Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Page: B8
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Rebecca Ledger
Note: Rebecca Ledger is an animal behaviour scientist, and sees cats 
and dogs with behaviour problems on veterinary referral across the 
Lower Mainland. Read her blog at vancouversun.com/pets

GRASS NOT ALWAYS GREENER FOR FIDO

Dogs Affected by Marijuana Toxicity Could Be Growing Problem in Canada

Canadians can expect federal marijuana legislation to be introduced 
in the spring of 2017.

According to Minister of Health Jane Philpott, the legislation will 
aim to keep marijuana out of the hands of children, but will it also 
keep it away from our pets?

Research conducted in some U.S. states where marijuana has already 
been legalized, suggests that marijuana toxicity in Canadian dogs is 
going to be a growing problem over the coming years.

In 2012, veterinary researchers published a paper in the Journal of 
Veterinary Emergency Critical Care, showing a positive correlation 
between the number of medical marijuana licences issued in Colorado, 
and the number of dogs admitted with marijuana toxicosis to 
veterinary hospitals.

Between 2005 and 2010, the 146-fold increase in marijuana licences in 
the state corresponded with a four-fold increase in the number of 
dogs that became sick following the ingestion of the drug.

The study reported that ingestion occurred in a variety of ways. Some 
dogs had eaten discarded joints, some had raided their owners' 
personal medical supply, and two dogs had eaten, and eventually died, 
after eating baked goods made with medical grade tetrahydrocannabinol 
(THC) butter, the ingredient in marijuana that is most toxic to dogs. 
While there is a high margin of safety, marijuana ingested in certain 
forms, such as THC butter, is the most lethal.

So, in anticipation of the legalization of pot, what do pet owners 
need to know about this drug and its potential effects on dogs?

Vancouver-based veterinarian Anna Wallace typically sees one 
marijuana-toxicity case a month brought into the Granville Island 
Veterinary Clinic. Although second-hand smoke inhalation is a 
possible source of exposure for dogs, most are affected following 
ingestion of the owner's personal marijuana supply.

"Sometimes I see a kid get busted in front of their parents for 
having some marijuana hidden away that the dog has got into," says Wallace.

Wallace sees a summer spike in cases, where dogs have ingested joints 
that they find discarded at the park. She warns also that dogs that 
ingest brownies are at even greater risk.

"You are dealing with two toxins at once, the THC in the marijuana 
and theobromine poisoning from the chocolate," Wallace explains.

"The most common symptoms we see are lethargy, the dog seems wobbly 
and, often, urinary incontinence," she adds. "While some dogs become 
depressed, others can become very agitated and might need sedation."

Other potential signs to watch for include: hypersalivation; pupil 
dilation; vomiting; tremors; hypothermia; rapid breathing; a faster 
or slower than usual heart rate; and in severe cases, seizures.

The clinical effects of marijuana ingestion can occur with an hour, 
and so owners who suspect that their dogs have ingested something 
should get their dogs to the veterinary clinic as quickly as possible.

"Dogs that have already started to show clinical signs need to be 
supported and can be treated with activated charcoal, which helps to 
prevent toxins from being absorbed from the stomach into the body, 
but it's much better to bring the pet in to see a veterinarian as 
soon as you suspect that your dog has ingested something, before 
clinical signs have appeared. Then, we can induce vomiting before too 
much harm is done," Wallace explains.

Despite the risks, the reality is that more people will be accessing 
marijuana, and that the potential for dogs to be exposed to THC is 
going to rise. Wallace doesn't think that marijuana is something that 
dogs are particularly attracted to, it's just that some dogs will eat 
anything that they find.

As such, keeping supplies out of a dog's reach is critical.

"Eating marijuana is rarely fatal for a dog, most are back to normal 
after a day or so, but still, it should be kept elevated away from 
the dog and in a sealed container that the dog won't be able to open. 
With this in mind, it should be stored no differently from any other 
potentially poisonous medication," says Wallace.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom