Marijuana - Medical, Legal, and Illegal
September 2014 As of this writing, 22 more states, and the District of Columbia allow for
medical use of marijuana. Two states have legalized marijuana for recreational use: Washington state and Colorado (More Information:
State Laws Related to Marijuana). In other states, marijuana use is illegal.
Marijuana Toxicity in Pets on the Rise
Legality aside, veterinarians are seeing a sharp increase in the
number of cases of marijuana poisoning in pets. Pet Poison Helpline has
noticed a 200% increase in calls related to marijuana toxicity between
2010 and 2014.
Ahna Brutlag DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline notes:
“The trend we’ve seen in recent years involving pets and marijuana
is
significant,” said Dr. Brutlag. “Of all illicit drugs, marijuana has
always been responsible for the most calls to Pet Poison Helpline,
but this recent increase is the sharpest we have ever seen."
How Toxic is Marijuana?
Thankfully, marijuana has a "wide margin of safety" as far as lethal effects, meaning most
dogs won't die after ingesting or inhaling it. Death, while rare, may occur. The
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care published a veterinary study noting
that two small dogs died after ingesting baked goods that contained
baked goods made with medical grade marijuana butter. Illness, often
requiring a few days of veterinary care, is a more common scenario.
What are Sources of Pet Marijuana Toxicities?
- Inhalation of the smoke
- Ingestion of the dried plant
- ingestion of foods laced with marijuana (e.g., brownies, cookies, butter), or products made with hashish.
"Most commonly, dogs eat the dried plant directly from their owner’s stash, or eat foods made
to contain marijuana. When those foods also contain chocolate, the risk of additional poisoning is increased," notes Dr. Brutlag.
What are the Signs of Marijuana Poisoning in Dogs and Cats?
Signs of marijuana poisoning may include:
- Glassy-eyes/staring
- Dilated pupils
- Stumbling and incoordination
- Vomiting
More serious cases:
- Changes in heart rate
- Tremors and seizures
- Coma
- Death
Clinical signs are typically seen 30 - 60 minutes after ingestion, sooner if inhaled.
Dr. Brutlag says that in about 25 percent of dogs, agitation and
excitement are seen. Urinary incontinence or urine dribbling is also
very common, especially in dogs.
How is Marijuana Toxicity Treated?
It may take 18 to 36 hours for pets to recover from marijuana toxicity. Veterinary treatment for marijuana poisoning includes:
- Intravenous (IV) fluids
- Anti-vomiting medication*
- Oxygen
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Body temperature regulation (tremors and seizures may increase body temperature)
- In severe cases, ventilator/respirator support
*Treatment notes from Dr. Brutlag: Decontamination (including
inducing vomiting and giving charcoal to bind up the poison) may be
performed if the ingestion was recent or large, but should never be done
without consulting a veterinarian. It should be noted that, inducing
vomiting may be difficult due to the properties of marijuana.
Thank you, Dr. Brutlag for your assistance with this article.