
Tiny dogs are especially prone to side effects from conventional medications.
That’s why it was such a big win for Chihuahuas when CBD oil products became legal almost everywhere.
Finally, a natural product you can keep in your cabinet to help relieve pain, inflammation and anxiety, without the worry of over-medicating or causing health-threatening side effects (though CBD does have some side effects.)
However, you still need to get the dose just right.
Too much, and you’re spending a lot of money on CBD – which may make it difficult for you to sustain consistent treatment for however long they need it.
Too little, and your dog won’t actually get sufficient relief from their pain or anxiety.
How Much CBD To Give A Chihuahua
HempMy Pet lists both a low daily supplement dosage, and a higher, therapeutic suggested daily dosage.
The daily supplement dosage is good for dogs who have mild inflammation or general anxiety. You might need the larger dose for vet visits, trips to the groomer, travel days or holidays. It might also take a larger dose to control seizures.
Start with half of the daily dose at first, then gradually increase it until you can see it working.
It’s best to split the daily dose into two servings so the effects last throughout the day.
If your Chihuahua is under 5 pounds, they can have 1-2 mg per day.
If your Chihuahua is 5-10 pounds, they can have 1-4 mg per day.
If you’re using HempMy Pet’s 250mg tincture, 1/4 ml contains 1-2 mg.
1/4 ml is approximately 5 drops, so in one drop, you’d get 1/5-2/5 mg. If your dog needs just 1 mg per day. you’d give 1-2 drops per meal.

If you’re using HempMy Pet’s 1000 tincture, 1/4 ml contains 8 mg.
1/4 ml is approximately 5 drops, so in one drop, you’d get 1.6 mg.
So, if your Chihuahua needs a tiny 1 mg daily dose, it’d be easier to measure out with the lower concentration tincture.

Of course, you can mix their daily serving into a day’s worth of food, then split that into two meals.
How To Give CBD
You can give CBD with or without food.
Matilda doesn’t like the taste, so I mix it into her food, or add it into something yummy like peanut butter or mashed banana.
CBD absorbs best with foods that contain fatty acids. You can put it in fish oil, eggs, coconut oil or avocado.
Giving CBD with food slows down absorption, but does not make it less effective. So, if your dog needs all day relief, it’s best to give it with meals.
However, CBD hits the bloodstream faster if it is given without food. This is because it can actually enter the bloodstream through your dog’s oral tissues, rather than going through the digestive system.
So if you, say, had a vet appointment in 20 minutes, you would want to give the CBD alone to quickly bring on relaxation.
How To Save Money On CBD For Your Dog
Quality CBD is expensive, but cheap CBD is even more expensive in that you’ll need to use more of it to see results, if it ends up working at all.
Even though you’ll have to pay more upfront, in the long run, it’s cheaper to get the highest concentration tincture you can so you can use less of it.
For example, at HempMy Pet, you can get the lower concentration 250mg CBD infused hemp oil, or pay less than double the price for 4x the concentration at 1000mg. If you need lots of CBD, that’s a lot of savings.
But if you are just starting to try CBD and don’t know if it will work for you, you might not want to invest in a high concentration bottle just yet. Also, if you will not need to use it daily, you’ll want something that you’ll be able to use up faster.
CBD should be kept refrigerated to help it last longer. They typically come in a tinted bottle, but you should still shield it from light exposure by keeping it in a dark place.
What Happens If My Chihuahua Overdoses on CBD?
If your Chihuahua were to, say, eat an entire bag of CBD treats, it is unlikely that she will suffer any harmful effects.
She may experience digestive upset, especially if she takes too much oil. She might be overly sedate, but otherwise, she should be fine.
So, giving your Chihuahua too much CBD is more of an issue of cost than of having any harmful effect on her.
Even so, keep an eye on your Chihuahua the first few times she has CBD so you can see how it works for her.
What Are The Side Effects Of CBD?
CBD has been shown to cause elevated liver values (ALP) in some dogs, and this also occurs in some humans who take it.
This means that it may be hard on your dog’s liver.
You should also know that CBD can interact with some medications.
So, if you’re planning to use CBD for a long time, or your dog needs larger doses, you should take your vet about regular blood tests to check for liver function.
There haven’t, however, been any cases of liver failure from CBD. It’s just something you should keep an eye on, especially if your dog is a senior, chronically ill, and/or on other meds.
Talking To Your Vet About CBD
Currently, most veterinarians are not permitted to prescribe or recommend CBD oil.
Research on the effects and potential health benefits of CBD for pets are still in the works, though there are plenty of anecdotes of dogs who have overcome anxiety issues, experienced relief from arthritis pain, and even started having fewer seizures.
You should still be honest with your veterinarian about using CBD oil.
It can potentially interact with other medications your dog might be taking, including blood thinners, some seizure medications and sedatives.
If you start the conversation, your veterinarian may be able to talk to you about CBD after all.
Some vets are more up-to-date on the topic than others. If you do not feel that your vet is being helpful, or you do not feel comfortable asking them questions, you should seek a second opinion.

Where To Get CBD For Your Chihuahua
Since CBD products became legal in all 50 states, they’ve been everywhere – every pet company seems to offer them, and you’ll also find the products for humans everywhere from the mall to your grocery store.
You can give your Chihuahua a human CBD product if you’d like. You can share a bottle with them.
You’ll need to be careful, though, of concentration. Naturally, we’re bigger than dogs, so human products can have very high concentrations.
Since these products are not regulated by the FDA, they can contain varying concentrations from batch to batch. Some may even have a higher-than-expected concentration of THC, which may be toxic to dogs.
I recommend HempMy Pet because they’re third party tested. You always know what you’re getting. Every batch contains the amount of CBD stated on the bottle.
Using a cheap, unknown brand could mean you’re getting a product made from hemp grown with pesticides. It might not seem to work if the CBD content is lower than stated on the bottle. You may give up on CBD when you don’t see results, or end up just having to get something better.
alex
Thursday 3rd of June 2021
You have made such a good points. You should be extra careful with the dosage.I have introduced cbd oil to my dog. i have bought it from TAL'S Allergy Free Products Inc. and i really liked the product. i can clearly see the results.
Tara
Friday 6th of March 2020
Wow, thanks for the thorough information on CBD for dogs! If it helps humans it will surely help out dogs. I wonder if it could help with my Poms arthritis, CBD is so great for a ton of conditions.
Lucy Taylor
Friday 7th of February 2020
Thanks for sharing this information. I really like your blog post very much.
Louis Esquivel
Sunday 12th of January 2020
I have a 8 week old chi m most of the time heโs o. The go n full of energy. Other days all he wants to do is sleep. Is this normal. Bout how much is an 8 week old chi suppose to sleep. On an average how many hours of sleep is normal for an eight week old chi. To sleep daily.
Lindsay Pevny
Sunday 12th of January 2020
Hi Louis! Congrats on your new puppy. Babies sleep a LOT. They have lots of energy in small spurts, especially that "psycho puppy" energy in the evenings when they get all bitey, and then after 30 minutes or so they're dead asleep. I wouldn't be too concerned, especially if you're seeing your vet every few weeks or so to finish up those puppy shots and to check on his development.
Fabian Raemy
Tuesday 8th of October 2019
Personally, I think that giving dogs CBD is totally safe. That being said, little dogs, are, well, little, so you do have to be very careful with dosing. Humans don't need much CBD to see benefits, so a dog like a chihuahua is going to need far less than that. Be careful because there is such a thing as too much CBD, and there are side effects. These risks definitely increase when such a small animal is involved.