Dogs are famous for eating things they’re not supposed to!
However, in addition to the usual household dangers and foods such as chocolate that can be toxic to our canine family members, marijuana toxicity has been on the rise.
As most cannabis products are being legalized or at least decriminalized in many places in North America and around the world, the likelihood of dogs getting into discarded batch of burnt cannabis cookies or other THC infused edibles that may be accessible around the home can be poisonous. Although cannabis edibles were the top source of toxicosis, there are a range of sources for the cannabis. Many dogs, for example, can become sick after eating discarded butts they’d found on the street or in the park.
Some education about marijuana poisoning in pets from the Pet Poison Helpline.
- Q. Can pets die from marijuana poisoning?
Photo: SciTechDaily - A. Yes, but thankfully this is rare. It is extremely rare for pets to ingest enough marijuana to cause death, although they may still need medical treatment to recover from poisoning. Over the past five years, no marijuana-related deaths in pets have been reported to Pet Poison Helpline.
- Q. How do pets get exposed?
- A. Poisoning in pets can occur following inhalation of the smoke, ingestion of the dried plant, ingestion of foods laced with marijuana (e.g., brownies, cookies, butter), or products made with hashish. Most commonly, dogs eat the dried plant directly from their owner’s stash, or eat foods made to contain marijuana. When those foods also contain chocolate, the risk of additional poisoning is increased.
- Q. What are the signs of marijuana poisoning in pets?
- A. Signs of marijuana poisoning in dogs and cats include glassy-eyes, stumbling/incoordination, dilated pupils, vomiting, coma, and in about 25 percent of dogs, agitation and excitement. Urinary incontinence or urine dribbling is also very common, especially in dogs. Serious effects include changes in heart rate, coma, tremors, and seizures. The signs typically begin 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion, or sooner if inhaled.
- Q. What are the treatments for marijuana poisoning?
- A. Treatment for marijuana poisoning includes IV fluids, anti-vomiting medication, oxygen, blood pressure monitoring, thermoregulation, and in severe cases, ventilator/respirator support. Decontamination (including inducing vomiting and giving charcoal to bind up the poison) may be performed if the ingestion was recent or large, but should never be done without consulting a veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline. However, inducing vomiting may be difficult due to the properties of marijuana. It can take pets 18 to 36 hours to recover.
- Q. Marijuana products are not yet legalized everywhere, will Pet Poison Helpline report pet owners to the authorities if his/her dog ingests marijuana?
- A. No. The veterinary staff at Pet Poison Helpline is primarily concerned about the well-being of the pet. They ask only that pet owners are truthful and communicate exactly what the pet was exposed to, so they can quickly identify the poisoning and treat it as soon as possible.
Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.