What happens if a dog eats an edible

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Support Us Denver's independent source of local news and culture. Dogs sleep heavily after ingesting marijuana, but they'll still require attention. Some of us might have a friend whose pet accidentally ate a pot brownie once, but a veterinary hospital in Denver recently reported a significant rise in dogs coming in after ingesting marijuana edibles. What causes dogs to become so sick from edibles?

To make sure your pets are safe from any dangers of marijuana consumption, we asked Gaynor how to realistically keep edibles away from dogs, and what to do in case they eat some. Edibles placed at the back of the kitchen counter or in the middle of the dining table might keep edibles at bay from smaller dogs, but likely won't be far away enough for bigger, hungry dogs. Your dog is going to be very disoriented and confused.

While you quickly get ready to go to the veterinarian, keep them in a quiet room to help reduce sensory stimulation. Blood pressure is often checked, too, since the heart rate can be greatly decreased and these animals sometimes require intravenous fluids to support their blood pressure.

In cases where the ingestion is quickly discovered, your veterinarian may induce vomiting to prevent the onset of symptoms, says Dr. In most cases, however, that window has passed, and symptoms must be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Wilde explains that most treatment will consist of supportive care, which includes but is not limited to :. Chocolate can cause high heart rates, seizures and even death, so treatment can include antiarrhythmics, anticonvulsants, fluid therapy and activated charcoal, adds Dr.

This will limit the amount of THC that is absorbed into their system and may eliminate any side effects completely. Based on the size of your pup and the amount of milligrams ingested, you can use your best judgement to get them through the next few days as comfortably as possible. This goes without saying really, but accidents do happen. This is especially vital if you have animals in the home, specifically dogs.

For edibles, you can keep them in the fridge clearly marked , up on a high shelf or in a cupboard, or locked away safely in a box with a key or code to grant access. This will give you peace of mind and protect your medication from getting in to the wrong endocannabinoid system. My 11 lbs dog Max once got into my girlfriends purse and ate her 75mg infused peanut butter cookie.

Just be straight with your vet about what happened, even if marijuana is illegal where you live. Calling an animal poison control hotline for help is also an option, although they usually just tell people to go to the vet, Drobatz notes. In those rare instances when an owner catches their pup in the act and gets them to the vet before they begin exhibiting symptoms, the doc may induce vomiting to get the drug out of their body.

Most of the time, vets see pups that are already sick, spaced out, or having trouble walking. For anxious or agitated pups, they may provide a sedative. Fluids can also promote urination, he adds, which will help flush THC from the body. Although this whole situation can be scary — and might make you feel like the worst pet owner ever — do your best to stay calm and present.

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