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CANNABIS & PETS: CAN FIDO GET HIGH?
CANNABIS & PETS: CAN FIDO GET HIGH?
Written by;
Written by;
Cori.
Cori.
The short answer: YES.
Dogs (and cats) have a more developed Endocannabinoid System (ECS) than humans. The ECS is the body’s natural system for regulating: sleep, mood, appetite, memory, stress, inflammation and pain. Pets have more CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body for cannabinoids (chemical compounds found in cannabis that offers medical benefits and can make us high) like THC (psychoactive) and CBD (non-psychoactive), making their effects more intense and longer-lasting. Fido can get high.
So I guess the question we need to ask is “should Fido get high?”
Because the effects - of THC in particular - are more intense for dogs and cats they can suffer from something known as THC Toxicity or Marijuana Poisoning. Yes, I said poison. Ingesting or inhaling THC can be fatal for some pets. For more details on this terrifying condition, I spoke to a professional in the industry- a friend who works as a Veterinary Technician in a busy, rural Alberta vet clinic. My friend told me that cases of THC Toxicity are on the rise, especially in larger centres. She also explained a few things to look out for as signs that Fido might be high:
Wobbly/Loss of Coordination
Agitated
Hyper
Loss of Bladder Control
Drooling
Vomiting
Vocalizing more than usual
Some additional symptoms may include:
Light and Sound Sensitivity
Dilated Pupils
Red Eyes
Seizures
Diarrhoea
Breathing Problems
Decreased Body Temperature
Decreased Heart Rate
What is especially troubling to Veterinary Teams is the ingestion of cannabis edibles as they often contain other toxic ingredients, like chocolate. This could make a case of THC Toxicity much more complicated and potentially fatal.
So what will the veterinarian do for your pet? As my friend told me, “If it’s recent, we may induce vomiting if it's been long we may administer activated charcoal or provide supportive care until the effects wear off”. Supportive care might include medications to lower temperature, heart rate and respiration and IV fluids to aid recovery. She also explained that in the case of THC Toxicity it is important to get your pet to the vet as quickly as possible so they can begin treatment.
When discussing the reason for your visit to the vet with your team make sure to “be honest… we’re not here to lay blame or pass judgement. We are here for the welfare of your pet”. Tell them exactly what and how much your dog or cat has gotten into. This will make the treatment process more effective and recovery easier. Remember, ingesting even a small fresh or dried bud of cannabis can make your pet sick because of their enhanced ECS. Pair that with chocolate in an edible and you could have one sick pet on your hands!
If your pet does get into your cannabis, get them to the vet as soon as possible!
How can you avoid a scary, expensive and possibly fatal visit to the Vet Clinic? Keep ALL cannabis products and plants away from your pet. Store them up high in a locked cupboard away from your pets’ reach if possible. Keep growing tents zipped up and pets out. Cannabis plants in a vegetative state probably pose less threat to your pets as they haven’t developed THC yet, but flowering plants do contain much higher levels of THC and could cause toxicity. Pets and THC do NOT mix.
But, what about CBD?? CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis plants. Anecdotal and human studies have revealed that CBD can help with: pain, arthritis, anxiety, seizures and cancer. However, there is a serious lack of research when it comes to pets and the medical benefits of CBD. There have only been a few studies done on the effects of CBD on pets, and they found some potential side effects: CBD does appear to increase alkaline phosphatase in the liver, which means it could cause irritation and even damage to the liver with long term use.
Another issue with CBD and our pets is that veterinarians in Canada are not allowed to prescribe it, even discuss it in most cases. Dosages have not been studied well, and pet parents are basically at the mercy of Google when it comes to learning about cannabis and their pets and how to dose them. Vets cannot provide any guidance, leaving your pet potentially exposed to risk.
In addition to the evidence that CBD may cause liver irritation, there has been little research done to demonstrate the benefits of CBD in pets. Most evidence is anecdotal, coming from the people who’ve decided to try CBD for their pet, not from medical, scientific studies. This leaves many questions unanswered for pet owners: Do the benefits outweigh the risks? How much do I give my pet? Is this CBD?
Is it CBD? Well… you will have no way of knowing this! Because the pet CBD industry is 100% UNREGULATED. This means that products are not tested for cannabinoid levels, heavy metals, pesticides or mould. Products marketed for pets could be ANYTHING. It might not even be cannabis! Or worse… you could buy CBD, and end up getting a bottle of THC. Which as we already know could be deadly for your pet. Avoid purchasing these unregulated products for your pets!
If you decide the benefits outweigh the risks for your pet (perhaps CBD is part of the end of life care, cancer treatment etc) still inform your veterinary team of your intentions to try CBD, they may not be able to prescribe or discuss but they must have a full picture of your pet’s health. Remember, they are here for the welfare of your animals, not to judge. If you do use CBD try making your own CBD oils, or pet treats from the legal, regulated cannabis flower.
I want to know what YOU think about CBD and our pets. Do you use it now? Will you continue to use it? Send me a message on Instagram @CannaCori!
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