The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has reported an increase in marijuana toxicity in animals.
This trend has led to an increase in calls for marijuana consumption to animal poison control centers, including the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), which reported a 765% increase in calls over a 10-year period, with 6,200 cases being reported in 2021 alone, per the ASPCA. Similarly, between 2017 and 2020, calls to the APCC increased from 1,436 to 3,923 cases.
The increase in cases is believed to be linked to the rise in the legalization of marijuana. The trend is particularly noticeable in states where legalization has been in effect longer. Calls to the ASPCA have risen by 276% in California since its legalization in 2016, and numbers have risen eleven-fold since its legalization in Colorado in 2012.
Dogs are particularly susceptible to consuming marijuana as they may eat things they find on the ground. This was the case with Liesl Manone’s 1-year-old dog, Enzo, who may have picked something up while on a walk, reported NBC 5 DFW.
“I didn’t know what it was, and I was trying to get it out of his mouth, and it was gone before I had a chance to get it,” said Manone, per NBC 5 DFW.
Once they arrived home after the walk, Manone noticed that Enzo was behaving strangely. She said that she took Enzo to the veterinarian and quickly learned that he likely consumed marijuana while on the walk.
“I guess people are flicking their roaches out the window like a cigarette butt,” Manone said, per NBC 5 DFW. “Everyone that I talked to that has ever owned a roach said, ‘I would’ve never done that, I’d save them.’”
The effects of marijuana on dogs are not the same as on humans. Just a few of the symptoms that can have an adverse effect on a dog include degraded equilibrium, depression, dribbling urine, extreme sensitivity to touch and sound, slowed heart rate, and dilated eyes. Symptoms usually present themselves about 20 to 40 minutes after exposure.
Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian consultant, said that it is important to take your pet to a veterinarian if the pet starts showing symptoms.
“It is best to go to your veterinarian, especially if it was a large amount [of marijuana] or a small dog. This could potentially be life-threatening,” said Ochoa, per the Miami Herald. “The earlier you seek veterinary attention, the better.”
Pet owners can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for more information or help.