There are not many studies that describe the exact dosage of CBD to be giving our pets. However, research is available that can shed some light on the subject and allow us to make sensible conclusions about cannabinoid dosing.

A study on epilepsy in rats showed the anti-convulsant effects of 0.3­ mg/kg CBD. The study compared CBD to THC and two prescription anti-­convulsant drugs (Phenytoin and Ethosuximide). The study showed that CBD was the most effective “drug” tested for treating convulsions and after-discharge effects. Even at the lowest dose tested in the study (0.3 mg/kg), CBD showed dramatic results!

Based on this study we can calculate three different dosage options based on the severity of your pets condition.

The guidelines below use the lowest dosage in the above study (0.3mg/kg) as an ‘medium dose’ for pets with a chronic medical condition:

Hemp CBD Dosage Guidelines:

• Low Dose: 0.022 mg/lb or 0.05mg/kg
• Medium Dose: 0.136 mg/lb or 0.30 mg/kg
• Strong Dose: 0.22 mg/lb or  0.5mg/kg

How to calculate dosage for your pet:
[weight of pet] x [selected dose] = total CBD dosage

The dosages are typically administered 1-3 times a day, and we recommend starting in the low tier once or twice a day for the first week before slowly moving up so that your dog gets the right dose for his individual needs

After a week, incrementally increase the dose with additional milligrams until you’ve achieved the desired effect for whatever is being treated. A good rule of thumb is increase the original dose amount by 2X (from 0.25 up to 0.50 mg’s per kg) after observing signs for 2-weeks.

For preventive health and aging, the low tier of 0.022 mg/lb or 0.05mg/kg is a great place to start. There’s may be days that you want to increase to the medium tier to help with situational issues like stress or allergies. Most people will only administer CBD once per day and sometimes twice for preventive health.

For chronic medical conditions, a dosage that falls in the medium tier — 0.136 mg/lb or 0.3 mg/kg — is preferred by most pet owners. The one exception is clinical insomnia which is likely to require a dosage that falls into the strong tier.

If your pet is not sleeping well due to pain, discomfort, etc. a medium tier dosage may be all that’s needed. Many report better sleep even with low doses of CBD because it helps with other medical issues that may prevent restful sleep.