My pet ate marijuana or a THC edible — is it an emergency?
Often yes. THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana) causes wobbling, severe sedation, urinary incontinence, low body temperature, and slowed heart rate in pets. Edibles add extra danger because they often contain chocolate, xylitol, or coffee — each toxic on its own. Cats are smaller and dose-sensitive. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control now — and be honest about what was ingested. They've seen it before and won't involve law enforcement; they need the truth to treat your pet.
EmergencyASPCA Animal Poison Control (US, 24/7): (888) 426-4435
Signs to watch for
- Wobbling, lack of coordination, or stumbling (most common — looks "drunk")
- Severe sedation or lethargy — your pet seems unable to wake up
- Urinary incontinence — dribbling urine while standing or lying down (THC-specific sign)
- Low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Slowed heart rate
- Dilated pupils, glazed-eye look
- Vomiting
- Tremors, seizures, or coma (severe — usually with high doses or edible additives)
Timeline
Why is THC toxic to pets?
Dogs and cats have many more cannabinoid receptors in their brains than humans do. The same dose that gives a human a mild buzz can make a dog severely intoxicated — wobbling, unable to stand, unresponsive. This is not "they'll sleep it off" — pets can choke on their own vomit while severely sedated, develop dangerous low body temperature, or stop breathing at high doses.
Edibles are often more dangerous than smoked or vaped marijuana because the dose per item is higher (commercial gummies can contain 5–50 mg of THC per piece — a dog could eat 10 gummies). Edibles also commonly contain chocolate (theobromine), xylitol (sweetener), or coffee (caffeine) — each of which is independently toxic to pets. The combination is often the actual emergency.
Marijuana legalization across most US states (and similar legalization trends globally) has led to a steady increase in pet poisoning calls. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has reported a 765% rise in marijuana exposure cases over the past five years.
Be honest with your vet — they've seen it before
Many owners hesitate to disclose marijuana ingestion because of legal or social concerns. Please don't. Vets and poison control specialists are not law enforcement, are not required to report consumption of legal substances, and need accurate information to treat your pet effectively. Withholding this information delays treatment.
Tell them: the form (edible, bud, vape oil, butter, bong water), approximate THC content if known (look at the packaging), and approximate quantity. If it was an edible, mention chocolate, xylitol, or other additives.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (24/7, US). Tell them what was ingested, in what form, and how much. Bring the packaging or photo.
- Note the time of ingestion.
- Keep your pet warm — THC drops body temperature significantly.
- Do NOT induce vomiting at home. THC has anti-vomiting (anti-emetic) properties, so it often won't work. Even when it does, severely sedated pets can choke on their own vomit.
- Do NOT give coffee, sugar, "to wake them up" — this doesn't work and can make things worse, especially if there's xylitol involved.
What your vet will do
For recent ingestions and pets that aren't severely sedated, decontamination (induced vomiting + activated charcoal) may be appropriate. Charcoal binds THC and reduces absorption.
For severe sedation, supportive care is the main treatment — IV fluids, warming, monitoring of heart rate and breathing, and anti-anxiety medication if your pet is agitated. Severe cases may need intravenous lipid emulsion (an emerging treatment that "sponges up" fat-soluble drugs like THC).
Edibles with chocolate add theobromine toxicity treatment. Edibles with xylitol can cause hypoglycemia and liver damage — that's often more dangerous than the THC itself.
Most pets recover fully within 24-72 hours. Vet bills typically run $300-$1,500 depending on severity.
What about CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is different from THC. It's not psychoactive — it doesn't cause the "drunk" symptoms THC does. CBD products labeled as pet-safe (containing 0% or trace THC) are sometimes used for canine anxiety, pain, or seizure management.
BUT: not all CBD products are equal, and many marketed for pets contain THC contamination at unsafe levels. Quality varies widely. Talk to your vet before giving any CBD product, and avoid human-marketed CBD products (which may contain enough THC to affect your pet).
How to prevent THC exposure at home
- Store marijuana products, edibles, and vape cartridges in closed cabinets — same precautions you'd take with medications. Dogs especially can chew through plastic containers.
- Don't leave edibles on counters, coffee tables, or in pockets of clothes lying around.
- Use closed garbage cans — discarded edibles or roaches are a common ingestion source.
- If you smoke or vape, do it away from pets and ventilate the space afterward. Secondhand exposure is real, especially for cats.
- If you keep marijuana butter or oil for cooking, treat it like any other concentrated medication — high THC per gram, easy to overdose a pet who licks a spilled drop.
What not to do
- Don't induce vomiting at home — THC suppresses vomiting and severely sedated pets can aspirate.
- Don't give coffee, sugar, or "energy drinks" to "wake them up" — doesn't work, can add caffeine toxicity on top.
- Don't hide what was ingested from your vet. They can't treat your pet effectively without honesty.
- Don't wait to see if symptoms resolve. THC effects last 12-24 hours in pets and supportive care helps recovery significantly.
- Don't give human CBD products to pets without vet approval — many contain unsafe THC levels.
Frequently asked
My dog ate a single THC gummy — is that an emergency?
Yes, depending on the gummy's THC content. A 10 mg gummy can cause significant intoxication in a medium-sized dog; a 50 mg gummy or multiple gummies is more serious. Plus most gummies contain xylitol, which can be more dangerous than the THC itself. Call your vet or ASPCA APCC with the packaging in hand.
Will my dog "sleep it off" on their own?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Mild exposures may resolve at home over 12-24 hours, but pets can choke on vomit while sedated, develop dangerous low body temperature, or have additional toxicity from edible additives. The conservative call is vet evaluation, especially if your pet is severely sedated, very small, or ate an edible.
Will my vet report me to police?
No. Vets are not required to report owners for marijuana exposure (legal or otherwise — the laws here have nothing to do with veterinary practice). Their priority is treating your pet, which requires accurate information from you. Hiding the truth delays treatment.
What's the difference between THC and CBD for pets?
THC is psychoactive — it causes the "drunk" symptoms and at high doses is dangerous. CBD is not psychoactive and is sometimes used in pet products for anxiety or seizure management. The problem: not all CBD products are clean. Human CBD products often contain enough THC to affect pets. Use only vet-approved, pet-specific CBD if you're considering it.
How long does THC stay in a dog's system?
Most clinical effects clear within 24-72 hours. THC is fat-soluble, so it persists longer in pets with more body fat, but the visible symptoms resolve within 1-3 days with treatment.
Can secondhand smoke affect my pet?
Yes, especially in enclosed spaces and especially for cats. They're smaller, breathe more rapidly relative to body weight, and have very thin lung tissue. If you smoke or vape, do it in a separate room with the door closed and ventilate afterward.
My cat licked some bong water — should I worry?
Yes. Bong water concentrates THC and tar. Even small amounts can cause significant intoxication in a cat. Call your vet immediately. This is one of the more concerning forms of secondhand exposure.
Double-check another food, get a personalised follow-up, or talk to CRO about your pet’s specific situation.
This guide is educational and based on US veterinary sources (ASPCA APCC, AVMA, and peer-reviewed literature). It is not a substitute for a vet call. When in doubt, phone your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control — the fee is far cheaper than a delayed case.