A pet marijuana ingestion emergency means your dog or cat ate cannabis, and the first step is a call to a veterinarian or an animal poison hotline. Do not wait for symptoms to show up. THC is toxic to pets, and a vet can tell you whether to induce vomiting at home or bring your pet in.
What Are the Signs of Marijuana Poisoning in Pets?
Symptoms start within 30 to 60 minutes when a pet eats plant material. Edibles take longer because the stomach must break down the food first. Signs can last for hours and range from mild to severe.
Emergency Vet Cost for Cannabis Poisoning in Pets
- Wobbly walk, stumbling, or trouble standing (ataxia)
- Vomiting and drooling
- Dribbling urine or losing bladder control
- Dilated pupils and glassy eyes
- Slow heart rate and low body temperature
- Sleepiness, depression, or a blank stare
- Agitation, pacing, or sensitivity to sound and touch
- Tremors, seizures, or coma in serious cases
Signs in Dogs
Dogs show the classic picture: a drunk-like stagger, urine leaks, and a sudden lack of interest in food or play. Some dogs panic and pace instead. A dog that ate a chocolate edible may also have a racing heart from the theobromine.
Signs in Cats
Cats hide when they feel bad, so a cat that ate weed may sit in a corner and stay still. Drooling, wide pupils, and a low body temperature are common. Cats can also vomit and lose coordination.
pet marijuana ingestion emergency
How Much THC Does It Take to Harm a Pet?
Pets weigh far less than people, so a small amount of THC can hit hard. Most reported cases involve edibles, which pack a concentrated dose into a small piece of food. That food may add a second poison, such as chocolate, raisins, or xylitol.
There is no safe dose for pets. Treat any known or suspected ingestion as a medical event and call for advice.
What Should You Do Right Away?
- Move your pet away from the cannabis and pick up the packaging.
- Call your vet, an emergency animal hospital, or a pet poison hotline.
- Give the pet's weight, the product name, the amount eaten, and the time it happened.
- Ask before you induce vomiting. Some pets should not vomit, and forcing it can cause harm.
- Keep your pet warm, quiet, and away from stairs or furniture it could fall from.
- Follow the advice you get and head to the clinic if the signs get worse.
What Should You Not Do?
- Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison hotline tells you to.
- Do not give human medicines, coffee, milk, oil, or "detox" products.
- Do not leave a wobbly pet on a couch, bed, or stairs.
- Do not wait hours to see if your pet "sleeps it off."
- Do not punish the pet. It does not understand what happened.
When Is It a True Emergency?
Call for help at once if your pet has a seizure, cannot wake up, breathes with effort, or has a slow heart rate. Pale gums, a low body temperature, or a complete loss of coordination also point to a serious case. Small pets, seniors, and pets with heart or liver disease face a higher risk.
What Happens at the Vet Clinic?
Treatment is supportive, which means the vet manages symptoms while the drug leaves the body. Care may include IV fluids, anti-nausea drugs, activated charcoal for recent ingestions, warming blankets, and oxygen. Vets monitor heart rate, breathing, and temperature until the pet is stable.
Most pets go home within 12 to 24 hours. Big edible doses or a second toxin can stretch that to two or three days. Blood work checks for other problems, such as liver strain or dehydration.
How Long Does Marijuana Stay in a Pet's System?
Signs from plant material fade in 12 to 24 hours. Edible cases can last 24 to 48 hours or longer because the THC is absorbed over a longer window. Urine screens may stay positive for days, but that test result does not mean your pet is still high.
Can a Pet Die From Eating Marijuana?
Death is rare, and most pets make a full recovery with care. The risk climbs when a pet eats a large edible dose, eats chocolate or xylitol at the same time, or has a health problem that weakens the body's response. Prompt vet care lowers the odds of a bad outcome.
How Do You Prevent the Next Emergency?
- Store edibles, vapes, and concentrates in a locked box above pet reach.
- Keep joints, roaches, and used ash out of ashtrays your pet can reach.
- Write the poison hotline number on your fridge now, before you need it.
- Tell house guests where the stash lives and ask them to keep it closed.
- Vape or smoke away from your pet, since secondhand smoke can cause signs too.
Common Questions About Pet Marijuana Ingestion
Should I make my pet throw up?
No, not unless a vet or poison hotline tells you to. Vomiting can be risky for a pet that is already uncoordinated, and the timing matters. Vets decide based on the product and how long ago the pet ate it.
Will my pet be high forever?
No. THC clears the system, and behavior returns to normal within a day or two in most cases. Some pets stay sleepy for a while, then bounce back.
Can I just watch my pet at home?
Only if a vet or poison hotline says that is safe. Many mild cases can be watched at home with warmth, rest, and fluids. Seizures, coma, or trouble breathing need clinic care.
The Short Version
Call a vet or pet poison hotline the moment you suspect your pet ate cannabis. Skip home remedies, keep the pet warm and still, and go to the clinic if signs are severe or get worse. Most pets recover, and fast action makes that outcome far more likely.