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New York City marijuana smokers beware. Excess buds, flowers, and joints left around can be toxic to pets.
That’s what multiple veterinarians have been saying since recreational marijuana became legal in all states in 2021. Veterinarians across the Big Apple are seeing a growing number of their beloved patients, including dogs and cats, fall sick after accidentally ingesting marijuana. Immediate treatment.
Although fatalities are rare, pets that ingest marijuana can have serious consequences that require immediate medical attention.
Carly Fox, DVM, a senior veterinarian in emergency medicine at Animal Medical Center (AMC) on Manhattan’s East Side, says marijuana is one of the most common toxicities in dogs she sees at the hospital. He said that it is.
“Marijuana ingestion is something we see every day,” Fox said. “I’ve been seeing it more often, especially since it became legal in New York. But I saw it before it was legalized.”
Andrew Torchia, DVM, medical director of Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group, echoed Fox’s remarks, saying increased access to cannabis by humans means increased exposure to cannabis around pets. Ta.
“With the new legalization of marijuana, this drug is spreading throughout the city and unfortunately it’s having a negative impact on dogs,” Torchia said. “Increased availability means increased pet contact and a significant increase in marijuana toxicity.
Dogs and cats can get sick from eating “edible” pot products, such as pot brownies or chocolate, or from ingesting drugs in some form. To dogs, marijuana smells like an intriguing, new, and tasty treat.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. While THC produces a high in humans, it is a toxin in cats and dogs and can cause severe symptoms, doctors say.
“THC is much more toxic to dogs than it is to humans because dogs have higher concentrations of cannabinoid receptors in their brains, which makes them more sensitive to THC,” says WebMD’s Chief Physician in Health and Lifestyle Medicine. said editor Neha Pathak, MD.
Pathak added that even small amounts of THC can be toxic to pets.
Signs that your pet has ingested drugs include an unsteady or “drunk-like” gait, urinary incontinence, excessive drooling, vomiting, and dilated pupils.
Symptoms appear relatively quickly after ingestion, Fox said, adding that each animal’s effects may vary.
“Signs usually appear soon after ingestion, usually within an hour after ingestion. Dogs usually exhibit very similar symptoms,” she said. “When I see a dog in triage and the owner says the dog is acting strange, I can almost always be sure that the dog is high on marijuana.”
A box of illegal pot. Photo credit: Lloyd Mitchell
What about smoking around pets?
Torchia explained that second-hand smoke can also pose a risk to pets, especially if you live in a small apartment in New York City.
“What people don’t realize is that most apartments are typically designed to have adequate air circulation for a typical adult,” Torchia explained. “Most of our animals are on the ground, so everything is calm.”
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for doctors to determine exactly how an animal became ill, whether through smoke inhalation or ingestion. While it would be helpful if pet owners could remember if their animal had ingested something poisonous, such as a bud or edible, that is not always possible.
“It’s always hard to tell. We don’t know if the little buds fell on the ground or if it was from second-hand smoke,” Torchia said.
Discarded joints can also be a problem
Of course dogs need walks. While it’s always a good idea to take your pup outside to get some fresh air, the discarded joints and cartridges littering city streets can be a problem for your pet as well, resulting in marijuana exposure. Typical signs of toxicity or worse may occur.
“All of this can happen through secondary inhalation or ingestion of even the smallest bit of marijuana debris on the sidewalk,” Torchia said. “Exposure to high concentrations, such as ingesting concentrated THC cartridges found on the street or in your home, can severely inhibit your pet’s ability to breathe.”
Torchia also had patients who became ill from marijuana residue used by their neighbors.
“One pet parent had a small dog who lived in a high-rise residential building, and the dog had just stepped outside on a small balcony that was 3 feet by 6 feet,” he explained. “After he was brought in and showed clinical symptoms, we discovered that his upstairs neighbor had dropped something onto the balcony, probably unintentionally.”
Dogs, cats, and rabbits can suffer from marijuana toxicity.
Dogs and cats aren’t the only pets that can get sick from marijuana. Rabbits can also get sick.
“We’ve seen it in rabbits,” Fox said. “I think the rabbits ate the real flowers. It smells like earth. They took it away and the rabbits roamed free and ate it.”
Thankfully, the rabbit was healthy and healthy, Fox added.
How is marijuana toxicity in pets treated?
The good news is that marijuana toxicity is rarely fatal. Still, doctors say pet owners should always keep cannabis away from their pets.
“Pet owners, especially in urban environments like New York, should keep cannabis products out of reach (stored safely) and take precautions during walks to prevent dogs from accidentally ingesting anything harmful. There is a need,” Pathak said.
Your veterinarian will usually treat your pet by providing supportive care, such as anti-nausea medications and intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.
Of course, each pet and case is different. Although death is unlikely, some cases can be severe enough to require more extensive treatment, such as when an animal bites a high-concentration THC cartridge.
Doctors say that even if you don’t know how or whether your pet became infected, it’s always best to seek veterinary care immediately if you have any doubts.
