BC SPCA warns of dogs being poisoned by discarded ends of cannabis cigarettes

The BC SPCA is raising concerns about cannabis cigarette butts being left on sidewalks and in dog parks after two dogs in Kelowna were poisoned.

Six-year-old cocker spanial Joey and 10-week-old chocolate lab puppy Daisy both injested discarded ends of cannabis cigarettes and became alarmingly sick.

Shelley Wood, Joey’s owner, says her pooch has been sick multiple times after picking up and eating joint butts off the ground.

“On two occasions, he must have ingested more than the butt of a joint, because he had quite a severe reaction,” she says “Vomiting, losing control of his legs, stumbling, and having what seemed like tiny involuntary seizures.”

Wood says she now keeps vigilant watch over her pet when they are in public, saying it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the smell of the drug because it can be irresistible for some dogs.

Daisy’s owner, Karen Beckmann, says she had to rush her puppy to the vet when she had her first incident. The vet confirmed she had been poisoned.

“My husband thought she was having a stroke,” Beckmann said. “She was wobbling, her eyes were red, and she could not walk straight.”

The BC SPCA says cannabis can be lethal to dogs, explaining canines have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains than humans do, making them more sensitive to the effects of THC.

The service says if your dog has been exposed to the drug, it’s important to call your vet or Animal Poison Control right away.

Some of the symptoms to watch out for are loss of balance, agitated behaviour, lethargy, dilated pupils, urinary incontinence, vomiting, and tremors. Some of these can take up to 12 hours to appear.