in their brains than we do.³
What does all this mean?
Well, it means CBD oil likely affects dogs in a similar manner to humans. You might have heard of people taking CBD oil for all kinds of potential health benefits. Dogs can benefit from CBD oil, too!
It also means we need to be careful with how much CBD oil we give our pets. The type and quality of CBD oil are important, too.
What is the Best CBD Oil For Dogs?
There's no single "perfect" CBD oil for dogs. For one thing, your pet is an individual, just like you. They might prefer one oil over another for purely subjective reasons, such as taste.
Earth Buddy only uses hemp grown under Colorado's Industrial Hemp program.⁵ That's one of the most well-regulated industry programs in the country. It ensures that the levels of THC in the hemp we use never exceed 0.3%.
The Benefits of Full-Spectrum CBD
That doesn’t mean you need to give your canine companion only 99% CBD isolate. A full-spectrum CBD oil might be exactly what they need!
Our natural CBD Oil for pets contains full-spectrum CBD, meaning it includes additional cannabinoids and terpenes.
The presence of these additional compounds causes something called the entourage effect. This effect essentially boosts the potency of the CBD. That means you get the effects of CBD at a much lower dose than if CBD is administered alone.
We then blend those compounds with organic MCT oil from coconuts. This carrier oil is full of fatty acids that are vital to everyday health, the heart, and the cardiovascular system.⁶
What does all this mean? Well, it means a whole bunch of potential benefits for your pet.
Potential Benefits of CBD Oil
Did you know there are over 20,000 published papers investigating the effects of CBD on humans and animals?⁷ They've shown all kinds of potential health benefits.
Here are just a few:
- Mental: Helps your pet manage normal stress and cope with external stress.⁸ One study showed CBD can help manage stress associated with car travel.⁹
- Skin: Supports skin health, including for animals with sensitive skin.¹⁰
- Immune System: Helps support the immune system, including by enhancing the immune response.¹¹
- Promotes Normal Inflammatory Response: Helps maintain a normal inflammatory response associated with discomfort or achy joints.¹¹
- Gut Health: Supports a healthy gut, including by helping maintain proper gut pH and flora.¹²
Bonus: How Long Does CBD Stay In a Dog’s System?
How to Give Your Dog CBD
Giving your dog CBD oil straight from the dropper might seem the most obvious method.
However, it’s not actually the best way.
Instead, we recommend the old pet parent trick: mixing CBD oil in with your dog’s food.
You can mix CBD with practically any type of food. It'll work with your dog's hard kibble and soft food.
The key thing to remember is to distribute the oil throughout the food. If you place it all in one spot and your dog decides not to eat that spot, you'll be out of luck.
Ideally, you want your pet to eat all of the food to which you added your CBD. For that reason, it's best to start small.
For example, you might mix CBD with half of your dog's normal meal. Give them that, make sure they finish it, and then let them have the second half.
Benefits of Mixing CBD With Food
Why is mixing CBD with food better than giving it straight from the dropper? Well, your dog is far more likely to gobble up their normal food than accept some strange new liquid from a dropper.
Plus, mixing CBD with food has a few advantages:
- Ease: Mixing CBD oil in food is simple. It’s arguably easier than trying to get your pet to take a specific dose from a dropper.
- Efficient: Pairing CBD oil with food, especially food high in healthy fats, can increase its absorption by the body.¹⁵
- Duration: Mixing CBD with food prolongs its effects.
Adding CBD Oil to Treats
You can add CBD to food. But it also works great with treats, too!
As with food, you can add CBD to soft chews or hard treats. Pet owners who prefer hard treats just need to make sure the CBD soaks into the treat before giving it to their dogs.
Oh, and as with the food, make sure your furry friend actually finishes their treat.
If this all sounds like too much effort, consider skipping the process and simply purchasing CBD soft chews.
We offer them in a few different flavors, all delicious. Let your dog decide between Blueberry, Beef and Pumpkin, Duck and Apple, or Pumpkin.
All these chews contain the same full-spectrum CBD and MCT coconut oil that makes our CBD oil so great. Plus, they’re mixed with tasty, healthy, natural ingredients to make them irresistible to your pet.
Because many pet parents want to go grain-free, we offer treats without grains.¹³ Our Duck and Apple Calming Chews, for example, contain lentils instead of grains.
Making Your Own CBD Oil Treats
If your pet is a particularly picky eater, you might want full control over the CBD treats you give them. No problem!
You can mix our CBD oil tinctures with basically any food ingredients to make your own CBD treats for dogs. Just make sure they're safe for your dog to eat.
We've included a few resources to check which foods are safe and healthy for dogs in the "Further Reading" section down below.
Applying CBD Topically
CBD for dogs doesn't always have to be taken orally.
For example, you might be interested in maintaining your dog's skin and coat health. While CBD treats can help with that, so can topicals.
In this case, "topicals" refers to any product that is applied topically. That is, rubbing it onto your dog's skin.
You can treat these separately from your dog's daily CBD intake. That's because the amount of CBD that will actually be ingested from a CBD cream, for example, is low.
Actually, combining topical and oral CBD can be a great way to support your pet's skin and coat health.
We offer a Skin and Coat Support Pack for this exact reason! It comes with our Hemp Extract for oral application and our Paw and Skin Balm for topical use.
Of course, you can always grab the Paw and Skin Balm separately, if that's what you're after. It's made of a few simple ingredients. First, whole plant hemp extract for the CBD and other compounds. Then coconut oil, mango butter, and beeswax, all organic.
It's so good that your pet might be tempted to eat it! Try to avoid that, of course, but be assured it's safe for your pet to ingest.
How Much CBD Oil to Give Your Dog
The proper dosage of CBD for your pet depends on several things.
First, consider your dog's size. Large dogs naturally require more CBD than small dogs.
Second, take into account your dog's weight. Larger dogs might require a higher dose to feel the benefits of CBD.
Ideally, consider these first two factors before purchasing CBD oil. That's because you can buy different products for differently sized dogs.
For example, we offer three sizes of our Hemp Extract:
- 250mg, perfect for small dogs
- 500mg, good for medium-sized dogs
- 1000mg, great for large dogs, including giant breeds like Great Danes
The third factor to consider is your pet's response. Pets who are physically similar might still react to CBD in different ways.
Generally, it's best to start small. Use lower CBD amounts than recommended at first, carefully monitoring your dog's response.
If that dosage seems to be working, great. You can stick with it.
If you feel like that wasn't enough CBD, try increasing the dose a little until you reach an appropriate amount.
Once you hit on the right CBD amount to give your dog, don't let autopilot take over. After all, your pet's weight, activity level, or lifestyle might change. Keep an eye on their general wellness, too, as that might impact how much CBD you need to use.
Remember also that other medications can interact with CBD. If in doubt, consult your vet. The overall wellness of your pet is more important than sticking to the CBD dose you think appropriate.
So, with all that in mind, what's the perfect dosage of CBD for dogs?
One study from 2024 found that healthy dogs tolerated CBD at doses of 5mg per kg of body weight per day.¹⁴
We also provide detailed dosage guidance for each of our products and a general dosage guide. Make sure to check them before giving your dog any CBD.
Conclusion
CBD has all kinds of potential health benefits for dogs. By administering CBD to your furry friend in the correct dose with a healthy meal or tasty treat, you can maximize those potential benefits.
And if all that sounds too complicated, never fear. We’ve got plenty of CBD products that your dog will love.
Keep Reading: When Is a Dog Considered a “Senior”?
Sources
- The State of Pet CBD in 2025
- The Endocannabinoid System of Animals
- The Endocannabinoid System in Cats and Dogs
- Cannabis (Marijuana) Intoxication in Cats and Dogs
- Colorado Hemp Program
- Nutrition and Heart Health
- Does CBD Work for Dogs?
- New study shows cannabidiol (CBD) is effective at reducing stress in dogs
- Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel
- CBD: What you need to know about its uses and efficacy
- Effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Canine Inflammatory Response: An Ex Vivo Study on LPS Stimulated Whole Blood
- The Modulatory Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in the Gut
- What Dog Owners Need to Know About the FDA’s Grain-Free Diet Alert and DCM
- Safety study of cannabidiol products in healthy dogs
- The Effects of Food on Cannabidiol Bioaccessibility
Further Reading
- Which people foods are safe for dogs?
- Can My Dog Eat This? A List of Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat
- Dog Nutrition: Guide to Dog Food Nutrients
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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
