Picking the Right Pet Tincture: Small Breed vs Large Breed Dosing
You're standing in front of two bottles. One says Small Breed Pet Tincture (275 mg). The other says Large Breed Pet Tincture (600 mg). Your dog is 35 pounds. Which one?
This guide answers that question — and the harder follow-up question, "okay, but how much from the dropper?"
Why We Make Two Strengths
Pet weight ranges in this country are wild. A Chihuahua is 6 lbs. A Newfoundland is 150. Selling one bottle and asking pet parents to do the math themselves is how dosing mistakes happen. So we made two:
- Small Breed Tincture — 275 mg total CBD, sized for dogs and cats under 30 lbs
- Large Breed Tincture — 600 mg total CBD, sized for dogs 30 lbs and up
Both are full-spectrum (CBD plus minor cannabinoids and trace THC under 0.3%) in MCT coconut oil. Both are made in our Michigan facility in small batches and third-party lab tested.
Quick Recommendations by Weight
| Pet weight | Pick this | Starting daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 lbs | Small Breed | ~1 mg / day |
| 10–20 lbs | Small Breed | ~2 mg / day |
| 20–30 lbs | Small Breed | ~3 mg / day |
| 30–50 lbs | Large Breed | ~4–5 mg / day |
| 50–80 lbs | Large Breed | ~6–8 mg / day |
| 80+ lbs | Large Breed | ~8–12 mg / day |
These are starting doses. Industry guidance is 1–2 mg per 10 lbs body weight. Start at the low end of that range, hold steady for 2 weeks, then adjust if needed.
How to Read the Dropper
Both bottles use a 1 mL dropper. Here's the math:
Small Breed (275 mg in 30 mL bottle):
- Full dropper (1 mL) = ~9 mg CBD
- Half dropper (0.5 mL) = ~4.5 mg CBD
- Quarter dropper (0.25 mL) = ~2.25 mg CBD
Large Breed (600 mg in 30 mL bottle):
- Full dropper (1 mL) = ~20 mg CBD
- Half dropper (0.5 mL) = ~10 mg CBD
- Quarter dropper (0.25 mL) = ~5 mg CBD
How to Give It
Two methods, in order of effectiveness:
1. On food. Drip the dose directly onto wet food or kibble. Stir lightly. Most dogs and cats accept this without question.
2. Sub-tongue (dogs only). Drop directly under your dog's tongue and hold their muzzle gently for 30–60 seconds. Faster absorption (15–45 min vs 45–90 min via food). Not realistic for most cats.
How Often
Once daily is the baseline. Twice daily (morning and evening) is fine if your pet's needs span both ends of the day or if they're in a stage where a single dose isn't enough. Split the total dose, don't double it.
Common Mistakes
- Buying too small a strength for a big dog. A 70-lb dog using Small Breed is going through bottles fast and probably underdosed.
- Buying too strong a strength for a small pet. A 10-lb cat using Large Breed needs to use such tiny droplets that dosing accuracy goes out the window.
- Skipping days. CBD's daily wellness support is consistency-based. Once daily, every day, beats sporadic high doses.
- Ramping up too fast. Give each new dose level 2 weeks before adjusting again.
FAQ
Can I switch between Small Breed and Large Breed as my puppy grows?
Yes. Many pet parents start with Small Breed and switch to Large Breed when their puppy crosses 30 lbs. Just recalculate the dropper amount.
What if my dog refuses sub-tongue dosing?
Add it to food. The absorption is slightly slower but the daily wellness support is the same.
Are these the same as the Salmon Oil + Hemp blend?
No. The Salmon Oil + Hemp blend combines wild Alaskan salmon oil with CBD — different format, different concentration. Pet tinctures are pure CBD in MCT oil. Some pet parents use both.
Where are the lab results?
Right here — every batch has a third-party COA available.
Bottom Line
Pick by weight: under 30 lbs → Small Breed. 30+ lbs → Large Breed. Start at the low end of the dosing range, give it 2 weeks, then adjust. Same time each day. Mix into food unless your dog is into the sub-tongue method.
See the full CBD for Pets collection or read our comprehensive pet dosing guide.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About Urban Roots Hemp Co. Urban Roots is an award-winning Michigan CBD brand in business since 2018. Our parent brand and our sister brands Kozmic Gardens (CBD edibles) and Arbor & Shore (CBD topicals) have earned multiple High Times Cannabis Cup wins — including 1st Place finishes in CBD Edibles and CBD Pre-Rolls (2018-2019) and Arbor & Shore Roll-On CBD Oil, plus 2nd and 3rd Place placements for our Body Butter, Freeze Cream, and Face Moisturizer. Every batch is third-party lab tested — see Lab Results. Browse the Urban Roots catalog or read our About page.
