On November 4, 2014 marijuana became legal in Oregon, and the industry immediately exploded. Dispensaries began popping up like Starbucks and weed started taking all forms of flower, vapor, tinctures, food, and drinks. Now, in 2022, you can enjoy marijuana in nearly any form imaginable. While marijuana has grown in popularity among humans, this unfortunately means THC poisoning in our dogs has become more common.
This doesn’t only happen to pets of marijuana users. It’s a common occurrence for pets to ingest THC outside of the home as well. Especially when off-leash.
Over the last six years, the Pet Poison Hotline has seen a 448% increase in calls regarding marijuana ingestion, and our local vet clinics often see these cases multiple times a week.
What is THC Poisoning?
But what is THC poisoning? How is it caused, how can you avoid it, and what do you do if your pet experiences it?
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
THC has to be smoked or dissolved in fat in order for humans to feel its effects, but dogs and cats can become effected by simply chewing on a stem or leaf.
Every pet is different, and everyone reacts differently to marijuana ingestion, so it’s important to know what to look for and what steps you can take to help.
The effects of THC poisoning
The effects of THC poisoning can appear as quickly as 15 minutes, or as long as an hour.
Some pets can show no signs or side effects, while others can become stoned, taking on a drunken appearance. Some signs include confusion, lethargy, wobbliness, tremors, incontinence, seizures, slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, and in the worst cases some animals could slip into a coma and die.
Since every pet is different, and it’s often unclear how much marijuana was actually ingested, the best thing to do is call your nearest emergency vet and get them in for some fluids, observation, and possibly induced vomiting.
Keep their environment calm and quiet, offer them water, and get them to the vet ASAP.
The Most Common Cause of THC poisoning
One of the most common ways for house pets to experience THC poisoning is by finding it in the home. Dogs find yummy edibles on the table and don’t think twice, cats purr their way into a grow room and begin chewing on plants, and even being directly handed THC by confused owners, who think giving their pet an edible made for humans is the same thing found on the shelves of pet stores.
THC vs. CBD: They are NOT the same
THC is different than CBD, or cannabidiol, which is commonly found in dog and cat treats and has shown to aid with seizures, anxiety, pain, nausea, and more. While THC is the psychoactive ingredient, cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid receptors located in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and can help maintain balance in the body and keep it in a normal, healthy state. These two main ingredients in marijuana are very different, but are often confused with each other. So the first rule is, do not give your pet anything that is intended for human consumption. And the second rule is, never leave any of your human treats out for a curious pet to investigate. Keep everything locked away, even if you don’t think it’s a risk.
THC is everywhere
Another common way for pets to get THC poisoning is by finding marijuana out in the world. Since weed has grown in popularity, it’s also become more commonplace to find discarded in public places. In Bend, OR there has been a huge uptick in animals being brought into the emergency clinics after THC ingestion. It’s been found and eaten at dog parks, shopping centers, and popular trails. Dogs find flower, edibles, and cartridges and will commonly eat them without even skipping a beat.
Dogs get their information from smells, and taking these smells and rolling them around on the tongue helps them acquire more info from that scent, so it’s common for dogs to eat what they find.
THC Can Exist in Human Poop
Speaking of smells, another common way for dogs to get THC poisoning is through the ingestion of human feces. I’m sure half of you reading this are aghast thinking “my dog would never!” while the other half is thinking “yup, been there.”
With the population of our town growing, the population of people using our trail systems has grown with it.
This means more people are out in nature when nature calls, and some of these individuals have ingested marijuana, passing it out of their bodies and into your dog.
Human feces has been popping up all over the trails, and though you are asked to follow Leave No Trace principles, some are left out in the open offering a strong odor that a lot of dogs can’t pass up.
The Importance of the “Leave It” Command
With so many sources available for your pets to munch on, how can you ever avoid it? It’s one thing to lock up all your weed at home, but how do you escape it when out on walks?
One of the most important things is to teach your dog verbal cues such as “leave it”, “drop it”, and recall.
Knowing these cues can stop your dog from ingesting something they shouldn’t. This means you must be alert and aware on walks. It’s also means you can’t let your dog venture too far out of sight.
Keep them on leash and close to you if they are known to munch trail treasures. Reach out to a trainer if you are struggling with these cues, as they can be life saving. Familiarize yourself with the effects from THC poisoning. This means you will know what to look for, and always know where your nearest emergency vet is.
When in doubt, go to the vet
I’m sure some of you were hoping for a different answer. that wasn’t as pricey as: “go to the vet.”
But, unfortunately, in such a risky situation that’s the best thing you can do. You don’t know how your dog is feeling, or what’s happening inside their bodies. You don’t know how much they ingested and you don’t know how they will be effected. The vet can check all their vitals, provide necessary fluids, and keep them in a safe space. A safe and quiet space is important until they feel better.
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Author: Dena Vogt
Dena has worked in animal care most of her life, specializing in dog care. She and her RottenChow Link own & operate Adventure Pup in Bend, OR
Great article! Very informative.
Actually, something you would never think could happen to your pet