VETERINARIAN'S CHARCOAL CHILLS OUT POTHEAD PUG

Marijuana Poisoning Common Among Pets

A West Point Grey pug with a taste for pot found itself at the
Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic two weeks ago recovering from a high
that cost its owner a hefty sum.

Chris Duplisea said shortly after she walked Mulligan July 3 at 8 p.m.
on the grass and sidewalk adjacent to Steeves Manor next to Jericho
Park, the pug began acting strangely.

"He was acting silly and started running in circles," said Duplisea.
"I didn't think much about it at first because sometimes pugs just act
silly. But then he leapt up onto the couch and his eyes bugged out and
he started staggering."

Duplisea feared the dog was suffering from encephalitis, or swelling
of the brain. She rushed Mulligan to the Vancouver Animal Emergency
Clinic on West Fourth Avenue where he was diagnosed with marijuana
poisoning. Duplisea assumes the dog ate a roach during their walk.
"They gave him a giant dose of charcoal, which helped. Thank God he
liked it, but pugs will eat almost anything," said Duplisea, who noted
pugs are almost impossible to muzzle.

Duplisea warned city dog owners about the dangers of marijuana
poisoning. "I'm just thankful he didn't go into a coma," she said.

Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic veterinarian Dr. Suann Hosie said
she can't comment on specific cases, but confirmed marijuana poisoning
in pets is common.

Hosie said an obvious sign of a pet having ingested marijuana is it
"acting stoned" and having a dry mouth.

"If it's acting in an altered mental state, don't try and fix it at
home," Hosie said. "Most dogs are like little vacuum cleaners that
will hoover up pretty much anything they find on the ground or the
floor and they really like the organic smell of marijuana so they'll
just eat it."

Hosie added there is a specific test veterinarians can conduct to
prove an animal has ingested marijuana. She noted the diagnosis is
important because the symptoms of eating pot can be similar to even
more serious ailments, such as ingesting anti-freeze or dogs born with
abnormal veins. Hosie said while she knows of no dogs that have died
from eating marijuana, drinking anti-freeze or even eating a half a
cup of grapes will kill them.

"You don't want to take that chance," she said.

Hosie said while marijuana is of concern, pet owners should be even
more worried about the many common dangers lurking in their home,
including flowers such as lilies, which can kill a cat, or
over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. "If you drop one
with that nice coating on the floor and your cat gets playing with it
and eats it, that can be bad," said Hosie. "If a ferret ingests 200
milligrams that would be deadly. It's extremely toxic to all pet species."

Hosie recommends treating all pets as if they're twoyear-old children,
which entails keeping toxic substances in the home up high or locked
away.

"That includes keeping garbage out of reach of prying fingers and beer
out of reach during barbecues," said Hosie. "Dogs can be poisoned by
alcohol, too."