THC or CBD for Dogs and Cats? A Few Important Tips
- In today's article, we will look at the effects of THC and CBD on our furry friends and what to do if they find your hidden medicated brownies
We now have access to the results of many studies confirming the benefits of CBD (a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis) in treating several common animal diseases. In some states where medical marijuana is fully legal, dog treats enriched with CBD are commonly sold in stores.
Yes, CBD can be both beneficial and completely safe for your pets. However, the situation with THC is quite different. Giving your furry loved ones anything containing THC is neither beneficial, nor safe, nor even remotely funny. In extreme cases, such behavior can result in death.
Animals and medical cannabis
It is not without reason that many modern veterinarians warn their clients to carefully hide their stash of cannabis products from their pets' curious noses. If pets do get to them, they certainly won't stop to think about what dosage would be best for them. Moreover, what is a normal dose for a human is an enormous dose for their cute little bodies. What's more, their endocannabinoid system simply cannot process THC the same way ours does.
So, if you have a pet that might find cannabis products tasty (which is quite likely), exercise extreme caution when storing or making anything containing THC.
Harmfulness of THC for dogs and other pets
First of all, it is important to realize that THC can have a distinctly different physical and mental effect on our pets than it does on us. Whether your dog gets into a bag of medicinal flowers, a tray full of brownies, or THC-laden gummies, it certainly won't feel good afterward. Of course, this also depends on the dog's size and weight and the amount ingested.
"Even a few grams of dried cannabis flowers can have an adverse effect on your dog."
The same applies to cats, although accidental ingestion of cannabis flowers or products is not as common in them. Ultimately, cats react to THC similarly to dogs, with the final dose being even more potent in most cases due to their weight and size.
THC poisoning in cats and dogs
Although our pets share a similar endocannabinoid system with us, their bodies react to THC in a significantly different way. Stories from veterinarians, for example in Colorado, where the number of poisoned dogs understandably rose significantly after legalization, describe dogs' reactions as very similar to symptoms of poisoning.
However, one theory suggests that the symptoms of poisoning are mainly caused by other ingredients from which cannabis products are made. A good dose of butter and chocolate will poison most dogs on its own, so it's safe to assume that eating a few brownies will cause a similar, if not worse, reaction.
What to do in case of dog or cat poisoning?
Let's say you left a few joints or cannabis cookies on the coffee table where your pet can reach them. All you see is the guilty look of a licking dog or cat on the crumb-covered floor. What now? First of all, don't panic, and try to figure out how much and what exactly your furry friend actually consumed.
1. Determine the type and potency
Here is a list of possible ingested forms of cannabis, from least to most dangerous:
- Dried cannabis flowers (buds) - the least harmful, because no decarboxylation has occurred in the flowers (THCA has not been converted to active THC)
- Cannabis remnants after vaporization - the situation is a bit worse here, as vaporized flower remnants may already contain activated THC molecules
- Cannabis products without chocolate - the final danger can vary depending on the potency and ingredients used
- Cannabis butter - again, it depends mainly on the potency and the amount of butter ingested
- Concentrates - inherently very potent; even a small piece of concentrate can have a severe effect on your pet, especially if they are small in size and weight
- Chocolate cannabis products - again, it depends on the amount ingested and potency; chocolate in itself is toxic to dogs and cats, making this the most dangerous combination
The potency of the ingested cannabis product will ultimately be the most important factor to be immediately aware of. The difference between a cookie containing 10 mg of THC and a brownie with 100 mg of THC is enormous, especially for a 20-pound dog.
2. Assess and observe symptoms
Once you are sure of the dose your pet has ingested, you can decide on the next step. If you know they only had a minimal dose, you can rest easy and let the symptoms subside.
Watch your pet for any of the following symptoms:
- Mild poisoning will manifest as excessive drooling, apathy, fatigue, and staggering.
- More extreme cases manifest as a complete loss of motor control, uncontrollable urination, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, tremors, seizures, or even death (choking on vomit).
3. How to absorb toxins from your dog's/cat's digestive tract
If you are a pet owner, you certainly have activated charcoal on hand, which is commonly available at any pharmacy. Activated charcoal will help "pull" all the harmful substances from your dear pet's stomach and prevent further absorption of harmful substances.
Caution: Do not use activated charcoal if you have already tried to induce vomiting.
4. Induce vomiting
If step 3 didn't help, try to make your pet vomit. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used at a dose of about one teaspoon per 4.5 kg of body weight, every 15 minutes, with a maximum of three total administrations.
Carefully observe your pet's reactions - hydrogen peroxide can cause really intense vomiting or even bloody stools. Definitely don't overdo it with hydrogen peroxide, and if this step also fails, seek professional help.
5. Contact a professional
If all previous steps fail, and especially if you know your pet ingested a significant amount of THC, seeking professional help is absolutely crucial. Speak clearly and, above all, honestly with the vet upon arrival. After all, they will find out what the dog ingested anyway, so honesty will only speed up the whole process.
Give the vet as much detailed information as possible - what product the pet ingested, what it was made of, the total potency, etc. For example, if the ingested product contained chocolate, it could cause further harm - so please mention all the ingredients you are aware of.
Can cannabis really kill your dog/cat?
Technically yes, but only if your pet ingests a really significant amount of THC. A 1983 study found that a dose of 130 mg of THC per kilogram of body weight killed 50% of the dogs tested. In this study, THC was administered intravenously. Russ Belville of Alternet.org explains:
"For the situation to end in death, the dog would have to eat at least half a kilo of highly potent cannabis products, it would have to be a small dog, and you would have to completely ignore its symptoms. This was the case with a Chihuahua from New Zealand, which eventually died of hypothermia because the same reaction that causes red eyes in humans activates heat loss in dogs."
The vast majority of cases of dogs and cats being poisoned by cannabis products fortunately end well if the pets are properly cared for.
Translation: Filip Maral
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