How to Give CBD Oil to Dogs: Tips for Effective Dosage and Application

Thousands of pet parents have had great success using CBD oil for dogs. There are a number of reasons you might want to give your dog cbd oil but most products require you to administer the oil orally.

Oral administration can be a challenge for some dogs. Trust us, we've been using these products on our dogs and the dogs of our family members for years - you never know how a dog will respond when you put your hand near their mouth!

This guide helps you understand how to give CBD oil to dogs whether you're using CBD treats, CBD soft chews, or even CBD oil balms. There are challenges and cautions with each method.

We'll also discuss CBD dosage, the risks of giving your dog too much oil, and more. This guide can be your go-to resource if you decide to give your dog CBD.

Let's take a look.

Learn How to Give CBD Oil to Dogs

Here's the quick answer: CBD oil is most effective when it's dropped directly into your dog's mouth—specifically, the cheek or under the tongue. You can also use what's called "transmucosal administration" which involves applying CBD oil directly on the gums.

The goal is for your dog to absorb as much of the active ingredient as possible, and this happens you give your dog CBD oil straight into their cheek.

When delivered to the cheek, CBD has a better chance of getting absorbed into the bloodstream. The cheek is highly concentrated with blood vessels, so it's optimal to drop the oil there. Dropping CBD oil onto or under the tongue is also a very effective way of giving your dog CBD oil.

Dropping oil into the inner cheek or under the tongue is most effective because of CBD's bioavailability.

The Bioavailability of CBD Oil

In this case, bioavailability refers to the amount of a CBD that circulates through your pet's system without being discarded. When you place a dropper into your dog's cheek, the blood vessels there are able to absorb the oil directly.

When you simply drop oil onto a treat, your dog swallows the treat and it passes through their system. Sure, some of the CBD will be absorbed through the digestive system, but there will inevitably be oil that doesn't get absorbed and passes out the other end. 

That's why it's so important to administer CBD properly if you're desperate to see your furry friend start feeling better. You should also select a product that uses a carrier oil such as coconut oil that can improve CBD's bioavailability.

The Goal is to Get The Active Ingredient to Your Dog's Endocannabinoid System

The reason that CBD is effective for human and pets is because it binds seamlessly with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The endocannabinoid system is a network of bioactive lipids and receptors that stretch throughout the brain, blood cells, immune cells, tissues, organs, and almost every aspect of the body. It functions as one of the most important and vital systems in the body.

The sooner CBD gets absorbed by endocannabinoid receptors, the quicker it can supporting the ECS in its efforts to maintain homeostasis across nearly all systems. CBD binds to endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 because it closely resembles the chemical form of cannabinoids that your dog's body produces on its own. 

When it enters your pet's system, it gently supports and aids in restoring balance to systems that might have been out of homeostasis before. Generally, imbalances lead to issues like arthritis, anxiety, and inflammation. 

If Your Dog Won't Let You Near Its Mouth

If your dog struggles too much or doesn't allow you to bring the dropper near their mouth, you can also place the desired dosage onto a treat or onto some food in their bowl. Make sure that they're going to eat the treat or the food quickly after you drop the oil onto it, however. The longer it sits, the less effective it will be.

In any case, you will lose a little potency when you drop oil onto food or onto a treat.

When your dog ingests the treat and it moves through the digestive system, there's a smaller chance that all of the oil will be absorbed into the bloodstream. When you add CBD oil to your dog's treat or food, will be lost to the process of digestion, and it won't be utilized as well.

If your pet needs CBD support quickly but don't like the grassy taste of hemp consider CBD treats such as Lolahemp Chews, which we'll discuss further down in the article.

Should I Use More If I'm Dropping The Oil Onto Food?

Don't give your dog more oil just because you're dropping it onto food.

Lolahemp's recommendation is to deliver the amount of oil listed on our dosage chart. If you don't notice any effects after fourteen days, then you should try increasing the dosage.

In all cases, it's best to start small and then increase the dosage methodically as you observe your dog's progress. Some dogs respond differently to hemp oil and the carrier oil used in the product, so the smartest move is to follow dosage instructions and change according to your dog's response.

Why Shouldn't I Use More Oil When Dropping Onto Food?

Whenever you give oil to your pet, there's a chance that it will be absorbed. Dosing recommendations are there for a reason, and your pet could experience negative side effects on the off-chance that your dog absorbs an excess of CBD.

The goal is to get into a healthy routine that supports your pet's health, not one that overuses any ingredients to try and force results. 

Can I Drop CBD Oil into My Dog's Water Bowl? 

Unfortunately, dropping oil into your dog's water bowl will not be effective. Oil is not soluble in water and will not mix. Instead, it will stick to the side of the bowl and your dog won't be able to reap the benefits. 

You would be better off dropping the oil onto a treat and giving it to your dog right away. You can also try CBD chews, which are made to be delicious for dogs.

Dog CBD Treats & Chews

Chews are a great alternative to oil, especially if your dog doesn't accept or enjoy the flavor of hemp oil.

The terms "chews" and "treats" are used interchangeably. It's important to follow dosage guidelines when giving your dog cbd treats, though, as they do contain active ingredients and shouldn't be given excessively.

What are Chews with CBD Oil?

CBD Chews simply contain the oil that can help your dog, only in a more enjoyable form. A soft chew can also have additional ingredients intended to help your pet with the issues they're facing.

• For example, CBD calming chews for dogs may include extra ingredients like chamomile, tryptophan, or valerian root.

• CBD chews for hip & joint support might include ingredients like glucosamine, MSM, or green-lipped mussel.

Chews look like treats, and they're often "soft chews" that are easier for senior dogs to eat. Further, you'll find them in flavors like chicken, peanut butter, bacon, and other flavors that dogs much prefer to the taste of the hemp plant. This makes soft chews the easiest way to give CBD to your dog.

Chews are perfect because the CBD is ingested properly and provides a comparable benefit to oil. While dropping CBD oil directly into your dog's cheek is the most effective option, chews and treats are a close second.

Administering Topical CBD to Your Dog

Topical CBD products are often called balms or salves.

Topical CBD oil balms can be used to support muscle pain management, dry or flaky paw pads, hot spots, and other topical issues. They have the added benefit of soothing irritated areas on the skin. These salves typically mix CBD oil with other natural ingredients like beeswax that can benefit a dog topically.

Don't mix CBD salve in with your dog's food. It's not meant to be ingested in large amounts, although balms like Lolahemp's topical balm are safe for dogs to ingest. Wherever you rub the salve on your dog, it's likely that they'll try to lick it off.

This makes it very important to use a product that's safe for dogs to ingest.

The Bioavailability of Topical CBD for Dogs - Why it Works

The endocannabinoid receptors in your dog's body allow CBD to enter the system (discussed above in "The Bioavailability of CBD Oil"). 

Dogs have three layers of skin, and each of them have endocannabinoid receptors. The fact that CBD can penetrate through the layers of skin and permeate the localized area makes it an exceptional option for addressing specific problem areas. 

There is limited research on why CBD balm helps with localized pain and discomfort, even in humans. Naturally, research is still lacking for its uses on pets. That said, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that discomfort is diminished, and its clear that countless pets have found relief from various topical issues after using topical balms for a period of time. 

Rubbing CBD Oil Balm Onto Your Dog's Skin

Topical hemp balm works in a localized area. That means you should apply it directly to the area that is causing your dog trouble. If they have a patch of dry or flaky skin, for example, you would apply it there.

Scoop a dime-sized amount onto your finger and rub it gently on the affected area. You can use more on larger dogs or if your dog has a large area of skin that is causing them trouble. In general, you will only need enough to cover the affected area.

These soak in through the skin and start working their magic. Overdoing it isn't necessary. Start with a small amount, and add more if you think you need to.

Can You Rub CBD Oil Tinctures Directly Onto The Skin?

While you can put a few drops of oil onto your dog's skin and rub it in, you want likely see any results.

Tinctures are meant for oral administration because they can enter the bloodstream that way. The carrier oils used in CBD tinctures are chosen for their ability to hold the active ingredients & interact with the blood stream simultaneously.

When drops are applied to the skin, very little happens. Although it is safe, it is not likely to be effective.

Tinctures are typically more expensive as well, so rubbing regular hemp oil onto your dog's skin could be a costly decision.

Is All CBD Oil for Dogs The Same?

While there are lots of options when you're looking for CBD oil for dogs, know that they are not all made the same. Some products are truly effective, and some are not.

Further, some products aren't made with the attention or care that you would expect from a pet care company. As a pet owner, you know that your animal is a member of your family. You want to ensure that the products you're giving them are of the highest quality and, at the very least, that the products are safe.

CBD oil for dogs should be safe & effective in equal measure. The sections below will help you make the right decision when choosing between different CBD oils.

Only Give Your Dog CBD from Reputable Companies

Our recommendation is to take a close look at the company's reviews and make sure that there is a diversity of reviews from hundreds of people over the course of a few years.

While some emerging companies might be trustworthy, it's just too hard to separate them from the disreputable companies without a hefty number of reviews to sift through. Don't give your dog CBD oil from companies that have zero reviews.

Find a CBD Product with Clear Ingredients

Make sure that the company's ingredients are clearly listed, traceable, and safe for pets. If you can't find the ingredients to a product on a company's website, or you get the sense that you're not seeing the full picture, that's a red flag.

A pet CBD company should be proud of its ingredients and list them at the forefront of everything they do.

It's absolutely essential that you don't give your pet cbd made for humans, and you also need to verify that the company you're buying from doesn't use ingredients that are harmful or unsafe.

Ensure That You Get Dosage Guidelines Made for Pets

Because all pet hemp and CBD oil companies are a little different, it's important that you get dosage guidelines from them, specifically. This is especially true if the product you choose has additional active ingredients besides CBD.

Don't give your dog CBD if you're unsure about how much to give them.

How Much CBD Should You Give Your Canine Companion?

The general rule of thumb is 1mg per ten pounds of your dog's body weight when administering CBD.

Still, different products have different concentrations of CBD in their oil. Some bottles might require you to give three or four drops for the correct dosage, whereas others might have a higher concentration and require fewer drops.

This is all very important when you're giving a dose to your dog.

How Much is Too Much CBD for Dogs?

The maximum dosage for your dog depends on its weight. If you have a large dog, their body will tolerate more CBD than a smaller dog's body would.

The same is true if you're using a CBD treat. CBD dog treats have a specific concentration of CBD, so different dogs might need to only have half of a chew. If you give a small dog two treats intended for large dogs, for example, it might make them uncoordinated and have an adverse effect on their central nervous system for a short time.

Can Dogs Overdose on CBD?

Note that CBD overdose in dogs is possible, and it could be fatal for dogs with certain other health conditions. For otherwise healthy dogs, there have been no reports of CBD causing death although symptoms of overdose are still concerning.

Finally, you want to make sure that the company you choose offers third-party lab tests for all of their products. It's important to know the specifics about ingredients when you're dealing with a cannabis product for pets.

This is because THC, one of the dominant cannabinoids in marijuana, is toxic to pets in high amounts. Hemp, on the other hand, is legally defined as a cannabis plant with 0.3% THC or less. So, hemp is generally considered safe for pets whereas marijuana is not.

Testing is also incredibly important because it allows you to make sure there are no pesticides, microbes, heavy metals, and other contaminants which could be harmful to your pet. 

An Overview: How to Administer CBD Products for Dogs

If you have any more questions about finding or using the right CBD product for your pet, you can always explore our blog to learn more, or even contact us with questions. We're here to help, and we hope you find the absolute best product for your pet's wellness.