Call an animal poison control hotline or an emergency veterinary clinic right away if your pet ate cannabis. THC is toxic to dogs and cats, and pets are far more sensitive to it than people are. Most pets recover with supportive care, but only a veterinarian can decide how much treatment your pet needs.
What should I do first if my pet ate cannabis?
- Call a pet poison hotline or an emergency clinic immediately, even if your pet seems normal so far. Have your pet's weight, age, and any health conditions ready.
- Save the packaging, label, or leftover product. The vet needs to know the THC strength, the amount eaten, and whether the product also contained chocolate, xylitol, raisins, or macadamia nuts.
- Do not induce vomiting or give any medication, food, coffee, or home remedy unless a veterinarian tells you to. Some methods cause more harm than the cannabis itself.
- Keep your pet warm, calm, and in a safe, confined space away from stairs, furniture edges, and other pets.
- Note the time of ingestion and watch for changes in breathing, heart rate, or temperature. Report new or worsening signs to the vet right away.
What are the signs of cannabis poisoning in dogs and cats?
Common signs include lethargy, wobbliness, vomiting, dilated pupils, drooling, and dribbling urine. Some pets become agitated, vocal, or startle easily, while others seem deeply sedated.
pet marijuana ingestion emergency
More serious signs include tremors, a slow heart rate, low body temperature, and, in rare cases, seizures or coma. Cats often show the same signs as dogs but may hide early symptoms, so watch closely for the first few hours.
what happens if a cat eats weed
How long after eating cannabis do symptoms start?
Signs usually appear 30 to 90 minutes after a pet eats plant material, and effects can last 12 to 24 hours. Edibles and concentrated products can take 1 to 3 hours to hit and may keep a pet unsteady for up to 72 hours.
what happens if a cat eats weed
Are edibles more dangerous than flower for pets?
Yes. Edibles often carry a much higher THC dose in a small, tasty package, and many also contain chocolate, xylitol, raisins, or macadamia nuts, which are toxic on their own. Concentrates such as oils, tinctures, dabs, and cannabutter are risky for the same reason.
What will the veterinarian do?
The vet will examine your pet, check heart rate, breathing, and temperature, and may run blood work. If ingestion was recent, they may induce vomiting and give activated charcoal to limit absorption.
Treatment is mostly supportive: IV fluids, anti-nausea medication, warming, and monitoring until signs fade. Some pets are sent home after a few hours, while others need overnight hospitalization.
Can a pet die from eating cannabis?
Death from THC alone is rare, and the vast majority of pets recover fully within one to three days. The risk rises with very large doses, small body size, pre-existing health problems, or edibles that contain other toxins.
How do I keep cannabis away from my pet?
- Store flower, edibles, oils, and vape cartridges in a locked container, not on counters, nightstands, or coffee tables.
- Treat cannabis like any prescription medication and keep it well above paw and jump height.
- Pick up dropped bits, roaches, and used vape material right away, and dispose of them in a covered bin.
- Avoid smoking or vaping directly around pets, since secondhand smoke exposure can also cause signs.