The short answer
Call your veterinarian, a 24 hour emergency clinic, or a pet poison hotline the moment you suspect your pet ate cannabis. Do not wait for symptoms. Do not try to make your pet throw up unless a vet tells you to. Keep the packaging, or a photo of it, so you can say what was eaten, how much THC it contained, and whether chocolate, xylitol, or raisins were in the mix.
Symptoms of Cannabis Ingestion in Pets: What to Watch For
Most pets survive cannabis exposure with supportive care. The exceptions tend to involve very high doses, very small pets, or an edible that also contained something else poisonous.
what to do if my pet ate cannabis
Why cannabis hits pets harder than people
Dogs have a higher density of cannabinoid receptors in the brain than humans do, and their livers handle THC differently. A dose that leaves a person relaxed can leave a 15 pound dog flat on the floor and unable to stand.
Veterinary toxicology references put the threshold for clinical signs in dogs somewhere around 0.3 grams of plant material per kilogram of body weight. A brownie or a gummy is a different problem, because the THC is concentrated and packaged with sugar and fat that speed absorption.
symptoms of cannabis ingestion in pets
Signs to watch for
- Wobbling, stumbling, or a drunken walk
- Drowsiness, staring off, unresponsiveness
- Vomiting
- Dribbling urine or full loss of bladder control
- Dilated pupils, glassy eyes, sensitivity to light
- Low body temperature and a slow heart rate
- Tremors, twitching, agitation, and in severe cases seizures or coma
Timing matters. Plant material usually causes signs within 30 to 90 minutes. Edibles can take one to four hours, sometimes longer. Effects can run 12 to 72 hours.
Some pets go the other way and get hyper, pace, or startle at noise. That is the same poisoning with a different face, and it does not mean the dose was mild.
The part people miss: what else was in the edible
Chocolate, xylitol, raisins, macadamia nuts, and heavy salt are common in cannabis edibles, and any of them can be more dangerous than the THC itself. Xylitol is the one that worries me most. A small dog can crash from a few pieces of sugar free gum or candy, and that toxicity moves fast. Say all of this out loud when you call, because it changes the treatment plan.
What to do, step by step
- Move your pet away from any remaining product and seal it up, out of reach.
- Write down the time of ingestion, the product name, the THC per serving, and how many servings are missing. Mention if a child or another pet could have gotten into it too.
- Call your vet, the nearest 24 hour hospital, or a poison hotline. ASPCA Animal Poison Control is (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline is (855) 764-7661. Both charge a consultation fee. A fee is cheaper than guessing.
- Be honest about the drug. Vets want to treat your pet, not judge you. Hiding it burns the window for decontamination.
- Follow instructions exactly. If they say come in, go in. If they say monitor at home, ask which signs mean you should come in anyway.
- Keep your pet warm, calm, and off stairs. A wobbly dog falls, and a dog that cannot stand can slide into a water bowl.
What not to do
- Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you. With edibles and a sedated pet, aspiration is a real risk.
- Do not give human medications, activated charcoal, or coffee to wake them up.
- Do not add more CBD or any supplement hoping it balances things out. There is no home antidote.
- Do not leave them alone to sleep it off. Breathing and body temperature can drop.
What the vet will likely do
Seen within an hour or two, your pet may get emesis induction and activated charcoal to limit absorption. After that, care is supportive: IV fluids, anti-nausea drugs, warmth, and monitoring of heart rate, temperature, and neurologic status. Severe cases get oxygen, seizure control, or lipid emulsion therapy.
Blood work and urine testing can confirm THC exposure, but vets often start treating from the history and exam alone because time matters more than a lab result.
Where CBD products fit, and where they do not
CBD is not THC, and a pet product with a verified low THC content carries a different risk than a dispensary edible. That said, the FDA has not approved CBD for animals, and testing has found THC in products labeled THC free. If your pet is already taking a CBD tincture, tell the vet the brand, the milligrams per milliliter, and the batch number. Do not start anything new while your pet is sick.
Keeping it out of reach
Store flower and edibles in a locked box, not a nightstand drawer. Dogs open zipper bags. Know what is in your house and roughly how much, so you can answer questions fast if this happens again. Hang up purses and backpacks. That is the entire prevention plan, and it holds up.