Here’s what happens if a four-legged friend ingests cannabis
Used as early as 500 BC as a herbal medicine and for products such as rope, textiles and paper, an increase in cases of cannabis poisoning in pets has been noted in Canada. All the details
Cases of cannabis poisoning in pets are on the rise. This is stated by a study published in pre-print on bioRxiv and conducted by Ontario Veterinary College, the oldest veterinary school in Canada, which is located on the campus of the University of Guelph.
I STUDY
The team, led by Professor Richard Quansah Amissah, explains in the article that between January and April 2021 it conducted an online survey of 251 veterinarians: 191 of them exercised in Canada, the others in the United States.
THE INCREASE OF CASES
The increase in reports of cannabis poisoning in pets in Canada – after October 2018 – coincided with the legalization of cannabis for recreational use , but this may at the same time have favored the reporting of cases.
The medical use of cannabis by pet owners may also have contributed to the increase in reports, according to the study.
Cannabis toxicosis was most commonly reported in dogs, followed by cats, iguanas, ferrets, horses, and cockatoos.
HOW THE POISONING HAPPENS
The most common route of exposure was ingestion, while the most cited reason was ingestion without surveillance.
The products that often led to toxicosis were dry cannabis and edibles, but they were only authorized in October 2019. Other products reported by veterinarians as a cause include butts, cannabis-infused oil or butter and compost.
Most of those who reported how the intoxication could have occurred reported that the cannabis came from government-regulated producers, followed by home-grown plants, and ultimately the black market.
THE CLINICAL SIGNS
The clinical signs most commonly indicated by veterinarians were mostly mild to moderate and included: urinary incontinence, disorientation, ataxia, lethargy, hyperesthesia and bradycardia.
A small number of vets reported seeing other signs including head shaking and hyperthermia.
THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY
According to scholars, most pets that have suffered from this type of poisoning have made a full recovery, suggesting that most cannabis toxicosis has no long-term adverse effects.
Although some deaths (16) have been reported in association with cannabis toxicosis, the article reads that the presence of confounding factors such as toxins and underlying conditions cannot be ruled out.
For experts, this points to the need for rigorous controlled laboratory studies to investigate the matter further as, the experts write, "the extent of the problem remains unknown."
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/ecco-cosa-succede-se-un-amico-a-quattro-zampe-ingerisce-della-cannabis/ on Mon, 25 Apr 2022 06:18:32 +0000.