Buzzby

Bowsers Getting Baked On Owners' Pot, Vet Warns
Matthew Ramsey | canada.com | 09/06/2006

VANCOUVER - Dogs these days are going to pot in some cases literally.

The owner of the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia says the number of cases of dogs consuming owners' illicit drugs then ending up ill in her waiting room has ''easily doubled''in the past decade.

Dr. Nadine Koreman currently treats at least one cranked-up canine case every week.

''We see a lot of dogs that come in for eating drugs,'' said Koreman, whose clinic works with animals from Delta to Abbotsford in B.C.

''A lot of times the owner may not know exactly how much its gotten into unless it's all gone.''

The 13-year vet says marijuana is the most common drug dogs nose their way into and eat, but she's also treated animals that have scarfed down cocaine, ecstasy, hash brownies, and powerful pain medications, including opiates.

In marijuana cases, the owner will usually fess up to what's happened when questioned by clinic staff. The vets always ask not so they can call police, but so they can treat the dogs better.

''The (owners of pets) that get into other things are a little less willing (to talk),'' Koreman noted.

Dogs that eat stimulants like cocaine experience hyperactivity, dilated pupils, increases in their blood pressure and heart rate and can lapse into comas. In one recent case a dog died from an ecstasy overdose, she said.

Much like with humans, the effect of drugs on dogs varies by the size of the animal and the amount consumed.

A small amount of pot and the dog may become sleepy one minute, then excitable the next. The dog's heart rate and temperature will typically drop, it will have dry mouth and it will dribble urine. The telltale signs become more and more pronounced as the quantity of drugs in the dog's system increases.

Most dogs can ''sleep off'' a small amount of marijuana, Koreman said.

Dogs who get well into a stash may require fluids, warming and to eat activated charcoal to offset the high.

While a doped-up dog may sound funny, Koreman said a funky Fido is no laughing matter.

''It's really not funny. I can't tell people what to do with their lives, but keep it away from your dogs and cats.''