With the marijuana legalization bill still being passed back and forth between the federal government and Senate 鈥� but seemingly close to getting passed -- one veterinarian is warning pet owners about the drug鈥檚 effect on animals.
On May 26, Ontario woman Chelsea Schoof was on a camping trip in Massassauga Provincial Park with her husband and their two dogs when her eight-month-old puppy stumbled over.
Schoof posted on that the dog鈥檚 eyes were 鈥渟quinting and hazy,鈥� that he was 鈥渄ribbling urine and whining鈥� and that his whole body was shaking. Schoof wrote that she rushed him to the nearest vet only to discover that the dog was suffering from marijuana poisoning.
鈥淭he vet said she has been seeing at least 1 case per week of this, that鈥檚 why she could recognize his symptoms right away,鈥� Schoof said in her Facebook post.
鈥淪he said it has happened at campsites and public parks, etc. She said she has even seen cases where dogs have eaten a Qtip that was used to clean a bong and the dog had these symptoms.鈥�
Vets say they're seeing more and more cases of animals being poisoned through ingesting marijuana products -- or through second-hand smoke.
鈥淭hey are more sensitive and they have more cannabinoid receptors, that鈥檚 what鈥檚 speculated,鈥� veterinary medical expert Dr. Rebecca Greenstein told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Thursday.
Some symptoms of marijuana toxicity include lethargy, dilated pupils or glassy eyes, difficulty walking, vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, whining or crying, tremors, seizures, and potentially comas.
Generally, the cases are mild, but as more potent cannabis products increase in popularity, some can turn serious. A from Colorado reported two cases of dogs dying after ingesting THC butter. The same study also found a statistically significant connection between the number of medical marijuana licences issued and the number for marijuana toxicosis cases that animal hospitals are seeing, indicating medical marijuana, could be a key cause.
Greenstein says it is most common in dogs because they are naturally more curious and likely to ingest cannabis that they find. Not all cases are accidents, though.
鈥淪ometimes there are reports of intentional toxicoses where someone will actually blow smoke in their face,鈥� Greenstein said.
The Senate is currently reviewing changes the federal government has made to Bill C-45. If they accept them all, marijuana could be legal and accessible in matter of weeks
Schoof says that her dog did return to normal within two days, but she wants pet owners to be cautious. 鈥淲ith marijuana being legalized, it will only get more common from here,鈥� Schoof said in her Facebook post.
