CBD Dosage Calculator for Dogs and Cats
How much CBD oil should I give my dog?
Most online CBD dosing guides start dogs at 1 to 2 mg of CBD per 10 lb (0.1 to 0.2 mg per lb), once or twice a day. Dr. Fossum's protocol for her Rejuvenator oils, the same one printed on their boxes, gives 2 mg of hemp extract per kg twice a day for the first 7 days, then half that. About 45% of that extract is CBD, so from day 8 a dog gets roughly 0.2 mg of CBD per lb, the top of that common range.
Pick your pet and enter the weight below for the exact mL and drops for your bottle. No CBD product is FDA-approved for pets, so talk to your veterinarian first, especially if your pet takes any medication.
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Who is the dose for?
Which oil?
CBD on the label
Bottle size
Use the milligram figure printed on the bottle.
- No email needed to see the dose.
- Amounts follow Dr. Fossum's dosing protocol.
- Works with any brand's bottle.
- Not a prescription. If your pet takes medication, ask your vet first.
Example result for a 30 lb dog. Enter your pet's weight above to get your own numbers.
Give twice a day, morning and night
using Rejuvenator Medium Dog CBD Oil (25 mg extract per mL, about 11.2 mg CBD)
Matched to your dog's size
Rejuvenator Medium Dog CBD Oil
for dogs 21-60 lb, 60 mL, broad spectrum and THC-free
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The week-by-week schedule, refill timing for your bottle and a 20% first-order code.
Starting CBD? Track the first 30 days with the free response diary. Sixty seconds a day gives you a day-by-day record to share with your vet.
How we calculate: weight in kg × 2 mg of hemp extract per dose for the first 7 days, then × 1 mg, each given twice a day, the schedule on the Rejuvenator box. For another brand, the same amount per kg is applied to the mg on its label. It is a starting point, not a prescription; your veterinarian should have the final word.
About the numbers
Why CBD dosing guides disagree
Search for a CBD dose and you will find numbers that differ by five to ten times. Three things explain most of the gap.
- They measure different things. Some guides count only CBD. Others, including ours, count the whole hemp extract: CBD plus related cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN. Our dog oils are about 45% CBD, so 1 mg of our extract carries about 0.45 mg of CBD.
- The low label rule is a convention. We found no study, textbook or veterinary body behind the 1 to 2 mg per 10 lb rule; it matches what brands print. Health Canada's 2022 expert committee listed 0.2 to 2 mg per kg twice a day as the range studied in dogs and found too little information to recommend one dose.
- Studies tested specific products at specific doses. The Cornell study gave 2 mg of CBD per kg every 12 hours for four weeks (Gamble et al., 2018), and a 2024 study tested 2 and 4 mg per kg every 12 hours for tolerability (Mills et al.). The Cornell study did not test a lower amount after the first week. Those are doses that were studied, not recommendations.
Dr. Fossum's protocol is her clinical choice for her own oils: a higher first week, then half that amount from day 8.
| Dog weight | Common label rule | Dr. Fossum's protocol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common label start (CBD per dose) | Protocol, days 1 to 7 (per dose) | Protocol, from day 8 (per dose) | |
| 10 lb | 1 to 2 mg | about 4.1 mg CBD 9.1 mg extract | about 2 mg CBD 4.5 mg extract |
| 20 lb | 2 to 4 mg | about 8.1 mg CBD 18.1 mg extract | about 4.1 mg CBD 9.1 mg extract |
| 30 lb | 3 to 6 mg | about 12.2 mg CBD 27.2 mg extract | about 6.1 mg CBD 13.6 mg extract |
| 50 lb | 5 to 10 mg | about 20.3 mg CBD 45.4 mg extract | about 10.2 mg CBD 22.7 mg extract |
| 70 lb | 7 to 14 mg | about 28.6 mg CBD 63.5 mg extract | about 14.3 mg CBD 31.8 mg extract |
| 100 lb | 10 to 20 mg | about 40.8 mg CBD 90.7 mg extract | about 20.4 mg CBD 45.4 mg extract |
Hemp extract amounts are for Dr. Fossum's Rejuvenator oils; the CBD figures use each oil's labeled CBD share.
CBD oil dosage chart for dogs by weight
The mL figures are for the size-matched Rejuvenator oil (small dogs 12.5, medium 25, large 50 mg of extract per mL), the same amounts printed on the box, so the mL do not simply rise with weight.
| Dog weight | Days 1 to 7, twice daily | From day 8, twice daily |
|---|---|---|
| Small Dog oil: 12.5 mg extract per mL | ||
| 5 lb | 0.36 mL 4.5 mg extract, about 2 mg CBD | 0.18 mL 2.3 mg extract, about 1 mg CBD |
| 10 lb | 0.73 mL 9.1 mg extract, about 4.1 mg CBD | 0.36 mL 4.5 mg extract, about 2 mg CBD |
| 15 lb | 1.09 mL 13.6 mg extract, about 6.1 mg CBD | 0.54 mL 6.8 mg extract, about 3 mg CBD |
| 20 lb | 1.45 mL 18.1 mg extract, about 8.1 mg CBD | 0.73 mL 9.1 mg extract, about 4.1 mg CBD |
| Medium Dog oil: 25 mg extract per mL | ||
| 30 lb | 1.09 mL 27.2 mg extract, about 12.2 mg CBD | 0.54 mL 13.6 mg extract, about 6.1 mg CBD |
| 40 lb | 1.45 mL 36.3 mg extract, about 16.3 mg CBD | 0.73 mL 18.1 mg extract, about 8.1 mg CBD |
| 50 lb | 1.81 mL 45.4 mg extract, about 20.3 mg CBD | 0.91 mL 22.7 mg extract, about 10.2 mg CBD |
| 60 lb | 2.18 mL 54.4 mg extract, about 24.4 mg CBD | 1.09 mL 27.2 mg extract, about 12.2 mg CBD |
| Large Dog oil: 50 mg extract per mL | ||
| 75 lb | 1.36 mL 68 mg extract, about 30.6 mg CBD | 0.68 mL 34 mg extract, about 15.3 mg CBD |
| 100 lb | 1.81 mL 90.7 mg extract, about 40.8 mg CBD | 0.91 mL 45.4 mg extract, about 20.4 mg CBD |
| 125 lb | 2.27 mL 113.4 mg extract, about 51 mg CBD | 1.13 mL 56.7 mg extract, about 25.5 mg CBD |
| 150 lb | 2.72 mL 136.1 mg extract, about 61.2 mg CBD | 1.36 mL 68 mg extract, about 30.6 mg CBD |
Using another brand's oil: mg to mL
Strength is the number that matters: total mg on the label divided by the bottle size in mL. Then divide the amount you want by that strength.
| Bottle (mL to give) | Amount per dose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg dose | 10 mg dose | 15 mg dose | 20 mg dose | 30 mg dose | |
| 300 mg / 30 mL (10 mg per mL) | 0.50 mL | 1.00 mL | 1.50 mL | 2.00 mL | 3.00 mL |
| 500 mg / 30 mL (16.7 mg per mL) | 0.30 mL | 0.60 mL | 0.90 mL | 1.20 mL | 1.80 mL |
| 750 mg / 30 mL (25 mg per mL) | 0.20 mL | 0.40 mL | 0.60 mL | 0.80 mL | 1.20 mL |
| 1,000 mg / 30 mL (33.3 mg per mL) | 0.15 mL | 0.30 mL | 0.45 mL | 0.60 mL | 0.90 mL |
| 1,500 mg / 30 mL (50 mg per mL) | 0.10 mL | 0.20 mL | 0.30 mL | 0.40 mL | 0.60 mL |
Arithmetic only. Use the mg your label states, and round to the nearest mark on your syringe.
Price check
To compare prices, enter a bottle's price and the mg on its label.
At current prices, our Rejuvenator dog oils work out to about $0.043 to $0.067 per mg of hemp extract, or $0.096 to $0.149 per mg of CBD. When you compare brands, compare CBD to CBD.
CBD oil dosage chart for cats
These amounts are for Dr. Fossum's Rejuvenator cat oil: 7.15 mg of hemp extract per mL, about 70% of it CBD. Each figure is one dose, given twice a day. Use a THC-free product with a current Certificate of Analysis, and set the amount with your veterinarian.
| Cat weight | Each dose, twice daily |
|---|---|
| Cat oil: 7.15 mg extract per mL | |
| 2 lb | 0.13 mL 0.9 mg extract, about 0.6 mg CBD |
| 4 lb | 0.25 mL 1.8 mg extract, about 1.3 mg CBD |
| 5 lb | 0.32 mL 2.3 mg extract, about 1.6 mg CBD |
| 6 lb | 0.38 mL 2.7 mg extract, about 1.9 mg CBD |
| 8 lb | 0.51 mL 3.6 mg extract, about 2.5 mg CBD |
| 10 lb | 0.63 mL 4.5 mg extract, about 3.2 mg CBD |
| 12 lb | 0.76 mL 5.4 mg extract, about 3.8 mg CBD |
| 14 lb | 0.89 mL 6.4 mg extract, about 4.4 mg CBD |
| 16 lb | 1.02 mL 7.3 mg extract, about 5.1 mg CBD |
Take it with you
Prefer paper? Download the printable dose chart (PDF) with both tables on one page for the fridge or the vet visit.
New to CBD for cats? Our full CBD-for-cats guide covers safety and what to look for in a cat-specific product.
What about horses?
Research in horses is limited, and no standard dose is established. The calculator's horse mode gives a weight-based amount in milligrams; to get exact mL, choose "Another brand" and pick your oil's label. If your horse competes, FEI and USEF rules treat CBD as a prohibited substance. Always set the final amount with your equine veterinarian.
How to measure a dose
Milligrams (mg) measure what is in the oil; milliliters (mL) measure the liquid you give. To get from one to the other you need the oil's strength, and the label gives you both numbers for it. If the label terms are confusing, our hemp vs. CBD guide explains what broad spectrum, full spectrum and hemp extract actually mean.
Strength (mg per mL) = total mg in the bottle ÷ bottle size in mL.
Find the strength
For example, a 30 mL bottle labeled 750 mg is 25 mg per mL.
Work out the mL
If your dog needs 9 mg, that is 9 divided by 25, which is about 0.36 mL.
Measure it
Measure by the mL marks on an oral syringe.
Drop size varies with the dropper. About 20 drops make 1 mL with a typical dropper, so count drops only as a guide and use the syringe marks. If you use one of our oils, the calculator above already converts everything to the exact mL for that bottle.
Giving it: timing and routine
Give it twice a day, about 12 hours apart. In dog studies, blood levels peaked about one to two hours after a dose and then fell over the following hours, so two doses a day keep levels steadier than one larger dose.
With food or on an empty stomach? Either is fine; the most important thing is to be consistent. In a small dog study, giving CBD with a meal raised the amount absorbed several-fold. Pick one routine and keep to it.
Oil gave the highest absorption in a comparison of oil, oil-filled beads and a skin cream in dogs (Bartner et al., 2018), and it lets you measure the exact amount for your pet's weight. Chews and capsules come in fixed amounts, which is handy once you and your vet have settled on one. Still deciding? Our guide to choosing a CBD product walks through strength, format and what a trustworthy label looks like.
Prefer notes on paper? Download the printable 14-day trial diary (PDF).
Safety, side effects and medications
What the research shows
In controlled studies, CBD has been generally well tolerated by healthy pets. In a six-month study, healthy dogs tolerated about 4 mg of CBD per kg once a day, given with food (Bradley et al., 2022). In another study, healthy cats tolerated 4 mg per kg once a day for about six months (Coltherd et al., 2024).
The main laboratory finding was a rise in one liver value in some animals. The liver value that rose in cats was ALT; in dogs it was ALP, and in the six-month dog study it returned to normal after the product was stopped. That is why we recommend looping in your veterinarian and doing periodic bloodwork for any pet on CBD long-term or on other medications. If your cat has any history of liver problems, talk to your vet first.
Side effects
Reported side effects include drowsiness, loose stools and, at higher amounts, wobbliness. THC contamination is a separate risk, which is why a THC-free product with a current Certificate of Analysis matters. Keep all cannabis products well out of your pet's reach. Every batch of Dr. Fossum's oils is tested by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited independent lab, and the current certificates are public.
CBD and your pet's medications
CBD is cleared by the same liver enzymes (cytochrome P450) as many drugs, so interactions are possible. The few dog studies that checked specific medicines did not find significant interactions, but your veterinarian should still know before you start.
Talk to your veterinarian if
- your pet takes other medications (CBD uses the same liver pathway as many drugs, so interactions are possible),
- your pet is pregnant, nursing, or has known liver problems,
- you are dosing a cat, a very small dog, or a very large dog,
- or you simply are not sure where to start. A quick conversation beats guessing.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
How much CBD oil should I give my dog per pound?
Most online guides start at 0.1 to 0.2 mg of CBD per lb, once or twice a day. Dr. Fossum's protocol for her oils is about 0.9 mg of hemp extract per lb twice a day for the first 7 days, then about 0.45 mg per lb; that is roughly 0.4, then 0.2 mg of CBD per lb. There is no FDA-approved dose for pets, so confirm the amount with your veterinarian.
How much CBD should I give a 70 lb dog?
With Dr. Fossum's protocol and her Rejuvenator Large Dog CBD Oil (50 mg of extract per mL), a 70 lb dog gets 1.27 mL twice a day for the first 7 days: 63.5 mg of hemp extract, about 28.6 mg of CBD. From day 8 it is 0.64 mL twice a day: 31.8 mg of hemp extract, about 14.3 mg of CBD. Most online guides would start a 70 lb dog at 7 to 14 mg of CBD per dose. Confirm the amount with your veterinarian.
How many mL of CBD oil can I give my dog?
It depends on the oil's strength. mL = the mg you want divided by the oil's mg per mL. For example, 10 mg from a 750 mg / 30 mL bottle (25 mg per mL) is 0.4 mL. The calculator does this for your bottle.
Is 12 mg of CBD too much for a dog?
It depends on the dog's weight and on what the 12 mg measures. For a 60 lb dog, 12 mg of CBD is at the top of the common 1 to 2 mg per 10 lb starting range; for a 15 lb dog it is about four times that range. Go up slowly, watch for drowsiness or loose stools, and ask your vet before going higher, especially if your dog takes medication.
How much CBD oil should I give my cat?
Dr. Fossum's protocol for cats is about 0.45 mg of hemp extract per lb (1 mg per kg), twice daily. Her cat oil is about 70% CBD, so that is roughly 0.3 mg of CBD per lb. Use a THC-free product with a current Certificate of Analysis, and dose with your veterinarian.
How often should I give it?
Twice a day, about 12 hours apart. In dog studies, blood levels peaked about one to two hours after a dose and then fell over the following hours, so two doses a day keep levels steadier than one larger dose.
Is dosing different for a 1000 mg or 300 mg bottle?
Yes. What matters is the strength in milligrams per milliliter, which is the total CBD in the bottle divided by the bottle size in mL. A 1000 mg / 30 mL bottle is about 33 mg/mL; a 300 mg / 30 mL bottle is about 10 mg/mL. Choose "Another brand" in the calculator to convert any bottle to the exact dose.
Can CBD interact with my pet's medications?
CBD is cleared by the same liver enzymes (cytochrome P450) as many drugs, so interactions are possible. The few dog studies that checked specific medicines did not find significant interactions, but your veterinarian should still know before you start.
Is CBD safe for my pet long-term?
In controlled studies, dogs and cats tolerated daily CBD for about six months. The main finding was a reversible rise in one liver enzyme (ALP) in some dogs, which is why periodic veterinary check-ins and bloodwork are a good idea for long-term use or medicated pets.
Dosing protocol by Dr. Terry Fossum, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, founder of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care, and author of Small Animal Surgery, a standard veterinary surgical textbook. Dr. Fossum last reviewed the protocol in July 2026. We updated this page on November 11, 2026 to show hemp extract and CBD amounts separately and to compare common dosing guides. This guide is educational and is not a substitute for advice from your own veterinarian.
References
- Gamble L-J, et al. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2018 (Cornell): the four-week study that gave 2 mg of CBD per kg every 12 hours. View study
- Bartner LR, et al. Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered by 3 delivery methods at 2 different dosages to healthy dogs. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 2018. View study
- Bradley S, Bakke AM, et al. Long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol is well tolerated by healthy dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2022. View study
- Deabold KA, et al. Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Safety Assessment of CBD in Healthy Dogs and Cats. Animals, 2019. View study
- Coltherd JC, et al. Healthy cats tolerate long-term daily feeding of cannabidiol. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024. View study
- Cornell Riney Canine Health Center. The ABCs of cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp. View source
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicosis in dogs and cats from THC and from cannabidiol (CBD). THC entry · CBD entry
- Mills T, Myers S, Hughes D, Wakshlag J. Tolerability of 2 and 4 mg/kg dosing every 12 hours of a cannabidiol- and cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp extract on mixed-breed dogs utilized for teaching in a closed colony. Animals (Basel). 2024;14(13):1863. View study
- Corsato Alvarenga I, et al. 2024: dogs given up to 10 mg/kg a day for 36 weeks. View study
- Health Canada, Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis, 2022 report. View report
- Schofs et al. 2026. Veterinary Research Communications (PMID 41903093): feeding and CBD absorption in five dogs. View study
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplement, especially if your pet is on other medications.