How can a dog get poisoned by cannabis?
A dog can become poisoned with cannabis if he accidentally swallows it in the form of:
- cannabis resin or hashish, consumed as it is or mixed with tobacco in a “joint”,
- dried leaves and/or flowers (marijuana) of cannabis,
- fresh leaves eaten from a home grown plant,
- hash oil,
- of "space cake" or any other food made from Marrakesh butter.
More rarely, a dog can be accidentally poisoned by passive inhalation of fumes from the combustion of cannabis-based products.
" Alas, dog intoxication can sometimes be voluntary by unscrupulous owners who blow the smoke from a joint directly into the animal&39;s mouth."
Why is cannabis toxic to dogs?
If cannabis is very toxic to dogs, it is because of the cannabinoids that the plant contains. Among these cannabinoids, the best known and the most toxic of them is THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
THC acts on receptors present in the dog's brain and has the effect of:
- modify the motor behavior of the dog,
- harm to the animal's cardiovascular system, respiratory system, thermoregulation and central nervous system.
Toxic doses of cannabis are very low for the dog. In other words, it only takes a little to trigger the first signs of intoxication or even to cause the death of the animal. The toxic dose in dogs is 30 mg of whole plant per kg while the lethal dose for dogs is only 3 g/kg of whole plant.
What are the signs of cannabis poisoning in dogs?
In the event of cannabis poisoning in a dog, the disorders generally appear between 30 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion or inhalation. They consist of:
- neurological disorders which are manifested by drowsiness, prostration, the appearance of aggressiveness and/or abnormal behavior, tremors, alternating phases of dejection with phases of excitement , disorientation and gait disturbances, uncontrolled barking and/or anxiety In the most severe cases, the dog may experience convulsions or fall into a coma,
- digestive signs such as vomiting and hypersalivation, and sometimes faecal incontinence,
- cardiorespiratory signs such as heart rhythm or respiratory rate disturbances,
- an increase or, on the contrary, a decrease in the body temperature of the dog, signs of disorders of the dog's thermoregulation,
- abnormal dilation of the dog's pupils.
These symptoms can persist for up to 72 hours because THC has the effect of solubilizing in the fatty tissues of the body, which makes it quite difficult for the latter to eliminate it.
Cannabis poisoning in a dog: how to react?
If your dog has swallowed cannabis, it is necessary to take him quickly to your veterinarian, regardless of the time of day or night when the incident occurred.If you are unable to drive, ask a friend, neighbor or acquaintance to accompany you: your pet's life may be at stake!
If the dog's poisoning is very recent, the veterinarian can then carry out digestive decontamination of the animal by making it vomit and administering activated charcoal.
Warning
Never try to make your pet vomit yourself and on your own initiative, without the advice and advice of a veterinarian. You could be doing your dog more harm than good.
Generally, the intoxicated animal is then placed under close veterinary supervision during hospitalization at the clinic during which care will be provided to relieve its symptoms. This hospitalization can be prolonged for the duration of the elimination of the toxin from the animal's body.
In most cases, when the poisoning is not too severe, the dog will be able to recover without sequelae, but recovery of the animal may take several days.