Is cannabis toxic to dogs?
Yes. THC, the intoxicating part of cannabis, affects dogs more strongly than people, and signs usually start within one to two hours: wobbling, dribbling urine, dilated pupils and jumpiness to touch or sound. Most dogs recover within one to three days with care, and deaths are very rare, but edibles can also contain chocolate or xylitol. Call your vet today, and go now if your dog cannot stand, is very drowsy or ate an edible.
General information, not veterinary advice. If your pet may have eaten this, contact a vet now; do not wait for signs.
What to do right now
- Call your vet now and tell them honestly what was eaten; they need it to treat your dog
- Note the product: flower, edible, oil, butter or concentrate, and roughly how much
- Keep the packaging, especially of edibles, to check for chocolate or xylitol
- Keep your dog in a quiet, dim, safe place away from stairs and water
- Do not try to make your dog sick at home
Go to an emergency clinic now if
- Your dog cannot stand or is very hard to wake
- Tremors, a seizure or very slow breathing
- It ate an edible containing chocolate or a sugar-free sweetener
- It ate cannabis butter, oil or a concentrate
- Repeated vomiting while drowsy
- A small dog or puppy ate any amount
Who to call
Your own vet first. If they are closed, the nearest emergency or out-of-hours clinic.
In the United States
Both answer 24 hours a day and may charge a consultation fee.
Signs to watch for
| Sign | Usually starts |
|---|---|
| Wobbling, stumbling, swaying | 1-2 hours (up to 4 on an empty stomach) |
| Dribbling urine | 1-2 hours |
| Dilated pupils, glassy eyes, dazed look | 1-2 hours |
| Jumpiness to touch and sound | 1-2 hours |
| Sleepiness or agitation, vomiting, drooling | 1-2 hours |
| Slow heart rate, tremors; rarely seizures | Hours; can last 1-3 days |
Why does cannabis affect dogs so strongly?
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound in cannabis that causes intoxication. It acts on CB1 receptors in the brain, and dogs have a high concentration of these receptors in the areas that control balance, heart rate and breathing. That is why a dog's wobbling, slow heart rate and jumpiness are more dramatic than a person's response to a similar dose.
How much cannabis is dangerous for a dog?
The Merck Veterinary Manual reports mild signs at THC doses as low as 0.3 to 0.5 mg per kg and moderate signs above 2 to 3 mg per kg. For a 5 kg dog, the lower figure is only 1.5 to 2.5 mg of THC. Cannabis cooking butters and oils carry more THC than plant material, and the dog's size and the amount eaten decide how severe the signs are.
Why are edibles more dangerous than the plant?
Edibles combine a high THC content with other ingredients that are toxic in their own right. A brownie may need treatment for both cannabis and chocolate, and sugar-free sweets or gummies can contain xylitol, which can drop a dog's blood sugar within about half an hour. Merck notes that the two published deaths of dogs after cannabis both involved baked goods made with cannabis butter, though the cause of death was not reported.
What will the vet do?
Treatment is mostly supportive, because there is no antidote. If your dog ate cannabis within about the last hour and has no signs yet, the vet may make it vomit, although cannabis itself suppresses vomiting. The vet may give activated charcoal, sometimes in repeated doses, plus fluids, temperature control, anti-sickness medicine and a quiet place to sleep it off. Human urine drug tests are unreliable in dogs and give many false negatives, so the vet relies mostly on what you tell them. Merck describes the outlook as generally good, with signs usually resolving within one to three days.
What should I tell the vet?
Say what form it was (dried flower, edible, oil, butter, vape or concentrate), roughly how much is missing, and when your dog could have eaten it. For edibles, read the ingredients for chocolate, raisins or a sugar-free sweetener and bring the wrapper. Mention any medicines your dog takes. These details decide whether your dog can be watched at home or needs hospital care.
How do I stop it happening again?
Store cannabis, edibles, oils and vape cartridges in a closed, high cupboard or a lockable box, and treat edibles like medicine rather than snacks. Ask guests to keep bags off the floor. Dispose of joint ends where a dog cannot reach them. Pativo treats a reported cannabis ingestion as "see a vet today" at the very least; a symptom check raises that to an emergency if your dog has severe signs such as collapse or breathing trouble.
Questions owners ask
Will my vet report me to the police?
A vet's job is to treat your dog. Tell them exactly what was eaten, because treatment depends on the product, and a cannabis edible may also need treatment for chocolate or xylitol.
Is CBD oil dangerous to dogs?
CBD does not cause the same intoxication; the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that even large overdoses mainly cause stomach upset. If your dog seems intoxicated after a CBD product, call your vet.
Can second-hand smoke affect my dog?
Yes, signs can appear within minutes of inhaling smoke. Keep dogs out of rooms where cannabis is smoked or vaped.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Toxicosis in Dogs and Cats From Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Cannabis (Marijuana) Intoxication in Cats and Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline: What Can Happen If a Dog Ate Weed
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