Pet Ate Cannabis: Signs of THC Poisoning and What to Do

Top pick: call your veterinarian or an animal poison hotline before you try anything at home. That call beats every do-it-yourself tactic because the right move depends on four things: how much THC the pet consumed, what else was in the product (chocolate, xylitol, raisins), the pet's body weight, and how long ago it happened. Most pets seen early recover, but edibles and concentrates change the math fast.

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Option 1: Call your vet or a poison hotline first

This is the default for every exposure, and it is the only option for edibles, concentrates, and any pet under about 10 pounds.

my dog ate cannabis what to do

• Pros: you get a weight-based answer instead of a guess; a vet can induce vomiting while the window is still open; you get a clear decision to come in or monitor; blood glucose and heart rate get checked if xylitol or chocolate is involved.
• Cons: some hotlines charge a consultation fee; weekend and night wait times can be long; you may be told to come in even though the pet still looks normal.

Use it when: always, and without exception for edibles, vape cartridges, tinctures, or a pet that is wobbling, vomiting, or twitching.

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Option 2: Monitor at home, only if a vet tells you to

Home watching is a real option for small exposures in healthy adult dogs, but it is a vet-directed plan, not a solo decision.

• Pros: less stress for a mildly affected pet; no car ride; you can keep the room quiet and dim, which helps.
• Cons: signs can escalate between checks; there is no activated charcoal, fluids, or oxygen at home; a delayed trip extends the recovery; you may miss low body temperature or a slow heart rate.

Use it when: the vet has cleared a mild, known-dose exposure in a healthy adult dog, you have a written plan for what triggers a drive to the clinic, and someone can stay in the room the whole time.

Signs of THC poisoning in dogs and cats

Signs usually start 30 to 60 minutes after flower or smoke exposure. Edibles can take one to three hours because the THC is processed through the liver and absorbed slowly with fat.

• Unsteady walk, swaying, or a drunken look
• Heavy lethargy, staring, or trouble standing
• Dilated pupils and sensitivity to light, sound, or touch
• Vomiting, drooling, or dribbling urine
• Head tremors, muscle twitching, or a slow heart rate
• Low body temperature and, in heavy cases, seizures or coma

Cats show the same picture, often with more hiding, tremors, and wide pupils. Small pets and flat-faced breeds tend to look worse at the same dose.

The edible extras that make it worse than the THC

Read the wrapper. These ingredients push the case into a higher tier and rule out home monitoring.

• Chocolate: theobromine toxicity, worst with dark and baking chocolate
• Xylitol or birch sugar: low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs at small doses
• Raisins and grapes: kidney injury in dogs
• Macadamia nuts and nut butters sweetened with xylitol: the same problems

What not to do

Do not make your pet vomit at home, and never use hydrogen peroxide unless a vet directs it. Do not offer food, water, or human medication to a wobbly pet, since choking and aspiration are real risks. Do not leave the pet alone on a bed, couch, or stairs. Do not scold the pet. Do not skip the call because the pet seems fine at 20 minutes, because edibles peak later. Save the packaging or a photo of the label for the vet.

Storage habits that prevent a repeat

Keep cannabis in its original child-resistant container inside a locked box, not a plastic bag on a coffee table. Edibles belong in a cabinet a pet cannot open, never in a purse, backpack, or nightstand. Concentrates carry a lot of THC in a small amount, so they need the same storage as edibles. Keep the poison hotline number where you can find it in the dark.

What the vet will likely do, and recovery

Within the first hour, a vet may induce vomiting and give activated charcoal. After that, care is supportive: IV fluids, anti-vomiting medication, oxygen, warming, and blood work with a glucose check if xylitol is in play. Mild cases often clear in 12 to 24 hours. Moderate cases take 24 to 72 hours. Call back if wobbling or tremors return after your pet looks normal, and ask about follow-up bloodwork when chocolate or xylitol was involved.