Answer First

Call your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital, or a pet poison hotline before you do anything else. In the United States, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661, both for a fee. Most dogs that eat cannabis survive with supportive care, but THC can cause serious signs, and many edibles also contain chocolate, xylitol, raisins, or macadamia nuts that are toxic on their own. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before you make the call.

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Signs of Cannabis Poisoning in Dogs

Dogs are far more sensitive to THC than people are. Signs usually start within 30 to 60 minutes of eating raw cannabis, but edibles can take 1 to 4 hours because the THC is absorbed with food. Common signs include:

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  • Vomiting and drooling
  • Wobbly, unsteady walking
  • Dribbling urine or leaking urine while lying down
  • Dilated pupils and glassy eyes
  • Twitching, head tremors, or head pressing
  • Agitation, whining, or startle responses to noise and touch
  • Slow heart rate, low body temperature, and slow breathing
  • Depression, stumbling, or unresponsiveness

Severe cases can include seizures, coma, and dangerously low body temperature. Signs often last 12 to 24 hours and can run longer after a large edible dose.

Veterinary Emergency vs. Home Care for Cannabis: A Comparison Review

Step-by-Step: What to Do

  1. Move your dog away from the cannabis and pick up any remaining product so it cannot eat more.
  2. Call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or a pet poison hotline right away.
  3. Give them your dog's weight, the product name and strength, how much was eaten, and the time it happened.
  4. Save the packaging, wrapper, or label and keep it with you.
  5. Do not make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to do so.
  6. Put your dog in a quiet, dim room on the floor, away from stairs and furniture it could fall from.
  7. Keep other pets and children away so the dog stays calm.
  8. Watch breathing and gum color, and check that your dog responds when you say its name.
  9. Go to the emergency clinic right away if breathing becomes slow or labored, if there is a seizure, or if your dog will not wake up.
  10. Bring the packaging and any leftover product with you to the appointment.

What Not to Do

  • Do not give food, oil, butter, or peanut butter to sober your dog up. Fat increases THC absorption.
  • Do not give activated charcoal at home. It is used under veterinary supervision only.
  • Do not give human medications, coffee, or any home remedy.
  • Do not leave your dog alone to sleep it off.
  • Do not punish or scold your dog. Confusion and unsteadiness are symptoms, not bad behavior.

What the Vet May Do

If the ingestion was recent, the vet may induce vomiting and give activated charcoal to limit absorption. Treatment is mostly supportive: intravenous fluids, anti-nausea drugs, warming blankets, oxygen if needed, and sedation for agitation or tremors. Blood work and monitoring of heart rate and body temperature are common. In severe cases, a lipid emulsion drip may be used to pull THC out of the bloodstream. There is no antidote that reverses THC.

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Recovery and Outlook

Most dogs recover fully within 12 to 72 hours with veterinary care. Long-term effects are rare after a single exposure. Tell your vet about every product involved, including edibles, vape cartridges, oils, and discarded flower, because the dose and the extra ingredients change the treatment plan.