The Effects of Cannabis on Dogs and Cats

Marijuana, grass, cannabis, ganja, hemp, joint...

Here I am talking about the dried leaves and flowers of hemp.

 

Cannabis is well known for its psychoactive effects on people, when smoked or ingested, and for its therapeutic applications.

 

Could your dog also benefit from medical marijuana? Could your cat get high if he accidentally ingested some weed?

 

You're about to find out.

 

 

A LITTLE HISTORY

 

A few thousand years ago, humanity was already cultivating cannabis for a variety of purposes. Our ancestors made the most of every part of the plant: the flowers and leaves were used as medicine, the stems and stalks as fiber, and the seeds as a source of protein.

 

Few other concerns were reported about this plant before the 19th century. It began to be described as poisonous in the early 20th century and subsequently became illegal in most places.

 

Currently, minds are beginning to open up again about this fascinating plant. A few Canadian states have legalized cannabis in recent years, and last October, the entire country followed suit.

 

 

CANNABIS HELPS

 

I'm sure you've heard of people using marijuana as medicine. It's not uncommon.

 

Cannabis has been described as being useful in many circumstances:

 

-       It can relieve chronic and acute pain

-       It helps with anxiety

-       It's a good anti-nausea

-       It helps people with epilepsy

-       It helps fight and prevent cancer

-       It helps patients with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

-       It is a very effective appetite stimulant

 

Although various studies have shown that cannabis helps humans, these findings cannot be directly applied to dogs and cats. Their brains work very differently from ours. Past experiments on marijuana and animals have been repeated and only indicate its toxic effects on them.

 

Additional research is being funded, and we're beginning to learn more about the medicinal uses of cannabis for pets. But research takes time, a lot of time, and we're not there yet.

 

It can take 15 years for a single study. Our pets will have to be patient!

 

 

A VETERINARIAN'S POINT OF VIEW

 

It is not legal for a veterinarian to prescribe medical marijuana to an animal, even in a state or country where it is legal for humans. Even if the animal has terminal cancer or is experiencing seizures, there are still no guidelines for a safe dosage, and the benefits it would provide are still unknown.

 

In some states, it's even unethical to recommend this product. These days, even if veterinarians are open to the idea, they could lose their licenses if they prescribe this plant, or worse, go to jail.

 

More information will need to be gathered before cannabis can be used legally in the veterinary world.

 

For now, all we know for sure is that your dog and cat CAN get "high," and it can quickly become dramatic.

 

In the following paragraphs, I will explain how weed can affect your furry friend.

 

 

CANNABIS DOES HARM - INTOXICATION

 

As already mentioned, dogs and cats have anatomically different brains than humans, which is no surprise. Dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans . This suggests that they are much more exposed to the toxic effects of cannabis.

 

Poisoning in pets usually follows cannabis ingestion, but mild poisoning can also result from secondary exposure to smoke.

 

Over the past year, while working for a veterinary clinic, I've seen about a dozen cases of severe THC poisoning in dogs. THC ( delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main component of marijuana, responsible for its psychoactive effects. 

 

I remember a little puppy who couldn't even stand, barely breathing, vomiting, he was in really bad shape. After testing his urine, we discovered he was intoxicated with THC. We spoke with the owners, and they admitted to having seen the puppy eat a cigarette butt found on the ground a few minutes before the symptoms appeared.

 

So I can tell you from experience that a very small amount of grass can be very dangerous, depending on the variety of the plant and the size of the dog. Luckily, the puppy is fine now!

 

A recent study was conducted at two veterinary hospitals in Colorado. The goal was to assess whether there were more THC poisonings in dogs now that marijuana had been legalized in that state. The study showed that four times as many cases had been treated since legalization. Two of these dogs, under the influence of the drug after ingesting cannabis butter edibles, had died.

 

I'm going to share another story with you, before answering " What if my dog ​​or cat ingests grass? "

 

One day, two dogs belonging to the same family came to the clinic where I work, showing symptoms of intoxication. A few hours earlier, the dogs had been seen eating feces along a trail in the woods. A urine test showed that they were both intoxicated with THC.

 

The moral of this story is that if you're a marijuana user and have an emergency need while hiking, be aware that THC is found in feces and can be dangerous for dogs with unusual habits. Please bury your very personal belongings.

 

Again, the dogs survived, but the day of treatment was expensive.

 

 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG OR CAT EATS CANNABIS?

 

What does a stoned dog or cat look like? This might surprise you. I'm sure we all have the same image in our minds of a smiling dog with half-closed eyes. But the reality is quite different.

 

Here are some symptoms of THC poisoning:

 

SYMPTOMS IN DOGS:

-       Lethargy, drowsiness

-       Lack of coordination or voluntary movements

-       Vomiting

-       Tremors

-       Hypothermia

-       Urinary incontinence

 

 

SYMPTOMS IN CATS:

-       Hypersalivation

-       Increased locomotor activity (spontaneous jumping behavior)

-       Rocking from side to side

-       Vocalization

-       Aggressiveness

-       Sedation

 

Any pet exhibiting these symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, especially if you have any concerns or know they may be related to cannabis use. If you know your dog or cat has ingested weed, share the information with the veterinary team so they can better help your pet more quickly.

 

 

WHAT ABOUT CBD?

 

There are hundreds of different compounds in the cannabis plant. THC and CBD are the most well-known and are nearly identical at the molecular level. Although they are very similar, they do not interact with our brain receptors in the same way.

 

Essentially, CBD offers many of the same health benefits as THC, but without the psychoactive effects. This is why it's preferred by many, and even tried for pets.

 

Because this is all new, it's hard to say if it works. However, it hasn't been shown to cause harm. Even though it's very popular these days, caution is still needed.

 

If you ever decide to go the CBD route with your pet to alleviate certain symptoms, I would recommend consulting a veterinarian to find a product that is labeled safe and contains absolutely no THC.

  

 

I hope I've helped you understand the mechanics of this fascinating plant a little better. It's always a controversial topic, but also a very interesting one!