Welcome to the A-Z Challenge! This year my theme is Pet Health - information for people about their furry, four-legged family members.
I cannot tell you how many customers have walked into clinics that I've worked that smell of pot so bad that you can hardly breathe in their presence. And when you are no longer in their presence you're amazed you didn't get a contact high.
A lot of people believe that since pot is not that harmful of a drug (in relation to other illegal drugs) to people, that it's also not harmful to their pets. Not so, since animals metabolize drugs differently than people.
The toxin in pot is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has strong anti-emetic effects, making it hard to induce vomiting to get the toxin out of your pet's system. Most pets will actually be poisoned by ingestion rather than inhalation.
Signs of your pet having found your secret stash are: dilated pupils, drop in body temperature, glazed eyes, lack of muscle control, abnormal sensitivity, semiconsciousness, depression, and in rare cases, coma. Also be aware that your pet can die from THC toxicity, although it is rare.
If you believe your pet has eaten your secret stash, get your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible. And don't lie about what your dog got into, because treatment for your pet is based on what you tell the veterinarian. (And when you get home, find a pet-safe secret place for your stash).
My sources: Pet Education by Dr.'s Foster & Smith as well as my own experiences working in large/small animal practices and a veterinary laboratory.
My nephew had his dog eat his stash once. Fortunately, the dumbbutt ate the baggie whole, and not so thankfully my sister found the unharmed baggie in the poop a day or so later.
ReplyDeleteI think it made the MJ better...