As the legalization of marijuana expands, veterinary emergency rooms are seeing an increase in canine cases of marijuana toxicity, according to research published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. The problem most commonly occurs via ingestion, although inhalation can also cause problems. Common clinical signs of marijuana poisoning include urinary incontinence, disorientation, drunken gait, lethargy, hyperesthesia (increased reactivity), and low heart rate.
If marijuana is used in your home, be certain to make sure your dog cannot gain access to it. Veterinarians are increasingly reporting death in dogs from suspected marijuana ingestion, likely as a result of increases in THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive chemical. A severely affected dog could end up comatose with seizures — and without a gag reflex, which is needed to prevent choking and therefore can be lifesaving.
