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Marijuana Q & A
September 2014
This article is the second of a 2-part series on marijuana poisoning in pets (See Part 1: Marijuana Poisoning in Pets).
In this interview, Ahna Brutlag DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline (PPH), answers questions for veterinary professionals seeing patients who are suspected of marijuana or related drug intoxications.
Has PPH had any calls relating to cats and marijuana toxicity?
Although we are not called about cats getting into marijuana as often as we are about dogs, feline exposures do occur.
The majority of our feline cases involve cats simply ingesting dried buds and plants (cats seem to eat dried plants as readily as live plants!).
Some of the more interesting cases managed by Pet Poison Helpline include a cat named “Puff” that snuck into his owner’s purse and stole her "medibles"—in this case, two small brownies made with marijuana-infused butter.
Another case involved “Monster,” a giant of a cat that ate ¾ of a large homemade muffin with marijuana. Thankfully, following veterinary care, both of these stoned kitties recovered well.
In addition to the possible exposures in part 1, have you noted any cases of marijuana toxicity from e-cigs?
We’ve had these too! The tendency to vaporize ("vape") marijuana seems to be following the same upward trajectory that e-cigarettes are.
A case related to marijuana and e-cigs was "Salvador," who ingested "spent" marijuana after it had been vaped. This cat also recovered with veterinary care.
This is resulting in increasing use of "dabs" or "wax," a type of highly concentrated and solidified hash oil also known as BHO (butane hash oil).
Compared to the THC concentration of 8-20% in regular marijuana, these dollops pack a powerful punch with THC concentrations ranging from 70-90%. Unfortunately, it would not take many "dabs" to severely intoxicate most pets.
For cases of “unknown history,” what clinical signs are hallmarks for marijuana poisoning?
The classic case is a dog that comes in with a dazed expression, glassy eyes, incoordination, slow response times, and is dribbling urine. If you couple this with a somewhat sketchy story from the pet owner, then bingo!
Although pet owners are more upfront about marijuana exposures today than in years past, I’ve had them tell me that their dogs have eaten the head of match, cookies," plants that I know won’t produce these signs, carpet, paper—you name it—in order to avoid telling me that marijuana might have been involved.
Usually, with a little gentle prodding and an explanation that I just want to help their pet and assurance that I’m not going to report them to the authorities, the truth comes out.
What other drugs or plants may mimic the clinical signs of marijuana poisoning?
- Other illicit drugs (LSD, ecstasy, and hallucinogenic mushrooms) may initially look similar to marijuana intoxication.
- Some prescription drugs, such as opioids, may share some similar signs although many opioid cases will exhibit more severe cardiac/respiratory depression coupled with miosis (excessive constriction of the pupil of the eye). Mydriasis (pupillary dilation) is more common with marijuana. Many of these signs can be reversed with naloxone, which would have no effect on marijuana.
- Benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), muscle relaxants, and other depressants can also look similar to marijuana intoxication.
- Non-medical products such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze) may have similar clinical presentations but can be ruled out on the basis of metabolic acidosis and crystalluria.
Related: Antifreeze poisoning - Some metabolic conditions such as hypoglycemia of hepatic encephalopathy may also initially mimic the effects of marijuana, but can be readily differentiated following simple lab tests.
Do veterinarians have any legal or ethical requirements for reporting drug intoxications?
In general, the key to determining if an event is reportable to law enforcement, including animal exposures to illicit substances, hinges on the intent of the pet owner in the given situation. If an animal was intentionally fed illicit substances or forced to breathe smoke that someone blows in their face, this constitutes abuse and may be reported.
Thank you, Dr. Brutlag for your time answering this interview.
Related: Marijuana Poisoning in Pets (Part 1)
Please note: This article has been provided for informational purposes only. If your pet is showing any signs of illness, please consult a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
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