Page 17 - The Jewish Voice - May '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 17

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Tip of the Tail signs and abnormal behavior. During his exam he was barely You would think this case was an uncommon one, since
able to stand, had urinary incontinence, a low heart rate, and a we don’t live in a major metropolitan area. Unfortunately,
Cannabis Is Poisonous to Pets fever after being outside playing at SandyPaws just prior to the this is far from the truth and treating stoned dogs is now
onset of signs. We began treating him for shock in an attempt a fairly common occurrence. With the increasing use
to stabilize him while getting to the bottom of his diagnosis. of medicinal marijuana throughout the country, and the
While performing tests we placed him in an ICU run various oral formulations that cannabis is now available
with IV fluids and strict monitoring where he continued to in, the rise of THC toxicity in canines is alarming. In
decline, becoming more lethargic and less responsive despite the past six years, there’s been more than a 400 percent
treatment. It was during this time he also began vomiting, at increase in calls about marijuana poisoning to the Pet
first large amounts of water but eventually he vomited up what Poison Helpline, and vets are reporting a greater than 60
appeared to be a plastic Ziplock bag. Upon inspecting this percent increase in cases coming into their practices.
bag we discovered the cause of his symptoms was cannabis The most common symptoms included urinary
ingestion. The Ziplock bag was punctured and open, but incontinence, disorientation, an abnormal drunken gait,
multiple edibles were found still inside the bag and more lethargy, increased sensitivity to stimuli, a slow heart rate,
On a typical Wednesday a few weeks ago at Palm City were found in his vomit. Now knowing that this doodle was and hypothermia. These symptoms usually present within 30
Animal Medical Center, the doctors and staff were all busy suffering from the effects of THC, we were able to treat him minutes to an hour from time of ingestion and can last 24-
seeing appointments and performing scheduled surgeries when appropriately with IVs and supportive care and he ultimately 72 hours. Although prognosis with appropriate treatment is
a dog was rushed into the hospital for sudden onset neurologic made a full, albeit expensive, recovery. usually excellent, there has been a rise in fatalities recently,
due in large part to the increase in THC concentration now
found in marijuana products. Dogs don’t know just to eat
a ¼ of a cookie or one edible, and since they metabolize
medications much differently than humans do they feel the
effects of THC to a much greater degree.
An additional complication is that many of today’s
edibles come packaged in chocolate and fruit flavors,
which are highly attractive treats to pets and also can
be highly toxic. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, and xylitol
are just a few of the ingredients being used that cause
significant health issues in our pets. A pet who has
gotten into these types of edibles may be suffering from
a multi-drug toxicity, which makes it more difficult for
clinicians to diagnose and to treat. Furthermore, drug
testing these pets is often unreliable. Currently, the only
rapid testing on the market is for humans and recent
studies indicate that there are validity concerns due to
metabolite variances between canines and humans.
Bottom line: The use of medicinal or recreational
marijuana is here to stay, as is a dog’s propensity to find
things he should not get into. Just like when you have
children in your home, you store dangerous things in high
cabinets, a locked drawer, or an area where wandering
hands (or in this case, curious noses) cannot get into.
The same principles should apply when you have pets in
your home. This will allow you to enjoy the edibles you
purchased without having to pay an expensive veterinary
bill on top of it.
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
Innovative care for surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
every neurological condition. Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
owners. For more information, call 772-283-0920, visit
www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
At Cleveland Clinic Florida, our team of renowned neurologists and Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
neurosurgeons specialize in comprehensive care for every neurological condition.
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Matthew Mellon, an investor and businessperson who
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