My dog ate weed, what should I do?

Marijuana, also known as Weed, Pot or Cannabis is widely used for recreational purposes. Some people smoked it as a pipe or cigarette, while others mix it into food or brew it like a tea. Legalized sale of marijuana made it available all around the table in the form of edible products, such as cookies, brownies, and chocolates. This results in a serious concern of accidental consumption of raw or edible marijuana products by those who can get hurt by it, such as dogs.  Dogs are more curious about things and therefore more likely to consume weed than any other pet. The number of cases of these accidents (i.e. marijuana toxicosis cases in dogs) became more common and astonishingly going high day by day in the state. As Marijuana legalization is becoming a thing, we want to be more responsible and make sure to keep the weed out of reach of those who are not supposed to i.e. your dog, cats, and other house pets. Here is a list of several questions that came in the mind of responsible dog owners living in a marijuana world.

Can weed cause poisoning in dogs? What amount of weed is nontoxic to dogs?

Marijuana plant also known as Cannabis sativa contains >400 different chemicals, out of them the most psychological active one is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol also known as THC.  THC acts within specific areas of the brain9cannabinoid receptors) that influence or regulate memory, pleasure, thinking, movement, coordination, and sensory and time perception. Due to this, weed produces various harmful side effects and is toxic to animals, especially dogs. However, weed toxicity depends upon the quantity and quality of the marijuana consumed. It has been noted that if dogs ingested 3g of THC per kg (2 lbs) of weight it can be deadly. However, consumption in smaller amount also sometimes lead to seizures or comas. Thus, it is advisable to seek immediate medical emergency, if you find or suspect that your dog ate weed.

How to know that my dog ate Marijuana? What are the symptoms of Marijuana Toxicity in Dogs?

Dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains than humans therefore marijuana have more harmful side effects and cause acute poisoning in dogs. Symptoms usually start appearing within minutes to hours of exposure depending on the amount eaten and last for hours to days.

Clinical signs and symptoms of marijuana toxicity are as follows:

• Sensitivity to loud noises
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Incoordination and uncoordinated movements
• Disorientation
• Irregular heartbeat
• Urine retention
• Barking, howling, or whining
• Dilated pupils
• Low or high body temperature
• Irregular heartbeat
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Tremors
• Comatose state  

Depend upon the amount eaten these symptoms either fade quickly or stay longer, but it is advisable to call your vet and get their advice for treatment.

My dog ate weed now what should I do?

Due to increasing cases of marijuana toxicity in dogs it is a common question that everyone wants to know.

• The first and foremost thing that a dog owner can do is to call your vet immediately to seek veterinary care, without any hesitation. Your dog’s health is important than your embarrassment.
• Second thing is to determine what and when your dog ate the weed. It is important to find out precisely the type of marijuana your pet dog ate, as different forms have different toxicities. This is the first thing that your vet going to ask you. This information will help the vet to decide the right kind of treatment.
• Third thing what you can do is to record any symptoms of marijuana toxicity your dog might be having.
• Marijuana ingestion can make your dog disoriented and confused. Therefore, it is also advisable to keep them in a quiet room to reduce sensory stimulation while getting ready for the veterinarian.

How long does weed stay in a dog’s system?

How long marijuana will stay in dogs depends on several factors such as the amount of marijuana ingested, amount of THC in marijuana, how often your dog consumed it, body fat and metabolism. In most of the cases the effects wear off within a few hours, but the traces of chemicals can remain longer in the body ever for weeks.

What is the possible way of treatment for marijuana toxicity in dogs? How to treat a dog that ate weed?

The treatment methods will vary depending upon the toxicities that dogs have. Following is a list of different treatments your veterinarian will use to treat your dog.

1.    Emesis: Trigger or induce vomiting.

2.    Supportive care such as Hospitalization for continued monitoring

3.    Fluid Therapy: Administration of fluids

4.    Use of anti-nausea medication, sedatives

5.    Cardiovascular support if needed

6.    Regulation of temperature

7.    Use of ventilator or respirator in severe cases.

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