What to Do If Your Dog Ate Weed: A Vet’s 2025 Guide 🐶🚨🌿
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What to Do If Your Dog Ate Weed: A Vet’s 2025 Guide 🐶🚨🌿
By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc
1. Is THC Toxic to Dogs?
Yes—THC (delta‑9‑tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive component in cannabis, is toxic to dogs. Due to a higher concentration of cannabinoid receptors in their brains, even small doses can cause pronounced effects.
2. How Dogs Get Exposed
- 🌿 Eating raw cannabis buds or smoked residues
- 🍪 Ingesting THC‑infused edibles like brownies or gummies—common culprits—and potentially laced with other toxins like chocolate or xylitol.
- 💨 Inhaling secondhand smoke, though ingestion is more concerning.
3. Recognizing Symptoms
Signs typically start within 30–90 minutes and may last up to 72 hrs or more. Watch for:
- 🥱 Lethargy or deep sedation
- 🤸♂️ Loss of coordination, ataxia, wobbling gait
- 👁️ Dilated pupils, glassy eyes, hypersensitivity to light, sound or touch
- 💧 Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
- 🚻 Urinary incontinence or increased urination
- ❤️🩹 Slow heart rate, low blood pressure
- 🧠 Tremors, seizures, disorientation—typically in large doses
4. Is It Life-threatening?
Most THC exposures aren't fatal, but severe cases—especially involving edibles with chocolate or xylitol—can be. Hospitalization and complications like low body temperature or seizures may occur.
5. What to Do Immediately 🛡️
- 📞 Call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855‑764‑7661 in North America) promptly.
- 📝 Be transparent: what, when, amount, dog’s weight and symptoms.
- 🚫 Don’t induce vomiting at home—it can cause aspiration or worsen GI irritation.
- 🚗 Transport safely to the clinic; your vet may induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal if within 1–2 hrs.
6. Veterinary Diagnosis & Treatment
- 🔍 Physical and neurological exam; urine THC testing possible
- 💧 IV fluids to correct hydration, blood pressure, and body temperature
- 🩹 Activated charcoal if recent ingestion; vomiting induction at clinic
- 💤 Tranquilizers or anti-seizure meds to manage severe symptoms
- 🌙 Warming or cooling support as needed; quiet, dark recovery space
- 🏥 Monitoring 24–72 hrs—some dogs may be discharged same day, others need overnight care
- ⚠️ Additional treatments if toxins (chocolate/xylitol) are also involved.
7. Prognosis & Recovery
- 🟢 Most dogs recover fully within 24–72 hours.
- 🟠 Occasional mild lasting effects (e.g., lethargy, incoordination) may take days to resolve.
- 🔴 Rarely, severe cases may require longer stays or intensive care, especially if seizures occur or multi-toxin exposure.
8. Prevention Strategies
- 🔒 Store cannabis—buds, edibles, smoke paraphernalia—in secure, pet‑proof containers
- 🚫 Dispose of waste (wrappers, edibles) responsibly and out of reach
- 👥 Educate family, guests, and sitters about potential risks
- 🌳 Be vigilant during walks, especially in areas where edibles might be discarded
- 🐕 For dogs prone to scavenging, consider muzzles on walks or remove them from exposure zones
9. Ask A Vet Support
- 📱 Ask A Vet App – 24/7 expert triage if ingestion is suspected
- 🎓 Webinars on safe storage, walk safety, and signs to watch
- 🛠️ Woopf & Purrz Safety Kits™ – lockboxes, disposal guides, training aids
10. Final Takeaway 🌟
THC poisoning in dogs is serious but rarely deadly. Quick recognition, honest reporting, and supportive veterinary care are key. Prevention—by securing cannabis and educating your household—is the best medicine. In 2025, protect curious pups with awareness and preparedness 🐾💚.
Think your dog may have ingested cannabis? Visit AskAVet.com or open our app—vet help is just a tap away.
