1. Shake the bottle before each use.
2. Apply the oil directly to the gums, or as close as possible. 
3. Wipe the dropper clean after use to prevent contamination. 
4. Store in a cool, dark place. 

TIP!

Split the total daily dose into 2 or more smaller portions (micro-doses) to maintain consistent blood concentration levels. 

According to preliminary research, blood concentration after oral administration typically reaches peak levels after 2 hours and is mostly eliminated from the body within 6-8 hours.

Bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to the efficiency with which a therapeutic compound is absorbed into the bloodstream. This is important because bioavailability effects how much to give in one dose, and how quickly your pet can feel the effects.

So, what are different ways to give your pet CBD oil?

On the Gums

Lift the lip and place dropper on the gums for best absorption. This method works best because the cannabinoids are absorbed through the mucous membrane (transmucosal) in the mouth and delivered directly to the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract altogether. (Similar to the sub-lingual method for humans.) Applying CBD oil to the gums minimizes the number of active compounds lost and broken down in the digestive process.

On food or treats

Treats and other food products will take longer to show effect and are generally less effective. This is because they must go all the way through the digestive tract and filtration processes like the first pass of the liver. This results in less of the medicine reaching the parts of the body where your pet needs it most. There is definitely reason to believe that treats are an effective way to administer CBD, seeing as the stomach and GI system is full of cannabinoid receptors. Tinctures, however, can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream by a variety of methods with greater efficiency and speed.

Inner Ears

Another option for administration is directly onto the hairless area on the underside of your pet’s ear flap. Though less effective than oral administration, it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream while avoiding the digestive tract.

This is called transdermal application. While we encourage you to try the gums first, the ear flap may be a good alternative for an aggressive pet, or a pet who becomes particularly agitated when you are administering their dose.

*Be cautious and avoid this site if your pet has a ruptured ear drum.

Topically

For various skin conditions and irritations, topical CBD salves are a great way to provide targeted relief when your pet is experiencing everything from allergies to yeast, to tumors and cancer.

As you can see, how you administer CBD can have a great impact on how their body absorbs CBD. If you want to learn more, check out this BLOG and video from our education director!

Since we recommend dosage by mg – here is a guide to knowing how many milligrams (mg’s) of CBD are in a one dropper of oil.
CBD Dog Health tinctures are applied with a dropper that measures one milliliter of oil (ml). You will also notice graduated markings on the side of dropper that allow for accurate dosing below 1 ml.  This allows you to be specific with your dosage.