Marijuana is being legalized in multiple states in the United States and around the world. With the availability of marijuana literally everywhere, more and more people are raising concerns about marijuana consumption in dogs. While CBD is still fine, most people question how much THC is safe for dogs.
In simple words, no amount is. THC is one of those chemicals that is found in marijuana and is deemed very toxic for dogs. While CBD is still used to cure multiple medical problems in dogs, THC is not. It is the actual element that causes the high in humans and has adverse effects on the health of your dog.
If you think your dog has consumed even the slightest amount of THC, rush them to the vet as soon as possible before the symptoms start to worsen.
In this article, we shall break down how toxic THC is for your pets and why you should swear to keep it away from their reach.
What Is THC?
With how marijuana is getting popular these days, it is no wonder why more and more people are taking an interest in it. Marijuana comes from the cannabis plant. It makes a very thick substance that is full of compounds known as cannabinoids.
The cannabis plant produces over 100 cannabinoids, where the two main ones include – THC and CBD. Both of these elements are responsible for creating drug-like effects in your body.
Now, before moving to how much THC is safe for dogs, it is important that you know what THC actually is and what components it is made of.
THC is delta-0-tetrahydrocannabinol – the primary psychoactive present in the cannabis plant. It is the actual thing that makes you feel ‘high” the moment you consume or smoke marijuana.
THC and other marijuana products are preferred Schedule 1 controlled substances by the DEA (U.S Drug Enforcement Agency). This means the DEA only considers this drug for the purpose of abuse and does not have current medical use. However, in the US itself, marijuana stands legal in many states, including for medical purposes.
There are different forms of THC, out of which the availability of three of its kinds are highest – hash/hashish, hash oil, and flowers or herbs. The herbal variety is usually the most popular one. It is prepared from dried cannabis flowers and leaves or buds. This is usually the one that people use for smoking or to make edibles.
Hash is mostly a solid or paste-like substance that is made by purifying and compressing the resin present in the bud. Hash oil, in its most strong form, is made by extracting the resin in hash into the purest form.
How Much THC Is Safe For Dogs?
While you may know that there are multiple variants of CBD that are deemed safe for dogs, THC? Not so much. If you are at all thinking about easing your dog’s anxiety or aggression, especially after an event or anything that makes them nervous, it is better to stick to CBD than going for THC.
But then again, whatever you choose to give your pet, make sure that it is prepared in a cGMP-certified facility, check the third-party laboratory reports, and absolutely DO NOT give them anything that has THC in them. Also, try to avoid giving them full-concentration CBD oils as they contain around 0.3 percent THC in them.
What Are The Side Effects Of THC Toxicity On Dogs?
With the legalization of weed in many American states, cases of cannabis toxicity in dogs have majorly increased. So, if you think that your dog has consumed some of your weed, here are the symptoms that you need to look out for.
Here are the acute symptoms of THC poisoning in dogs:
- Stumbling and crossing over their feet as if they are too drunk to walk.
- They look dull and pretty lethargic but are frightened to catch their balance as if they are going to fall back once again.
- Having dilated pupils
- Uncontrollable peeing
- Vomiting
- Having tremors and shaking
- Feeling agitated
- Getting very sensitive to touch and sound
- Having a surprisingly low heart rate
In some cases, if the reaction gets too bad, the dog might be at risk of going into a coma.
Factors Affecting Marijuana Toxicity Symptoms In Dogs
It generally takes around 30 to 60 minutes for the symptoms to show up if your dog is suffering from THC toxicity. However, if it is a case of THC inhalation, the symptoms might show up a bit early. There are a number of factors that determine the timing for the symptoms to actually show up. They are:
- The age and size of your dog
- The dosage they consume or inhale
- How the dog was exposed to it
- Any other medical conditions that your dog might have
The high or the other symptoms generally last for 18 to 24 hours in dogs. As THC is considered highly toxic for dogs, they just cannot sleep it off. If your dog is showing any symptoms of marijuana toxicity, take them to the vet immediately.
What Causes THC Poisoning In Dogs?
Just like every other human, dogs too have cannabinoid receptors in their brains that process elements like THC. But, even the tiniest exposure can get way too toxic for your pet. This mainly happens because a dog’s body can easily recycle cannabinoids.
When your dog gets an exposure to THC, their gut absorbs the chemical and store it in the bile produced by the liver. Then, when your dog eats it is next meal, the THC loaded bile gets secrets straight into their intestines. This once again exposes the your pet to THC. This is the reason why their symptoms are much worse then on humans.
There are a number of ways in which your dog can get exposure to THC. They might:
- Inhale the passive smoke
- Swallow some parts of the cannabis plant, such as the leaves, buds, or stems
- Eat edibles or baked goods that are infused with marijuana, like cookies and brownies
- Lick or eat THC butter or oil
- Eat poop after someone digests marijuana
The effects of THC poisoning might get worse if the dog gets exposed to marijuana along with other popular toxins like raisins, chocolate, the artificial sweetener xylitol, or any high-fat foods.
How Is THC Toxicity Diagnosed In Dogs?
There are, at present, no particular test to check if a dog is suffering from marijuana poisoning. If you take your pet to the vet thinking they consumed marijuana, the vet might:
- Take a detailed medical history of your dog
- Do their physical examination
- Test their stomach content and urine for THC
- Order for an X-ray to check for any marijuana packaging like vape pen, foil, or pipes
Treatment For Marijuana Poisoning In Dogs
The options for treatment in case of marijuana poisoning in dogs might vary based on how severe the symptoms are. If the vet examines your dog less than 20 minutes after consuming THC, they may only try to induce vomiting in them. Once 30 minutes pass, the process might just become a bit riskier and harder.
If the reactions are indeed severe, your dog might have to be hospitalized.
In that is the case, the treatments might include:
- Drugs to stop nausea and vomiting
- Drugs for tremors, agitation, or seizures
- Intravenous fluids infused through a catheter
- Activated charcoal to reduce the total quantity of THC absorbed
- A temperature therapy that includes cooling or warming
If there are some very serious cases, the vet might also give them intralipid therapy. It is a type of IV solution that helps absorb the THC from your dog’s bloodstream.
To get the best results, be truthful to the very best and do not hide anything. Your vet’s main job is the well-being of your dog. And they are not under the obligation to report anything to the police. If you have the THC product that you think your dog might have gotten exposed to, take it to the vet as well. This might help your vet skin out on the unwanted treatments and get to the part where it can actually be helpful for your dog.
THC Vs CBD For Dogs
Just to make things clear, CBD is pretty different from CBD or cannabidiol. CBD is an all-natural element that is found in hemp plants or cannabis and does not contain any THC. So, there is no chance for it to get your pet high.
In fact, in recent years, CBD oils have become extremely popular, and multiple people use them to treat a number of medical concerns in dogs, such as pain, seizures, and anxiety.
However, there is not enough scientific data to support its use or benefits in the long run. And the manufacturing and distribution of CBD oil are not well regulated. So, some CBD products might contain just a small quantity of THC in them. And, as you may know, even the tiniest amount of THC is poisonous for your dog.
So, before you start with any CBD product for your dog, make sure to consult it with your vet to get the right one. But then again, in some states vets cannot really talk to you openly about CBD oil. With laws changing, you need to be more in check about which vets to visit.
THC Poisoning In Cats And Other Animals
Other than dogs, THC is also highly unsafe for cats and horses, among other pets. But marijuana poisoning is way more common in dogs, especially the ones that tend to explore anything and everything within their reach.
The perfect way to prevent THC toxicity in animals is to keep the marijuana out of their reach. Just make sure that you keep it somewhere in no way. They can’t just get them by accident. Also, try to keep your pets away from those areas where you tend to use marijuana.
Set boundaries for your dogs. Dogs react well to commands, So you can teach them to stay away from a particular room or area for their best interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you think your dog is stoned, look for the symptoms at first. It takes around 30 to 60 minutes for them to actually show up. So, make sure to have an open eye in case you think your dog is having marijuana intoxication. Depending on the symptoms, call your vet or take them to the emergency. Taking immediate steps can ensure that the situation does not go down south.
Yes, dogs can metabolize THC, but at a slower rate than humans. They also have a greater number of cannabinoid receptors in their brain. These kinds of differences increase the effects and prolong the symptoms of THC toxicity in dogs, making them way more vulnerable to poisoning.
CBD is a safer option in comparison to THC for dogs. However, CBD gummies might still have some THC content in them. The most visible side effects that you might see if your dog ate CBD gummies are inappetence, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The side effects of CBD, particularly the ones used for calming the dog, last for around 6 to 8 hours in their system. However, it is better to administer CBD everyday to make sure that the effects build over time.
Medical cannabis for dogs is an interesting topic for debate. While cannabis oil tends to treat a lot of problems in dogs, including arthritis, anxiety, and so on, some vets refrain from preferring it. However, if you do begin using CBD oil for the wellness of your dog, make sure to check for the THC content and any other chemicals that might be harmful to your pet.
The Bottom Line
Overall, THC is not safe for your dog or any pet as such. It is not a question of how much THC is safe for dogs; they should not go through its exposure to it under any possible scenario.
THC stays in their system, which causes an all over exposure to it again and again. So, if you have some marijuana lying around in your house, you would want to keep it in a safe place, far from the reach of your dog.
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