Jessica G., 34, and her husband were hosting a summer barbecue on the rooftop of their Financial District pad when their Shih Tzu, Indy, started running in circles and throwing up. “He looked like he was wired, but then he’d just lean over and fall,” she recalls.
They suspected that the 2-year-old dog had gobbled up a partially smoked joint that a friend had left out. They started Googling for a remedy, but as the Shih Tzu’s eyes rolled back, they rushed him to the ER at the Animal Medical Center on the Upper East Side, where he spent the night recovering. “It was scary,” says Jessica, who asked that her last name not be shared for work reasons.
Attitudes and laws surrounding marijuana are shifting, and the changes are having unexpected effects on our pets. The national Pet Poison Hotline reports a 200 percent spike in marijuana cases over the last five years, calling it a “significant” trend. In Colorado, where marijuana was legalized for medical purposes in 2000 (and became legal for recreational sale this year), a 2012 study found a fourfold increase in marijuana poisoning cases in dogs from 2005 to 2010. Earlier this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he would allow a limited use of marijuana in New York state for medicinal purposes. Local vets say that it’s already common to see pot-poisoned pets coming in and that such incidents are on the rise.
Staff at the Animal Medical Center say they see a case of marijuana poisoning at least once a week. And Dr. Heather Loenser, the senior ER veterinarian at Crown Veterinary Specialists in northern New Jersey, says such cases are becoming increasingly common.
“Most of the cases I see, it’s been illegally obtained,” Loenser says. “It is a lot of kids coming in or their parents.”
For pet owners, going to the vet with an animal who is under the influence can be embarrassing, but medical experts say that shouldn’t be a concern. “We’re not here to judge,” says Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA hospital.
If an owner won’t fess up or doesn’t know what happened, vets must assess the symptoms, which can appear similar to those in people: big pupils, wobbly walking, disorientation or lack of movement. Incontinence and vomiting are also possible.
Loenser’s first step is to inject the pup with a drug that hopefully will cause him to vomit. She might try activated charcoal to bind to the toxins in the GI tract. She’ll also monitor vitals and offer warming blankets, an IV of fluids and other medical treatment as necessary.
“You’re basically keeping them safe while they sleep it off,” adds Murray.
The prognosis is generally good. “It’s very rarely fatal,” Loenser says. “But if you do nothing, they could have a seizure, become dehydrated and their body temperature could get very low.” She urges pet owners avoid home remedies and head to the vet’s office.
Vets report that dogs — the chowhounds of the pet kingdom — are the most typical culprits, and that the marijuana is nearly always consumed by ingestion, not inhalation.
But one Park Slope kitty defies the norm. Thirty-something Bianca, who also prefers to share only her first name, calls her cat Mazie an absolute “pothead” who comes running at the slightest puff of smoke.
Luckily for Bianca, Mazie doesn’t inhale deeply enough to necessitate a trip to the ER. Treatment can be pricey.
Jessica found herself facing a $700 vet bill after Indy recovered from his stupor — more than the dog had originally cost. Still, her friend with the stash was forgiven and remains part of their circle. “Luckily, we can all laugh about it today,” she says.
Adopt me
Stanley is a super friendly Shih Tzu mix. Heﾒs a senior citizen but has puppy-like energy and would make a great lap dog. Meet him from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Humane Society of New York, 306 E. 59th St.; 212- 752-4840 or visit
humanesocietyny.org.