Dogs on Dope

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Dogs on Dope
Dogs on Dope

Call it dogs or dope, canines on cannabis, Rovers on reefer, what have you. The truth is that dogs sometimes can and do sniff out  your stash and accidentally ingest cannabis. To find out what to do when this happens, we went straight to expert Dr. Karen Nann, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at good ol’ Pet Kare Clinic. Here’s what we found: 

Swillin’: How common is it for dogs to accidentally ingest marijuana?

We see it relatively often. A rough estimate would be a couple of phone calls or patients a week that we suspect ingested marijuana. 

Swillin’: How can you tell? 

Signs we see are ataxia (stumbling on hind limbs), dribbling urine, and hyperesthesia (reactivity to light and sound). They tend to act lethargic, sleepy and then can be roused.

Swillin’: What’s the best remedy? 

Typically, within 24 hours the symptoms will subside; keeping your pet in a quiet dark area will help keep them comfortable. But there are toxic doses. I had one dog in that ate cuttings and almost looked like it had Tetanus-stiff rigid legs; it needed to be on IV fluids for 12 hours to help flush the THC out of its system

Swillin’: How can you prevent it? 

A common occurrence we see in dogs out on trails is marijuana toxicosis. THC is very lipid-soluble, meaning it’s easily stored in the fatty tissues of the liver, brain, and kidneys before being eliminated from the body. THC is metabolized in the liver and the majority (65-90%) is excreted in the feces; while only a small percentage (10-35%) is eliminated through the kidneys. This is true for any mammal. So, the most common way we see marijuana toxicosis in dogs is from eating human feces. Since the THC remains unchanged, if they somehow find it dogs will snack on these “tasty tidbits” and show symptoms as soon as 20 minutes post ingestion. So, if you’re camping, take care to leave no trace. Keeping your dog on a leash will also help prevent this. Also, keep your own supplies safely out of reach where they can’t accidentally find it. And don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian if you have any questions; we can typically assess these instances pretty quickly.