Here’s what to do if your pet eats cannabis
CTV
After marijuana was legalized for recreational use, reports of cannabis-induced toxicosis in pets have increased ‘significantly’ in Canada since 2018. Here’s what you should do if your pet gets into your weed stash.
Reports of cannabis-induced toxicosis in pets have increased "significantly" in North America since 2018, after marijuana was legalized for recreational use in Canada and several U.S. states, according to a 2022 study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph and data from the Pet Poison Helpline.
University of Guelph researchers surveyed 251 veterinarians in Canada and the United States—191 of whom practiced in Canada—between January and April 2021. According to the survey data, published in PLOS ONE on April 20, 2022, cannabis poisonings were most commonly reported in dogs and most likely to be caused by edibles that pets ate while unattended.
"The legalization of cannabis use in Canada and the U.S. is likely an important factor associated with the increased cannabis toxicosis cases in pets; however, the legal status may also increase reporting," researchers noted in the study abstract.
The study also found most pets recovered completely after cannabis poisoning, however, there were some deaths.
Additionally, a representative from the Pet Poison Helpline—which takes calls from Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean—told CTV News it experienced a 735 per cent increase in calls about marijuana poisonings in pets from 2018 to 2022.
Whether your dog or cat (or in some cases, bird) eats an edible, marijuana flower or inhales excessive amounts of cannabis smoke, it can be dangerous and in some cases, deadly.
VCA Canada Animal Hospitals, which is made up of a network of veterinary hospitals in six provinces across the country, says it's important to determine which kind of marijuana product your pet ingested, because it affects which treatment your pet will need. For example, a dog that eats a brownie made with cannabis will need treatment for both chocolate toxicity as well as cannabis toxicity, while a dog that inhales marijuana smoke may need respiratory treatment.
