Whether Mary-Jane is your friend or foe, she’s not going away anytime soon, but what about the relationship she has with your pets?
The two most well-known cannabinoids of marijuana (though there are quite a few) are CBD and THC, both with very different affects. You can watch a break down of the two here.
CBD is a derivative of marijuana with documented health benefits in humans and their pets alike, for everything from pain management to anxiety. Though there are trials currently taking place, nothing is approved by Health Canada (yet) when it comes to using CBD for animals.
Photo Credit: OK Pet Project
This, hopefully, will be changing moving forward, and although you can seek advice on using the products and do your own research, your vet is still legally not allowed to prescribe or advise on use of cannabis products.
THC, on the other hand, is something you want to keep far, far away from your beloved bubbas. This component of the marijuana is responsible for the “high” feeling associated with weed. While this might be a good time for you, this is bad for your dogs. It binds differently to receptors in your dog than it does to you; so instead of feeling calm and relaxed, your pet will experience the equivalent of a “bad trip”, formally known as THC Toxicity.
Symptoms include sleepiness, vomiting, losing control of bladder and bowels, dilated pupils, eyes rolling back to show whites, excessive salivation (drooling or smacking their lips), low body temperature, crying or howling, and in extreme cases seizures and even death.
Photo Credit: OK Pet Project
If you or anyone in your house does have marijuana, it is important to keep it in a safe container far away from where your pets can get at it. Edibles, specifically, have a high concentration of THC and are likely the most appealing to anything four-legged, so taking precaution that it is safely stored will be a big help in avoiding the problem… and a large vet bill.
Although some vets are reporting higher frequency in cases, Dr. Henry at Fairfield Animal Hospital says they have not seen an increase since legalization; they generally see 1-2 cases during emergency hours per month. The treatment can range from simple monitoring of the animal to IV fluids and an anti-nausea shot. It is important to note you should not be embarrassed to take your pet to seek medical attention, whether they ate a discarded joint on the sidewalk or got into your personal stash – it is important to get them help and there is no vet who will be judgemental of you as an owner.
*Please note both dogs pictured above who accidentally ingested marijuana were taken for immediate medical treatment and are completely fine.
