BC SPCA are investigating after a Pomeranian with an unknown drug in its system was admitted to an animal hospital last month.
Marcie Moriarty with BC SPCA confirmed to Global News the testing was inconclusive on whether marijuana or cocaine was involved.
It is not clear how the dog ingested the drugs.
The dog was in a serious condition and was taken into the custody of BC SPCA.
Moriarty says the owner cooperated and was concerned for the dog.
She told investigators the drugs allegedly belonged to her roommate, and the SPCA agreed to give the dog back on the condition that the dog would not be returned to his previous living situation.
“She was emphatic that it was not intentional,” says Moriarty.
The owner has since left the province, allegedly with the dog.
Charges are not expected, but a repeat offence could change that.
Moriarty says they investigate drug overdoses in animals at least a few times a year.
“The only reason we would be called in is when the animal owner refuses treatment, forces the animal to be exposed to drugs or repeated instances,” says Moriarty.
She says they are currently investigating a similar case in the Okanagan.
Dr. Uri Burstyn with Arbutus West Animal Clinic has been practicing for eight years, three of them in emergency care, and says drugged dogs are a common occurrence in his practice.
“In an emergency clinic setting, you probably see about one or two a month.”
Burstyn says dogs under the influence tend to get pretty anxious and snappy.
“You actually need a bit of a sedative to calm them down. It can be pretty alarming,” he says. “They stumble around, they get muscle tremors, some can go into a stupor and start getting seizures, which is pretty scary for the owner.”
Burstyn says death from something like marijuana ingestion is very rare, but with the edible derivatives gaining in popularity, they are easier for dogs to come across.
“Remember that a dog, particularly certain dogs, will eat anything they can reach. Keep it out of reach.”
Veterinarian Adrian Walton with Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge says drug ingestion is usually accidental, but is occasionally on purpose.
He says dogs and cats love the taste of pot, and will actively seek it out. He has also seen cases of animal drug overdoses, involving drugs like cocaine and even hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Walton says, in case of emergency, it helps when owners admit to hospital staff that their pet has ingested drugs.
“Most of the time they do not want to tell us exactly what happened. It might take two or three times till they actually tell us,” says Walton. “Do not lie to us, we don’t care. We just want to know how to best treat your animal.”
Pet insurer Trupanion told Global News B.C. gets most marijuana related claims in North America.
Public relations manager Britta Gidican says they get $54,000 in weed related pet claims a year in B.C., $11,000 of those claims originate in Vancouver.
She says it can cost up to $600 to treat marijuana toxicity.
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