Dogs Eating Marijuana

In Durango, Colorado about two cases of dog poisoning by marijuana consumption are occurring monthly, up from just one a year. The reason for the increase – medical marijuana access has expanded so dogs are exposed to more of it. Generally marijuana consumption by dogs doesn’t cause long-term health problems or deaths it is currently believed, but it does render them stoned and sometimes unable to walk, eat or drink properly. Once a dog eats marijuana, they typically require professional care. The marijuana effect depends upon the size of the dog, the amount they ate and the marijuana’s concentration.

Medical marijuana is placed in foods as a delivery method, and everyone knows dogs can’t resist food, so some times they are consuming their owners pot pain relief accidentally. A variety of foods can be used, and there is even a marijuana dispensary restaurant in Colorado called Ganja Gourmet offering brownies, medicated pizza, and pot pies, for example – just don’t bring dogs.

A veterinarian named Eric Barchas wrote on this website the symptoms of marijuana pet poisoning can be: “Anxiety, panting, and agitation commonly occur following exposure to marijuana. In some pets, marijuana toxicity results in profound lethargy that can border on unconsciousness.”

Has your pet ever eaten anything potentially dangerous?

Image Credit: O’Dea

Read more: Conscious Consumer, Wildlife

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Pat W.

12:52AM PDT on May 22, 2012

thank you for the awareness.In reading some of the comments...nothing was mentioned about the animals accidentally? getting laced pot. Still not right to do to any animal...

send a green star

Mari G.

2:47PM PDT on Apr 30, 2012

i had a friend who's dog ate part of her stash, the dog was fine, just stoned out of her mind and resting. if you have medicine around, dont leave it in a place a pet or child can easily get it, simple common sense.

KS G.

1:33AM PDT on Mar 18, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Teresa W.

5:24AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

Don't make dogs drug addicts!

5:23AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

scary

colleen p.

5:14AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

so, it is not toxic to a dog to eat. I am just wondering. because you can kill a parrot by feeding them avacado

5:10AM PST on Jan 4, 2012