Big increase in marijuana poisoning in pets

SEATTLE -- After Washington voted to legalize marijuana last year, and veterinarians are now reporting a disturbing increase in pets being accidentally poisoned.

Hempfest has Seattle at the epicenter of pot culture this weekend, but all that marijuana is leading to some unknowing users.

Veterinarian Dr. Cheri Trisheium said she's seen a big jump in dogs getting sick from eating pot.

"They are sort of out of it," she said. "They are kind of bobbing, they are easily startled, their eyes are dilated."

While rarely fatal, marijuana poisoning in pets can be serious.

"In severe cases though, their blood pressure can drop dramatically. They can have all the signs and symptoms of shock," Trisheium said.

Representatives from a pet insurance company called Trupanion say claims from pets ingesting marijuana are up 37 percent this year in Washington.

The average bill for treating an animal is $579, but that can easily climb into the thousands of dollars.

"For an owner who sees their dog absolutely altered and not themselves, it can look like seizures to owners, it can be incredibly alarming," Trisheium said.

Vets say another problem is just getting the owners of sick pets to admit what happened.

"Folks are often like, 'No, no, no, there is no way he could have,' even if your friend smokes or uses edible marijuana. We try to let them know that we don't care, we just want to help them with their pet," Trisheium said.

Trisheium said if you suspect your pet has eaten marijuana, you should get them to a vet as soon as possible to help them recover and rule out any other problems.

More: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Vets-see-large-increase-

Marijuana's effect on pets

Vets worried at a staggering rise of dogs getting sick from marijuana in states where it is legal.

Many people believe that using the drug for medicinal purposes can be beneficial.

But according to a new study, one unintended side effect of legalized pot is a spike in the number of pets who get sick after accidentally ingesting the drug.

A study by Dr. Stacy Meola of the Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital concluded that animal poisoning caused by marijuana quadrupled in Colorado over the past five years, and vets say treating high dogs has become an increasingly common occurrence.

Doping your dog can get your pet very sick and may eventually die.

Once you pet ingest marijuana, they act lethargic, and start staggering and vomiting.  They may also become overly sensitive to sound and light.

In most cases, pets get hold of the drug through negligence of the owners.

So keep in mind marijuana is bad for your pets, keep them away from it be responsible. If you suspect your pet might be sick from the drug be honest and tell your vet right away so they can give proper treatment.

source yahoo news