What to do if your dog eats weed? Dogs are naturally curious creatures, often exploring and sometimes snacking on things they shouldn’t. They may ingest harmful items like caffeine, chocolate, onions, garlic, avocados, sugary foods, and even weed or marijuana.
1. Immediate Action Required
If your dog ever goes through such a difficult situation. The first step you should take as a pet owner is to contact your vet immediately. Grab the veterinary attention without hesitation.
Don’t panic at all if you are worried about your pet even if it is embarrassing. The veterinary team won’t judge you for being honest. Additionally, don’t share this information with law enforcement or run out to the police.
They just want to help your dogs recover from this situation with supportive care. They also know that it is important to save the life of your four-leg friend. So, be cautious with dogs as they’re our best friends.
2. Common Symptoms of Weed Consumption
The priority is your dog’s well-being. There are common symptoms of weed consumption in dogs: –
2.01 Sleepiness
Weed is toxic and can make your dog excessively drowsy. If they’re unresponsive, seek vet assistance.
2.02 Lack Of Coordination
Your dog may stumble or struggle to control their movements.
2.03 Urinary Accidents
If your dog ate weed, they may lose bladder control and urinate on themselves due to marijuana toxicity.
2.04 Restlessness
Sometimes after consuming weed and marijuana, dogs become super active, leading to hyperactivity and increased jumpiness.
2.05 Vomiting
This may occur, potentially leading to dehydration. Avoid inducing vomiting without professional guidance.
3. Onset And Duration Of Symptoms
If your dog ate any form of weed or marijuana you’ll find out somehow. So, this is a very critical situation for both the owner and the pet. But, you will start to see such symptoms in 30 minutes to an hour after weed or marijuana ingestion.
4. Understanding THC
In humans, consuming weed in its raw form has little to no physical or psychoactive effects. But, why is it toxic to dogs? If humans eat raw cannabis flowers, it does not affect them much. However, for pets, the effects are more pronounced and why is weed bad for your dog?
This is because of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol, found in marijuana and weed and also known as THC. Which is very harmful toxic, and life-threatening to your four-legged friend. When you smoke or eat marijuana, THC is the active ingredient that gets you high. Consequently, just as you avoid giving marijuana or weed to your kids, you should avoid it for pets as well.
In general cases, these symptoms persist for about 24 hours. Your dog will sober up without getting any treatment. It may take up to 48 hours for small dogs to fully sober up. Initially, the effects are mild, but they can worsen over time.
5. Steps To Take If You Suspect Your Dog Consumed Weed
If a dog is doing suspicious behaviour then we are able to know whether he has consumed weed or not by the following symptoms.
5.01 Determine The Type Of Cannabis Consumed By The Dogs
-Raw cannabis leaves: – If your dog ate some raw leaves of the cannabis plant, then you don’t have to worry as much. While it’s growing, the THC has not been activated.
-Burned cannabis: – In burned cannabis, there could be some activated THC present; hence, this is not suitable for your dog.
-Edible marijuana products: – These are very dangerous because it is high in THC. If your dog is acting strange after consuming chocolate and artificial sweeteners, then immediately contact your veterinarian.
5.02 Evaluate Symptoms
Light toxicity will present symptoms after your dog eats weed. Such as inactivity, difficulty in walking or loss of coordination, increased or decreased body temperature, and excessive salivation. In extreme cases, your dog may significantly lose bladder control, experience slow heart rate, or have seizures.
5.03 Induce Vomiting
After you recognize that your dog ate weed or marijuana, give your dog hydrogen peroxide to make it vomit. If advised by a vet.
5.04 Seek Professional Help
If you confirm after watching your pet closely that your dog ate weed and if the symptoms get worse. The only way to save your dog’s life is by visiting the vet. Be honest with the vet, give them all the information as much as possible.
6. Serious Side Effects After Weed Or Marijuana Ingestion In Dogs
Your dog can suffer poisoning from eating any part of the actual plant because of the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substance in marijuana. Furthermore, dogs have a much more severe reaction to this than humans. In fact, even a small amount of cannabis is all it takes to cause toxicity in dogs. While most humans experience pleasant effects from marijuana, dogs do not simply get small snacks and take naps.
So, here are some of the poisonous side effects from consuming marijuana and weed:
6.01 Sensitivity To Loud Noises
Even the smallest thing can spook a stoned pet.
6.02 Low Heart Rate
It can feel scary to the dog and may cause anxiety as well.
6.03 Dilated Pupils
Eyes with dilated pupils that are unable to focus and are blinking more than usual
6.04 Low Or High Body Temperature
Body temperature may increase or decrease dramatically without warning, so, you should check your pet’s rectal temperature.
6.05 Loss Of Coordination
Your dog may lose their ability to stand or may start stumbling, falling, or swaying.
6.06 Vomiting
Too much vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration. If left untreated for too long, it can be fatal.
6.07 Dribbling Urine
Dogs may be unable to hold their urine, and they lose bladder control which leads to urine on themselves.
7. Addressing Extreme Cases
If you are not able to know that your dog has consumed weed on time then it will be very dangerous for the dog. In those extreme cases, the dog will show some of these symptoms.
7.01 Tremors
Shaking or muscle tremors
7.02 Seizures
If your dog has a seizure after accidental ingestion of marijuana, then take it to the emergency vet immediately. As it may need treatment to fully recover. Rarely, dogs if they eat weed may suffer from seizures.
7.03 Comatose State
If the reaction is very bad, your dog could go into a coma.
Dogs experience these distressing side effects more strongly than humans. Other possible side effects include vomiting, respiratory depression, tremors, and shaking, and some dogs can become comatose. It’s important to note that in some cases it could even take months for the symptoms of poisoning to appear. But, typically it will take several days.
8. Taking Care Of Your Pet
Use this incident as a wake-up call and take care of your pet. If your pet eats behind your back and consumes weeds, visit the veterinarian immediately and discuss the observed clinical signs. You should always seek veterinary advice.
Traditional medications may be given to decrease anxiety and restlessness. Temporarily, keep your dog in a dark, quiet area of your house to help prevent sensory overstimulation. It’s important to keep in mind whether your dog’s symptoms are caused by eating weed or not, However, it’s best to get up and take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible.
9. Prevention
Most dogs recover from marijuana or weed toxicity, although the symptoms and treatment can be scary. Additionally, if you use marijuana or weed, keep an up-to-date inventory of all medical marijuana or weed products. Ensure that it does not happen again.
If a dog lives in your house don’t ever leave the weed or marijuana stuff on the coffee table and the ground or it will become the snack of your four-legged friend. Instead, it is better to keep your stuff out of reach.
10. Take Responsibility
The most important move and best way to ensure your pet stays safe is to make sure that everyone in your home knows that, always keep any drugs out of reach of children and pets.
Additionally, assign a trustworthy caretaker to keep an eye on your dog. Especially when you are at work or if you have to work for long hours and in the event of an emergency, when you are not at home, tell all your household members where to find your vet’s phone number.
11. Basic Home Treatment
If you want to treat your dog at your home with mild cases of marijuana ingestion. Keep your dog in a safe, quiet room. Where he cannot fall from the stairs and where there is no light or sound. Additionally, if you use cannabis products, store them in a locked drawer. However, if your dog shows signs of marijuana ingestion, take them to the emergency vet immediately.
12. Being A Responsible Pet Owner
Eating weed by your dog gets your dog high. So, don’t leave it around for them, and don’t blow smoke in their face with recreational marijuana. The effects should be more profound because pets weigh less than humans do.
When it comes to chewing on things, most dogs have little control. However, as pet owners, we understand that self-control is usually not one of their strengths. In such situations, it’s best to talk to a vet sooner rather than later. This proactive approach can make a significant difference in your dog’s well-being.
13. Responding To THC Exposure
Still, accidents can happen because dogs are curious companions that sniff around the most unexpected areas. Make sure your four-legged friend has no chance of gaining access to it. To avoid any unwanted emotional or financial problems keep it securely in a safe place that they cannot access. And by any chance they do gain access, and provide treatment. Animals react to THC ingestion differently than humans. They experience poisoning, not a high whether it’s a big dog or a small dog.
They do not experience these sensations as being enjoyable like humans, dogs also experience some mental and physical effects from exposure to weed or marijuana. There are certainly some severe cases in which a dog could die from severe symptoms by eating weed. However, you should do your best to keep your stuff well away from your dog’s reach. If you notice THC toxicity in your dogs which are mentioned above call your vet immediately and have supportive care.
14. Final Note
In the event of a dog ingesting weed, immediate action is crucial. As responsible pet owners, contact a vet without hesitation, prioritizing our furry companions’ well-being. Understanding symptoms like sleepiness, lack of coordination, and urinary accidents allows for timely intervention.
THC, a harmful component in marijuana, makes it toxic to dogs. Prevent access to cannabis in any form, whether raw leaves, burned cannabis, or edibles with high THC content. Ensure a safe environment and keep drugs out of reach. Have a trusted caretaker’s contact info for emergencies.
In mild cases, provide a calm, dark space for the dog and seek vet advice. Being responsible pet owners means preventing access to marijuana and acting promptly in case of ingestion to protect our four-legged friends from severe effects.
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