Dogs Got High: A Guide on How to Get a Dog Unstoned
Imagine this: you left a pack of ‘special’ brownies unsupervised on your kitchen counter. You are getting your work done unaware of what is happening behind your back. When you went back, you found it half-eaten. There is no one in the house except you and, yes, the dog! What will happen now?
It is not a fun treat to watch a dog high on marijuana. You shouldn’t waste your time and go straight to the vet. It doesn’t mean that you start panicking. What you have to do is to act and act fast!
It is important to learn how to get a dog unstoned. There are some steps that you can follow to ensure that your pet’s discomfort is temporary.
What Should I Do If My Dog Gets Stoned
Don’t panic! Such accidents are a lot more common. What many vets try to tell – when they respond to the frantic ‘how to get a dog unstoned’ questions – dog parents is that they shouldn’t let their ‘five minutes of fun’ come in their canine’s way. Marijuana or weed is perfectly safe for humans – when consumed in appropriate quantities – however, for your dog, it can be dangerous.
Watching your dog munching on what should have been an off-the-limits brownie is nothing less than a nightmare. But, you should calm yourself down and visit your pet’s vet. Marijuana toxicity doesn’t kill a dog. Many experts strongly believe that a canine has to consume a large amount of cannabis to experience toxic and life-threatening effects.
The decision, however, is divided. Some vets have had supervised cases where dogs – especially smaller dogs – have died after eating THC-ridden food items. This brings us to another important point.
What is THC?
Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is a primary ingredient in marijuana, responsible for releasing the effects of cannabis. The higher the levels of THC in any product, the higher the toxicity. In many dogs, the effects of this prime component generally last for a few hours.
But there have been several instances where such effects have lasted for not only long hours but at least a couple of days.
THC affects a dog’s brain’s cortex. Any slight damage to this brain component may not necessarily lead to death. A brain’s stem, however, works to keep a dog’s alive
Symptoms to Look for When a Dog is Stoned
There is nothing much that you can do to reverse the effects of cannabis on your dog. Some dogs remain fine and don’t require medical attention. But this cannot always be the case. In some cases, your dogs may develop some serious symptoms such as:
- Disorientation
- Slow heart rate
- Hyperactivity
- Urinary incontinence
- Muscle tremor
- Hypothermia
- Coma
These symptoms mean that you have to make an emergency vet visit. Also, you may have read horrific stories of how people choke on their vomit after overdosing. It is true for dogs, too, who may face the same fate in case they consume a large chunk of weeds.
Visit the Vet
A vet doesn’t have a magic wand that can help reverse the effects of marijuana. However, vets can provide supportive care to the dog. Your pet’s vet will check its vitals and start the treatment accordingly.
Mostly, a vet wants to keep the heart rate, blood pressure, etc., stable. Your dog may also need an IV drip. But there is nothing to worry about – at least in most cases. Vets take this measure to monitor the situation efficiently while ensuring that a dog’s symptoms don’t worsen.
Don’t Be Afraid of a Vet Visit.
Most pet owners avoid going to a vet out of the fear that they might get reported. First, there are so many states in the US where weed is legal, so your vet will understand the situation. Second, vets don’t have anything to do with you. They want to save the life of the furry animal lying on the observation table.
As pet parents, you shouldn’t avoid telling the truth to the vet. For a better medical treatment of your dog, its vet must know the causes behind the condition.
In the future, you can avoid such accidents altogether by keeping marijuana out of the reach of your pets. Come up with separate storage units to keep the stock safe from your dog. If you want to have a wild rave party at your home, contact a reliable dog sitter and send your dog over there for a couple of hours or a day.
Dogs and CBD
All these scary talks of dogs getting high make you wonder – is marijuana unsafe for dogs? While THC is unsafe for dogs, another active ingredient – cannabidiol (CBD) – is relatively safer for dogs. There is CBD oil for dogs available in the market, which you can get for your pet to soothe and calm them.
How to Take Care of Your ‘Stoned’ Dog
There are a few tips that can help you keep your dog safe. You can try out the following steps:
- Keep the dogs in a slightly dim room. Your dog will not like bright lights or loud sounds. Also, ensure that your dog stays indoors.
- Feed your dog light meals, including boiled rice or baked chicken. Food also helps wear off the effects of weed, and the dog will feel a lot better.
- If your dog enjoys it, brushing your dog will help.
- Turn down the music or keep the TV at a low volume. Make sure that the dog feels safe and is not alerted by any kind of noise.
- Rubbing the tip of a dog’s ear also helps soothe a stoned dog.
The Final Word
Pet owners should have a fair understanding of how to get a dog unstoned. They say, ‘prevention is better than cure,’ which means that the best solution to avoid such an untoward situation is to keep your dog away from your ‘stash.’ However, almost everyone is prone to accidents. So, make sure that you follow these steps to the letter.
