If your pet ate cannabis, remove the product from reach and call your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital, or a pet poison hotline right away. Most pets recover with supportive care, but the risk depends on the amount of THC, your pet's weight, and whether the edible also contains chocolate, xylitol, raisins, or macadamia nuts. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before you call, and do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.

symptoms of cannabis toxicity in pets

How serious is cannabis poisoning in pets?

Dogs are far more sensitive to THC than humans because their nervous systems have a higher density of cannabinoid receptors in the areas that control movement and coordination. This is why a dose a person barely notices can leave a dog unable to stand or hold its bladder.

Cannabis Poisoning in Pets: First Aid Steps

Death from THC alone is uncommon, and most cases are managed with monitoring and fluids. Severe outcomes are usually linked to very large doses, concentrated extracts, or additional toxins inside an edible.

What Happens When a Dog Eats Marijuana Plant Leaves?

What are the signs of THC toxicity in a dog or cat?

How long after eating cannabis do symptoms start?

Signs usually appear 30 to 90 minutes after a pet eats flower, trim, or a THC-infused treat, and they often peak within 1 to 3 hours.

Emergency Vet for Cannabis Ingestion in Pets: What to Do

Edibles are slower because digestion delays absorption, and effects can last 24 hours or longer. Some pets show signs for 48 to 72 hours after a large edible dose.

What should I do right now?

  1. Move your pet away from the product and secure the rest of it.
  2. Save the packaging so you can tell the vet the THC strength and other ingredients.
  3. Estimate how much was eaten and when.
  4. Call your vet, an emergency clinic, or a pet poison hotline immediately.
  5. Have your pet's weight and current medications ready.
  6. Keep your pet warm, quiet, and away from stairs or furniture it can fall from.
  7. Do not give coffee, human remedies, or any online detox product.

Should I make my pet throw up?

Never induce vomiting on your own unless a veterinarian directs it. Cannabis causes sedation and wobbliness, and a sedated pet that vomits can inhale material into the lungs and develop aspiration pneumonia.

A vet may induce vomiting safely, but only if your pet is stable and the ingestion happened recently enough for decontamination to help.

What treatment does a veterinarian use?

Care is supportive. It can include activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medication, and close monitoring of heart rate, temperature, and breathing.

Bloodwork may be checked to rule out other causes or to watch for liver and kidney stress. Most pets go home within a day or two, though edible cases sometimes need a longer stay.

Why are edibles more dangerous than raw flower?

Edibles are often far more concentrated than smoked plant material, so one brownie or gummy can deliver a huge THC dose to a small pet. Chocolate adds theobromine toxicity, xylitol causes dangerous hypoglycemia and liver failure in dogs, and raisins or macadamia nuts bring their own risks.

Can cats get high from weed?

Yes, cats are also poisoned by THC and can show lethargy, dilated pupils, wobbliness, vomiting, and tremors. Never give a cat cannabis or a CBD oil dosed for a human.

How do I keep it from happening again?

Store cannabis the way you store medication, in a sealed container inside a high cabinet your pet cannot reach. Keep edibles out of bags, off coffee tables, and away from floor level, and never leave vape cartridges, concentrates, or infused butter within reach.