Enjoy Your Pot, Make Sure Your Pet Doesn't!

"Cannabis contains more than 100 different chemicals (or compounds) called cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid that has the most psychoactive effects. It is also the compound responsible for some of cannabis’ medicinal uses, such as treating nausea and improving appetite in cancer patients. Other compounds, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have shown promise for medicinal use and do not have psychoactive effects."

"Cats and dogs can become intoxicated by cannabis in various ways, most commonly by eating edibles (e.g., baked goods, candies, chocolate bars, and chips containing cannabis), or by ingesting cannabis directly (in any form). Pets can also be exposed to second-hand smoke. Most exposures are accidental when curious pets discover access to the drug or when they are present in the same room with a person smoking cannabis. Dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains, which means the effects of cannabis are more dramatic and potentially more toxic when compared to humans. A small amount of cannabis is all it takes to cause toxicity in cats and dogs"
VCA Animal Hospitals

 

“We have seen a precipitous increase [of animals ingesting drugs]. It’s going to go up even more.”

“They’re quite frankly high, and they don’t know what that experience is like.The issue is not that it’s toxic per se but in high levels can cause intoxication. ... In very severe cases there have been some neurologic issues like seizures.”

"[Chocolate on the cannabis treat] This is where it gets tricky. Many products, if they are in a combination of baked or edible products, ingredients like chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts can have their own toxicity issues and can be lethal." 

Ian Sandler, member, National Issues Committee, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Emma Alter with her King Charles spaniel Maggie, who Alter said consumed cannabis by mistake and experienced a negative reaction. (Alter)

 

Dogs' receptivity to the effects of cannabis is heightened by the fact that they have more receptors to cannabinoid than do people. For canines, imbibing even small quantities of the drug can induce a life-threatening situation. Simply put, cannabis is highly toxic to dogs. When a dog is admitted for emergency care at an animal clinic the first response is to clear the animals' system of the drug. That is done by inducing vomiting. Following which, anti-anxiety medication may be required. 

 

Veterinarians in New York are coping with an influx of pets needing care; "stoned dogs". Pets that somehow have got hold of discarded cannabis. The fairly recent legalization of pot has made a difference not only to the human population of the state but to their pets as well. A surge in cases of confused canines have been entering veterinarian clinics since 2021, with the legalization of recreational cannabis.

 

For the most part, the dogs have been chewing on joint remnants. On the other hand, even without eating the cannabis products, dogs also can be affected by second-hand smoke or by consuming found gummies and chocolate laced with marijuana. 21 states have now legalized recreational marijuana, the result of which has been the Pet Poison hotline reporting a 400 percent increase in emergency calls for help, in comparison with the relative few received six years earlier.

 

Fatalities are rare, but dogs display an array of symptoms inclusive of loss of balance, difficulty walking, nausea and on occasion hallucinations. Dogs that are disoriented frequently vomit and drool. The pupils of their eyes become dilated. Vets are sending out calls to pet owners to be aware, and if possible to train their dogs not to eat food that has been discarded, along with street rubbish.

 

"We are seeing toxicities several times a week", emergency physician Sarah Hoggan cautioned, from Murietta, California. 

 

Emma Alter's King Charles spaniel Maggie mistakenly ingested cannabis and later was made to wear a mesh mask for a short time to prevent another incident. (Alter)