What Happens If Can I Give My Dog A Pot Gummy: Dangers

Can I give my dog a pot gummy? No, absolutely not. Giving your dog a pot gummy or any product with marijuana is very dangerous and can make them seriously sick. Dogs react differently to marijuana than people do, and even a small amount of THC, the main chemical in marijuana that makes people feel “high,” can cause marijuana toxicity in dogs. If your dog ate marijuana gummy, they need help right away because edibles like gummies have a lot of THC, which is much more harmful to dogs than you might think.

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Grasping Why Marijuana Harms Dogs

Dogs are not small people. Their bodies work differently. This is very true for how they handle marijuana. The main chemical in marijuana that causes effects is called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When people use marijuana, THC goes into their bodies and connects with certain spots in their brains. Dogs have a lot more of these spots in their brains than people do. This means that THC affects them much more strongly. It can cause a much bigger reaction in dogs, leading to serious problems.

Think of it like this: Imagine a key (THC) and locks (the spots in the brain). Dogs have many, many more locks for the THC key than people do. So, when the key gets in, it unlocks a lot more things in a dog’s brain, causing bigger and scarier effects.

Why Edibles Like Gummies Are a Big Risk

Marijuana comes in many forms. There are dried leaves people smoke, oils, and edibles. Edibles are foods or drinks that have marijuana added to them, like cookies, candies, chocolates, and gummies. Edibles are often much more dangerous for dogs than other forms of marijuana for a few reasons:

• More THC: Edibles usually have a high amount of THC packed into a small item. This means just one small gummy can have enough THC to make a dog very sick.
• Easy to Eat: Gummies and other edibles look and smell like regular treats or food. Dogs love to eat things they find, and they will often eat a whole package of gummies quickly because it seems like candy. They don’t just take a little bit; they eat it all.
• Slower Effects: When a dog eats an edible, the THC has to go through their stomach and be digested. This takes longer than breathing smoke. Because it takes longer, owners might not know their dog ate it right away. By the time they see sick signs, the dog has already taken in a large dose. Also, the effects last much longer when eaten than when smoked.

A dog ate marijuana gummy is a common reason dogs end up at the vet for marijuana poisoning. Because gummies are small, sweet, and have a lot of THC, they are a perfect storm of danger for a curious dog.

Signs Your Dog Is Sick from Cannabis Poisoning

Knowing the signs of marijuana toxicity in dogs is very important. If you think your dog ate something with marijuana, watch them closely for any of these signs. The symptoms of cannabis poisoning can show up anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after the dog eats the marijuana. The signs depend on how much the dog ate, the amount of THC in it, and the size of the dog.

Here are some common signs of THC poisoning in dogs:

• Wobbly Walking: They might look drunk or like they can’t stand up straight. They might sway or fall over.
• Sleepiness or Being Very Slow: They might be much quieter than usual, seem very sleepy, or not want to move much. They might be hard to wake up.
• Peeing More: They might dribble pee or pee on themselves without knowing it.
• Eyes Look Different: Their eyes might look glazed over. The dark circle in the middle of their eye (the pupil) might be bigger or smaller than usual.
• Being Very Still: Sometimes they get into a strange pose, like freezing or swaying slightly. This is called “static ataxia.”
• Vomiting: They might throw up what they ate.
• Changes in Heart Rate: Their heart might beat slower than normal, or sometimes faster.
• Shaking or Tremors: Their body might shake uncontrollably.
• Being Very Excited or Agitated: In some cases, they might seem stressed, restless, or even act a little bit wild. This is less common than the sleepy state.
• Being Sensitive to Noise or Touch: Loud noises or sudden touches might scare them or make their symptoms worse.
• Low Body Temperature: Their body temperature might drop below normal.
• In very bad cases: Seizures or even falling into a coma can happen.

These are the dog ate edible symptoms you should watch for. Remember that edibles can cause strong effects, so these signs can be quite serious.

What to Do If Your Dog Ate Weed

If you know or even just think your dog ate weed, you need to act fast. This is a medical emergency for your dog. Here is what to do dog ate weed:

1. Stay Calm: It’s scary, but staying calm helps you think clearly and help your dog.
2. Gather Information: Try to figure out what your dog ate, how much of it they might have eaten, and when they ate it. Did they eat a whole gummy? Half a cookie? Knowing the type of product (gummy, chocolate, dried weed) and roughly how much THC might have been in it (if possible) helps the vet a lot. If it was a package, check the strength listed on the package if you can safely get it.
3. Call Your Vet Right Away: This is the most important step. Call your regular vet or the nearest emergency vet cannabis ingestion is a common reason for emergency visits. Tell them your dog ate marijuana and describe the symptoms you are seeing. They will tell you what to do and if you need to bring your dog in right away.
4. Call Pet Poison Control: You can also call a pet poison control center. These centers have experts who know a lot about pet poisons, including marijuana. Two main ones are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) and the Pet Poison Helpline. They can give you advice over the phone and work with your vet. There is usually a fee to call these lines, but the advice is worth it. Having the number for pet poison control marijuana cases handy is a good idea for any pet owner. They can provide very specific guidance based on the product your dog ate.
5. Do Not Try to Make Your Dog Throw Up Without Asking the Vet: Sometimes, getting the dog to vomit can help remove the poison if it hasn’t been digested yet. But this can also be dangerous depending on the dog’s condition and the type of poison. NEVER try to make your dog throw up unless a vet or poison control expert tells you exactly how to do it and says it is safe for your dog in their current state. If your dog is already showing strong signs like being very sleepy or wobbly, making them vomit could be harmful.
6. Follow Vet Instructions: Once you talk to the vet or poison control, do exactly what they tell you to do. This usually means taking your dog to the vet clinic right away.

Remember, time is important. The sooner your dog gets help, the better their chances of a quick and full recovery. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms get worse.

At the Vet: Getting Your Dog Better

When you bring your dog to the vet after they ate marijuana, the vet will first check your dog carefully. They will ask you questions about what happened, what your dog ate, and what symptoms you’ve seen. They will check your dog’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, and how they respond to things.

There is no specific medicine that quickly reverses the effects of THC in dogs. Treating cannabis toxicity is mostly about helping the dog’s body handle the poison and supporting them until the THC leaves their system. This is called supportive care.

Here are some things the vet might do:

• Check for Other Problems: Sometimes, eating an edible means the dog also ate other harmful things like chocolate (which is also bad for dogs) or wrappers. The vet will check for signs of these issues too.
• Making Them Vomit (Sometimes): If the dog ate the marijuana recently (usually within 30-60 minutes) and is awake and alert, the vet might give them medicine to make them throw up the food. This can help get some of the THC out before the body takes it in. But, as mentioned before, this is not always safe or possible, especially if the dog is already showing strong signs of poisoning.
• Giving Activated Charcoal: After vomiting (or if vomiting wasn’t an option), the vet might give the dog activated charcoal. This is a special powder that can help stop the body from taking in more of the poison from the stomach and gut. The charcoal grabs onto the THC.
• Giving Fluids: The vet might give your dog fluids through an IV (into a vein). This helps keep your dog hydrated, supports their body, and can help their body get rid of the poison faster through pee.
• Keeping Them Warm or Cool: If your dog’s body temperature is too low or high, the vet will help fix that.
• Medicine for Symptoms: The vet might give medicine to help with specific symptoms. For example, if your dog is very agitated or having seizures, they might give medicine to calm them down or stop the shaking.
• Monitoring: The vet team will watch your dog carefully. They will check their heart rate, breathing, temperature, and how they are acting often. Dogs with marijuana poisoning might need to stay at the vet hospital for several hours, or even a day or two, so they can be watched and cared for constantly.

The goal is to keep the dog safe and comfortable while the THC wears off. This can take a long time, sometimes 24 hours or even more, depending on how much the dog ate and how strong it was.

Is Marijuana Harmful to Dogs?

Yes, absolutely. Is marijuana harmful to dogs? The answer is a clear yes. While people may use marijuana for various reasons, it is not safe or healthy for dogs.

The THC in marijuana affects dogs differently and more intensely than humans. What might be a mild effect for a person can be a serious health issue for a dog. The effects range from mild symptoms like being a bit wobbly to severe problems like not being able to move, very slow heart rate, very low body temperature, and even seizures or coma in bad cases.

Beyond the direct effects of THC, there are other dangers, especially with edibles:

• Other Bad Ingredients: Edibles often contain ingredients that are also toxic to dogs, like chocolate or xylitol (a sugar substitute). If a dog eats a chocolate edible, they can get sick from both the marijuana and the chocolate. Xylitol is extremely dangerous and can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
• Packaging: Dogs can also eat the packaging from edibles, which can cause blockages in their stomach or intestines, needing surgery to fix.

So, feeding marijuana to your dog, including a tiny piece of a gummy, is never safe. It is considered poisoning and requires veterinary care.

How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Get Better?

The time it takes for a dog to recover from cannabis poisoning depends on several things:

• How Much They Ate: A dog who ate a large amount will take longer to recover than one who ate just a tiny bit.
• The Amount of THC: Products with high THC levels will cause stronger effects that last longer. Edibles often have very high THC.
• The Dog’s Size and Health: Smaller dogs can be affected more severely by the same amount of THC than larger dogs. A dog with other health problems might also take longer to recover.
• The Type of Product: Effects from eating marijuana last much longer than effects from breathing in smoke.
• How Quickly They Got Help: Getting to the vet fast for treatment can sometimes help the dog recover sooner or prevent the symptoms from getting very bad.

Generally, symptoms can last for 24 hours, but some dogs might show signs for 48-72 hours, especially after eating a lot of a strong edible. Most dogs make a full recovery with proper vet care. Death is rare but possible, especially if a very large amount of THC is eaten, or if other poisons like chocolate were also in the edible, or if the dog has other health issues.

Recovery involves the dog slowly starting to act more normal. They will walk better, be more alert, and their heart rate and temperature will go back to normal. The vet will usually want to keep the dog until they are walking well and can eat and drink on their own.

Preventing Your Dog from Eating Marijuana

The best way to protect your dog from marijuana poisoning is to make sure they can never get to it. As marijuana use becomes legal in more places for people, the number of dogs getting sick from eating it has gone up a lot. This is because people might not realize the danger or they leave products lying around.

Here are important ways to keep your dog safe:

• Store All Marijuana Products Securely: Treat marijuana like any other medicine or poison. Keep it in a high place, locked up, or in a container your dog cannot open. Child-proof containers are often not dog-proof.
• Be Careful with Edibles: Edibles look and smell like regular food. Store them just as carefully as you would pills or cleaning supplies. Keep them out of reach and sight of your dog. A purse or backpack on the floor is not a safe place if it contains edibles.
• Think About Guests: If you have guests, make sure they know not to leave any marijuana products, including joints, vapes, or edibles, where your dog can reach them. It’s okay to tell guests you need everything put away safely because of your dog.
• Be Aware on Walks: Some dogs might find discarded joint butts or even edibles on the ground during walks. Watch your dog closely and train them not to eat things they find outside.
• Talk to Your Vet: If you use marijuana, talk to your vet about your concerns. They can give you advice on safe storage and what to do in an emergency.
• Educate Yourself and Others: Make sure everyone in your household knows the danger of marijuana to dogs and how important safe storage is.

Taking these steps can help prevent a scary and potentially dangerous situation for your furry friend.

Why Treating Cannabis Toxicity Needs a Vet

Some people might think if their dog ate marijuana, they can just wait it out at home, especially if the symptoms seem mild at first. However, this is risky for several reasons:

• Symptoms Get Worse: Symptoms can start mild but get much worse over time, especially with edibles that take longer to digest and absorb.
• Unknown Dose: You often don’t know exactly how much THC your dog ate. A small piece of a strong edible can have a lot more THC than you think.
• Other Toxins: As mentioned, edibles can contain other dangerous ingredients like chocolate or xylitol that need different or immediate treatment.
• Monitoring is Key: Dogs with marijuana poisoning need to be watched closely. Their heart rate, breathing, and temperature can drop to unsafe levels. Vets have the equipment to monitor this and keep the dog stable.
• Supportive Care: Vets can provide fluids, warmth, and medicine to help the dog’s body cope and recover safely. Trying to do this at home is difficult and not as effective.
• Accurate Diagnosis: The vet can confirm that the symptoms are from marijuana poisoning and not another serious health problem that might look similar.

Delaying veterinary care can lead to more severe symptoms, a longer recovery time, and a higher risk of complications. If your dog ate edible symptoms appear, call the vet right away. It’s always better to be safe and get professional help.

Comparing Different Forms of Marijuana and Their Risk to Dogs

Not all marijuana products carry the same level of risk for dogs, although all are potentially harmful.

• Dried Plant Material (Buds/Leaves): If a dog eats dried weed, the THC has to be released from the plant material. This can still make them sick, but the dose might be lower compared to concentrated products unless they eat a very large amount. Breathing in second-hand smoke is also not good for dogs, but usually causes less severe signs than eating it.
• Concentrates (Oils, Wax, Shatter): These products have a very high amount of THC. Even a tiny amount can cause serious poisoning in a dog.
• Edibles (Gummies, Cookies, Brownies, Candies): As discussed, these are often the most dangerous because they contain high amounts of THC, taste good to dogs, and may have other toxic ingredients. Dog ate marijuana gummy is a very common emergency call for vets.
• Tinctures (Liquid Extracts): These are also concentrated and can cause significant effects quickly if a dog drinks them.
• Topicals (Creams, Balms): These are meant to be used on the skin. They usually have lower amounts of THC that get into the bloodstream, so they are less likely to cause severe poisoning unless a dog eats a large amount of the product. However, they might contain other ingredients that are not good for dogs.

Regardless of the form, any product containing THC should be kept strictly away from dogs.

Long-Term Effects and Recovery

Most dogs who receive timely veterinary care for marijuana toxicity in dogs recover completely with no lasting problems. The body is generally able to process the THC and return to normal function once it’s out of the system.

However, in very rare and severe cases, especially if there were complications like breathing problems or severe seizures that weren’t controlled quickly, there could be long-term effects. This is not common with typical marijuana ingestion cases that receive prompt treatment.

The main concern is the immediate danger and the stress on the dog’s body during the poisoning episode. That’s why quick action and professional medical care are so important.

When to Seek Emergency Vet Care

Any time you suspect your dog has eaten marijuana, you should call a vet. However, some signs mean you should get to an emergency vet cannabis ingestion clinic immediately:

• Your dog cannot stand up or walk at all.
• Your dog is extremely sleepy and hard to wake up.
• Your dog is having seizures or tremors that won’t stop.
• Your dog is having trouble breathing.
• Your dog’s heart rate is very, very slow or very fast and irregular.
• Your dog seems confused, agitated, or aggressive in a way that is not normal for them.
• You know they ate a very large amount or a product with very high THC (like a concentrate or multiple edibles).
• The edible also contained chocolate or xylitol.

In these situations, do not wait. Get your dog to the nearest emergency animal hospital as fast as you safely can. Call ahead if possible to let them know you are coming and what happened.

Table of Common Symptoms

Here is a simple table showing some common signs a dog might show if they have marijuana poisoning:

How the Dog Acts	What it Looks Like
Walking Problems	Wobbly, stumbling, falling over, “drunk” look.
Activity Level	Very sleepy, quiet, slow, hard to wake up.
Body Control	Shaking, tremors, sometimes freezing in a pose.
Bathroom Habits	Dribbling pee, peeing inside without trying.
Eyes	Glazed look, pupils bigger or smaller than normal.
Stomach Issues	Throwing up (vomiting).
Body Temperature	Can be lower than normal (cold).
Heart Rate	Often slower than normal, sometimes faster.
Being Upset/Scared	Less common, but can be restless or easily startled.
Severe Problems	Seizures, coma (rare but serious).

Watching for these signs can help you know if your dog needs help.

Final Thoughts on Is Marijuana Harmful to Dogs?

To wrap up, the answer to “Can I give my dog a pot gummy?” or is marijuana harmful to dogs is a definite and strong NO. It is harmful and can cause serious health problems. Products like gummies are especially dangerous because they are tasty, easy for dogs to eat a lot of, and have high levels of THC.

If your dog ate marijuana gummy or any other weed product, don’t wait. Call your vet or pet poison control marijuana helpline right away. Knowing what to do dog ate weed and acting quickly to get emergency vet cannabis ingestion care and start treating cannabis toxicity gives your dog the best chance for a safe and full recovery.

Preventing access is the most important step. Keep all marijuana products put away safely where your curious dog can never reach them. Your dog counts on you to keep them safe from dangers like this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

h4 Is one lick of a gummy enough to hurt my dog?

Maybe. Even a small amount, like a lick or a tiny bite, can have enough THC to affect a small dog or a dog who is very sensitive. Edibles are often very strong. It’s better to be safe and call your vet even for a small amount if your dog starts showing any unusual signs.

h4 My dog just seems sleepy after eating weed, do I still need the vet?

Yes. Sleepiness and being wobbly are common signs of marijuana toxicity in dogs. These signs mean there is THC in their system affecting their brain. Even if they just seem sleepy, it’s important to get veterinary advice because the effects can last a long time, and other, more serious signs might show up later. The vet can tell you if they need to be seen or watched closely.

h4 Can dogs die from eating marijuana?

Death is rare, but it is possible, especially if a dog eats a very large amount of a high-THC product, or if the product also contains other poisons like xylitol. Death can also happen if a dog chokes on vomit while they are unable to move well, or if their breathing or heart rate gets dangerously low without medical help. This is why getting vet care quickly is so important when treating cannabis toxicity.

h4 Will my dog get high like a person?

Dogs do not experience the effects of THC in the same way people do. They don’t understand what is happening, and the effects they feel are usually scary and unpleasant for them. They might feel confused, unable to control their bodies, or very scared. It is not a pleasant experience for a dog.

h4 My dog ate part of a joint, is that as bad as an edible?

Eating dried weed or part of a joint is usually less risky than eating an edible like a gummy with the same amount of THC, because the THC in dried plant material is not as easily taken into the body when eaten. However, it can still make your dog sick, and dogs might also eat the paper or filter which can cause other tummy problems. Always call your vet if your dog eats any part of a marijuana product.

h4 What is the difference between THC and CBD for dogs?

THC is the chemical in marijuana that causes the “high” feeling and the poisoning signs described. CBD (cannabidiol) is another chemical found in cannabis plants. CBD does not cause a “high” and is sometimes used in pet products (like oils or treats) that are meant to help with things like anxiety or joint pain. These products should have very little or no THC. It’s important to use only CBD products made specifically for pets, with clear labeling about THC content, and it’s best to talk to your vet before giving your dog any CBD product. However, this article is about the dangers of THC found in recreational marijuana products like gummies, which are unsafe for dogs.