Too many doggies getting stoned

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but dogs seem to be the ones sticking their noses in your Purple Haze.

According to Northern California veterinarians, local dogs have increasingly been getting into their owners’ pot stashes. As a result, vets have been admitting seriously stoned animals, mostly dogs, at an astounding rate.

Most pet owners know not to feed their animals hazardous materials. Unfortunately, many people don’t look at marijuana as the hazard to dogs that it actually is.

It may sound entertaining, but it can quickly become dangerous.

While marijuana’s effects on humans are well understood, even small amounts of weed can have harmful effects on animals, which can lead to a toxic and potentially lethal dose of marijuana in their system.

Depending on how much weed they consume, some animals act sleepy or disoriented and are unable to control their bladders. Others vomit uncontrollably, have seizures or go into comas.

Dr. Nicholas Davainis, a Sonoma County veterinarian, says he sees as many as 10 cases each month of dogs with marijuana toxicity.

Moving farther north to Mendocino where pot is more prevalent, vets report seeing two or three cases a week.

Humboldt County vet Dr. Joe Humble said he normally sees two or three cases a day at his emergency clinic in Eureka.

Dr. Humble recalled an owner that brought in his dog, who had mouth filled with baking soda. The owner thought that’s what was making the dog sick. Instead, it was the entire bag of marijuana cookies the dog ate beforehand.

Mendocino Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Bennett told the Press Democrat:

“Cats don’t tend to eat indiscriminately like dogs do. We’ve got a dog here who’s eaten laundry. They eat anything that seems interesting to them.”

Vets use various treatments to help stoned doggies come down from their high, including induced vomiting, administering activated charcoal to bind the toxins, intravenous fluids and anti-seizure medication.

Owners have even been known to medicate their animals with marijuana, falsely believing it will help their sick pets feel better.

Marijuana edibles are particularly easy targets. Make sure these are stored out of reach from your pet. This includes the plate of cookies you might put out for your human friends.

If you think your dog may have gotten a hold of your marijuana stash, make sure to look for the warning signs: Depression or alternating depression and excitement, falling over, seizures, or vomiting. And missing cookies.