No single CBD dose has been established for dogs. Most studies gave their own oils by mouth, at about 4–5 mg CBD per kg of body weight per day. For our Pet Routine for Dogs, the label says: start with 1–2 drops (about 1.7–2.5 mg CBD each), 1–2 times a day, on the skin, and adjust with your vet.
Key facts
- Our dog oil
- Pet Routine for Dogs: 5% CBD + 0.5% CBG in MCT oil, 30 ml (1,500 mg CBD + 150 mg CBG)
- Per drop
- About 1.7–2.5 mg CBD and 0.17–0.25 mg CBG (20–30 drops per ml; about 600–900 drops per bottle)
- Label directions
- Start with 1–2 drops, 1–2 times a day, applied to the dog's skin. Oral use is outside the intended use.
- THC
- 0% THC specification; see the laboratory report
- Amounts used in studies
- Mostly about 4–5 mg per kg per day by mouth, in one or two doses
- Most common blood-test finding
- A rise in the liver enzyme ALP in some dogs
- Status
- Not a registered veterinary medicine and not a substitute for veterinary care
How much CBD should I give my dog?
Start with what the label on your product says, and involve your vet before you go beyond it. For Pet Routine for Dogs, the label says to start with 1–2 drops, 1–2 times a day, applied to the skin, and to adjust gradually based on your dog's response and your vet's advice.
Why not copy the doses from research? The trials gave other products by mouth, while Pet Routine for Dogs is applied to the skin, so study amounts don't translate into drops. The amounts also varied widely: from about 0.5 mg per kg per day in an arthritis trial (Verrico 2020) to 5 mg per kg twice a day in a mobility study (Talsma 2024). The authors of a 2025 arthritis trial concluded that more research is needed to find the right doses and formulations (Griebeler 2025).
| Dog's weight | Studies, 4 mg/kg/day by mouth (mg CBD/day) |
|---|---|
| 5 kg | 20 mg |
| 10 kg | 40 mg |
| 20 kg | 80 mg |
| 30 kg | 120 mg |
| 40 kg | 160 mg |
The table is for orientation, not a dosing plan. The study column reflects trials such as Gamble 2018 (2 mg/kg twice a day) and Bradley 2022 (4 mg/kg once a day). Those trials used other products and do not set a dose for Pet Routine for Dogs.
How many drops of Pet Routine for Dogs is that?
One drop contains about 1.7–2.5 mg CBD and 0.17–0.25 mg CBG, based on the labelled formula and 20–30 drops per ml (our measurement of the 30 ml dropper). The label start of 1–2 drops, 1–2 times a day, is 1–4 drops, or about 1.7–10 mg CBD, per day. Our CBD oil dosage guide has the figures for every oil. Shake the bottle and apply the drops directly to your dog's skin. Change the amount gradually and only with your vet's advice; the label also says not to exceed the recommended amount.
Why on the skin and not in food? In Switzerland and the EU, hemp extracts such as CBD extracts count as feed additives, and none is currently authorised, so they cannot be used in animal feed (Agroscope). Pet Routine for Dogs is therefore not sold as a feed, and its label gives directions for use on the skin.
Can CBD help older dogs with stiff joints?
The results are mixed. Three small trials reported less pain or better mobility (Gamble 2018, Verrico 2020, Brioschi 2020). Two others found no difference from placebo on their main measures (Mejia 2021, Griebeler 2025). In the largest trial, owners and vets saw some improvement, but measured walking and activity did not change (Talsma 2024).
- Stiffness, limping or reluctance to jump can be signs of arthritis or other problems. Have your vet examine your dog first.
- CBD is not a replacement for pain relief your vet prescribes.
- If your dog takes anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), tell your vet before adding CBD. In one trial, ALP rose more when the two were combined (Talsma 2024). Our guide to CBD and medication explains why CBD can affect how medicines are broken down.
- Keep a simple diary of how your dog gets up, walks and plays.
Can CBD help dogs with seizures?
In a 12-week trial in 26 dogs with hard-to-control epilepsy, adding CBD to the usual medicine cut seizures by a median of 33%, but the share of dogs with seizures halved was similar to placebo (McGrath 2019). Never change a dog's epilepsy medicine without your vet.
Can CBD help dogs stressed by fireworks, car trips or being left alone?
The evidence is limited:
- Car travel and being left alone: a single oral dose of 4 mg/kg, two hours before, reduced some stress measures compared with placebo, but not all (Hunt 2023).
- Repeated car trips: daily CBD over six months lowered cortisol, whining and lip licking at one or more time points (Flint 2024).
- Fireworks: CBD treats at about 1.4 mg/kg a day did not lower the stress hormone cortisol or change how long dogs stayed inactive during a noise test (Morris 2020).
These studies gave CBD by mouth, so their amounts don't translate to a product applied to the skin, and they do not show that CBD treats anxiety disorders.
Before New Year's Eve or a long trip
- Talk to your vet a few weeks ahead, especially if your dog panics. Some dogs need prescription medicine or a behaviour plan.
- If you use a CBD product, start it well before the event so you know how your dog reacts.
What does the research show, and what doesn't it show?
Research on CBD in dogs is growing: more than a dozen controlled trials have been published since 2018. Most are small, and each tested its own oil by mouth.
| Study | Dogs and oral dose | Result and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Gamble 2018 | Dogs with arthritis; placebo-controlled crossover, 4 weeks per treatment; 2 mg/kg twice a day | Less pain and more activity in owner and vet ratings. Small; ALP rose. |
| Verrico 2020 | 20 large dogs with arthritis; 4 weeks; 20 or 50 mg/day (about 0.5–1.2 mg/kg), or 20 mg/day in a liposomal form | Less pain and better mobility with 50 mg/day and the liposomal form; no significant change with 20 mg/day of plain CBD. 5 dogs per group. |
| Brioschi 2020 | 21 dogs with arthritis; CBD added to usual pain medicines; 2 mg/kg twice a day | Lower owner-rated pain scores. All dogs also took other pain medicines. |
| Mejia 2021 | 23 dogs with arthritis; placebo-controlled crossover, 6 weeks per treatment | No difference from placebo on any measure. ALP rose in 14 dogs; vomiting in 2. |
| Talsma 2024 | 42 dogs with mobility problems; crossover, 45 days per treatment; 5 mg/kg twice a day | Some improvement in owner and vet ratings, but no change in measured gait or activity. |
| Griebeler 2025 | 17 dogs with arthritis; 90 days; full-spectrum extract with THC | No significant reduction in the main pain score. Small. |
| McGrath 2019 | 26 dogs with hard-to-control epilepsy; CBD added to usual medicine, 12 weeks; 2.5 mg/kg twice a day | Median 33% fewer seizures, but the share of dogs with seizures halved was similar to placebo. |
A 2023 systematic review pooled the arthritis trials: five studies with 117 dogs, all at high risk of bias. CBD may reduce pain scores, but the certainty of the evidence is very low, and the authors call for better trials (Patikorn 2023).
Our work with the University of Bologna
From 2019 to 2021, Formula Swiss funded a University of Bologna research project, led by Professor Roberto Chiocchetti, on CBD receptors in cats and horses (university project record). Before that project, the same group mapped cannabinoid receptors in dogs: in the gut (Galiazzo 2018) and in the nerves that carry pain signals (Chiocchetti 2019). The cat gut paper from our project (Stanzani 2020) acknowledges Formula Swiss funding; read about it in our CBD for cats guide. They show where CBD could act in a dog's body, not that it treats any condition. Read more on our scientific research page.
Is CBD safe for dogs?
In the published studies, CBD-only oils were generally well tolerated by dogs. The main blood-test finding is that some dogs develop a raised level of the liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Oils containing THC cause more serious side effects.
- Six months, healthy dogs: 20 dogs received 4 mg/kg of THC-free CBD daily. It was well tolerated, but ALP rose temporarily in just over half of them, at least partly from bone (Bradley 2022).
- 90 days, healthy Beagles: 5 mg/kg per day of three broad-spectrum oils, one of them CBD with CBG, was well tolerated. This study was not blinded (Bookout 2024).
- CBD versus THC: in rising doses, a CBD-predominant oil caused mostly mild side effects. Oils containing THC caused more moderate and severe ones, such as lethargy, low body temperature and unsteadiness (Vaughn 2020).
- Very high doses: at 10–20 mg/kg a day by mouth (2–5 times the usual study amount), ALP rose in 4 of 9 Beagles, 5 had mild stomach upsets and 5 had lower blood-oxygen readings (Doran 2022).
These were mostly small studies, often in healthy research dogs, with CBD given by mouth. They are not a guarantee for every dog. If your dog is old, has liver disease or takes medicines, ask your vet first. Your vet may suggest a blood test before and during longer use.
Which side effects should I watch for?
Dog studies reported vomiting (Mejia 2021) or mild stomach upsets (Doran 2022), unsteady walking, which made two dogs leave an epilepsy trial (McGrath 2019), and tiredness, mainly with THC oils (Vaughn 2020). A raised ALP shows only in blood tests (Gamble 2018).
With a product applied to the skin, also check the spot for redness or irritation. Stop using the product if you notice any adverse reaction, as the label directs, and contact your vet if your dog seems unwell. For side effects in people, see CBD side effects. Cat owners can read our guide to CBD for cats.
What if my dog ate cannabis or a THC gummy?
If your dog eats THC, cannabis edibles or gummies
- Call your vet or an emergency animal clinic straight away. Don't wait for signs to appear.
- Tell them what your dog ate, how much and when. Keep the packaging, because sweets and baked goods can also contain xylitol.
- Don't try to make your dog vomit unless the vet tells you to.
- Watch for unsteady walking, unusual sensitivity to touch or sound, dribbling urine, sleepiness and vomiting. These were the most common signs in 223 dogs with THC poisoning (Binagia 2024).
All 223 dogs in that study survived. In a survey of North American vets, most pets with cannabis poisoning recovered completely. Some deaths were reported, but other toxins or illnesses could not be ruled out. Edibles were the most commonly suspected source (Amissah 2022).
Can I give my dog my own CBD oil?
We don't recommend it. Human products are made for people, and some can harm dogs:
| Pet Routine for Dogs | Human CBD products | |
|---|---|---|
| CBD strength | 5% (about 1.7–2.5 mg per drop) | Our oils for people are 3% to 30%. At the same drop size, a 30% drop holds six times as much CBD as a 5% drop. |
| THC | 0% THC specification | Our THC-free oils have no detectable THC; our full-spectrum oils contain natural traces (under 0.2%). Other products, especially cannabis edibles, may contain much more. |
| Other ingredients | MCT oil and hemp extract | Some of our oils have added aromas. Gummies, sweets and baked goods may contain xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs. |
THC matters because it causes more serious side effects in dogs than CBD (Vaughn 2020). Xylitol, a sweetener used in chewing gum, sweets and baked goods, can cause dangerously low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs (Murphy 2012).
How long does CBD take to work, and how should I use it?
When CBD is given by mouth, blood levels in dogs peak about 1.4 hours later (Deabold 2019). Levels halve in about 4.2 hours (Gamble 2018), which is why many studies gave it twice a day. These figures don't tell us how quickly CBD applied to the skin acts. For Pet Routine for Dogs:
- Follow the label, and keep to the same routine for a few weeks while you note what you see.
- Store the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children.
How do we make and test Pet Routine for Dogs?
The certificate for the current batch of Pet Routine for Dogs (report 260410_A01, sample 260408.05, analysed 8 April 2026) is in our quality reports, with our GMP and ISO certifications.
From our production
We didn't put Pet Routine for Dogs on sale until its first batch had been through our own lab in Switzerland. The April 2026 report measured 5.36% CBD, 0.53% CBG and no detectable THC. We added CBG to the dog oil because CBG has been studied in dogs, where it was well tolerated and well absorbed. In cats, research on CBG is still very limited, so our cat oil is CBD only.
Frequently asked questions
How much CBD should I give my dog?
Follow the label: for Pet Routine for Dogs, start with 1–2 drops (about 1.7–2.5 mg CBD each), 1–2 times a day, applied to the skin, and adjust gradually with your vet's advice. Studies gave other products by mouth, mostly at about 4–5 mg per kg a day, so their amounts don't translate into drops.
Can a dog overdose on CBD?
CBD-only oils caused mostly mild effects even at high doses in studies (Vaughn 2020; Doran 2022); THC is the real danger, so call your vet if your dog eats a THC product.
Can puppies have CBD?
We are not aware of published CBD safety studies in puppies. Ask your vet before using any CBD product on a puppy.
Can I use CBD on a pregnant or breeding dog?
No. The Pet Routine for Dogs label says not to use it in pregnant or breeding animals.
Can CBD be combined with my dog's medicines?
Ask your vet first. In healthy Beagles, CBD and the epilepsy medicine phenobarbital did not change each other's blood levels (Doran 2022). With anti-inflammatory painkillers, the liver enzyme ALP rose more than with CBD alone (Talsma 2024).
Does Pet Routine for Dogs contain THC?
It has a 0% THC specification, and the laboratory report for the current batch shows Δ9-THC as not detected (n.d.).
Can I put Pet Routine for Dogs in my dog's food?
No. The label directs you to apply the drops to the dog's skin. Oral use is outside the product's intended use.
Can CBD replace my dog's pain medicine?
No. Pet Routine for Dogs is not a veterinary medicine and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Don't stop or change prescribed treatment without your vet.
My dog ate my CBD gummies. What should I do?
Call your vet or an emergency animal clinic now, and have the packaging ready. Gummies can contain THC and xylitol, both of which can harm dogs.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Pet Routine for Dogs is not a registered veterinary medicine. Always follow the product label and talk to your vet about your dog's health.
Last reviewed:
Sources
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