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Urgent care is for pets who are unwell, in discomfort, are in urgent situation or are not acting like themselves and should be assessed within 24 hours.
Wellness, routine, or general care is for pets needing vaccines, preventive care, or ongoing monitoring who can safely wait at least 24 hours.
This page focuses on urgent assessment. Routine wellness exams, preventive care, and monitoring of stable conditions are provided through scheduled general wellness appointments.
Dog Ate Marijuana or THC
Marijuana toxicosis (THC exposure, cannabis ingestion, weed poisoning, edible ingestion) can range from mild, short-lived neurologic changes to severe, life-threatening depression or seizures, depending on dose, formulation, and species sensitivity.
Dogs are affected far more commonly than cats, but both can be impacted, and outward appearance does not reliably reflect internal severity.
Definition
Marijuana toxicosis is a clinical sign pattern caused by exposure to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), not a diagnosis.
THC is a fat-soluble compound that affects the brain, nervous system, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. In pets, exposure most often occurs through ingestion of edibles, plant material, oils, or concentrates; inhalation is less common but possible.
Dogs are particularly sensitive to THC because they have a higher density of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, leading to exaggerated neurologic effects.
With increasing availability of THC products, veterinary urgent care teams are seeing a sharp rise in accidental pet exposures, often unwitnessed and frequently involving edible products combined with chocolate or high-fat ingredients.
Owners may search for dog high on weed, dog ate edible, dog acting drunk, dog peeing inside suddenly, dog shaking after eating weed, cat ate marijuana, THC poisoning in dogs, weed toxicity in pets, is marijuana toxic to dogs, or how long does THC poisoning last in dogs. These situations often look confusing at home because pets may appear sedated, clumsy, anxious, or unusually calm while still having important internal effects that cannot be judged without veterinary assessment.
Who This Page Is For
Pet owners who suspect or know their dog or cat accessed marijuana, edibles, oils, or vape products
Pets showing sudden ataxia, wobbliness, tremors, head bobbing, or disorientation
Pets with unexpected urinary accidents or dribbling
Dogs or cats with acute lethargy, agitation, vocalizing, or abnormal behavior
Any pet with possible toxin exposure and unclear timing or dose
Who This Page Is Not For
Pets that briefly smelled marijuana without contact or ingestion and have no neurologic or behavioral changes
If you are unsure whether exposure occurred, that uncertainty itself warrants veterinary assessment.
Related Urgent Symptoms
Toxin Exposure in Dogs and Cats
Dog Walking Drunk or Uncoordinated
Seizures or Convulsions
Dog Lethargic and Weak
Cat Lethargic and Weak
Vomiting And Diarrhea
Excessive Drooling (Ptyalism)
Sudden Aggression or Behavior Change
What This Can Look Like at Home
Many owners describe their pet as “acting drunk” or “not themselves.”
Common observations include stumbling, falling over, head bobbing, glassy or dilated eyes, excessive drooling, tremors, unusual vocalization, anxiety, or unexpected calmness.
Urinary dribbling or loss of bladder control is a particularly important clue and is uncommon with most other toxins.
Why This Can Be Hard to Judge
Clinical signs from THC exposure are highly variable and dose-dependent.
Edibles and oils are absorbed unpredictably, especially when combined with fatty foods, leading to delayed or worsening signs hours after ingestion.
Pets may appear stable or sleepy while still having abnormal heart rate, temperature, or neurologic reflexes.
Some pets may not show overt signs of illness; apparent normalcy may not reflect internal changes.
The Improvement Trap
Temporary improvement does not equal resolution.
THC is stored in fat and undergoes recirculation in the body, meaning signs can wax and wane over 24–72 hours.
A pet that briefly seems better may later become more disoriented, hypothermic, or depressed as metabolism continues.
What Is Easy to Miss at Home
Subtle hypothermia or abnormal body temperature
Slow heart rate or blood pressure changes
Hypoventilation (slow or shallow breathing)
Mild tremors or hyperesthesia that worsen with stimulation
Delayed onset signs hours after exposure
Concurrent chocolate toxicity from edible products
These subtle findings are often not visible without medical monitoring, yet they strongly influence risk.
When This Can Be an Emergency
Seek immediate urgent care if any of the following are present:
Repeated vomiting or inability to protect the airway
Seizures, collapse, or loss of consciousness
Marked agitation, severe tremors, or coma
Very slow heart rate, extreme lethargy, or weakness
Trouble breathing or bluish gums
Known ingestion of high-potency products (oils, concentrates, edibles)
Co-ingestion of chocolate, xylitol, or other toxins
How Veterinarians Assess This
Clinical signs alone cannot reliably determine severity.
Symptoms from marijuana exposure can look similar to other toxicities, neurologic disease, or metabolic disorders. Diagnostic testing is how veterinarians distinguish mild intoxication from dangerous conditions that require intervention and monitoring.
Diagnostic testing may include:
Blood glucose testing to evaluate for hypoglycemia
Venous blood gas analysis to assess ventilation and acid-base status
Electrolyte evaluation to detect imbalances
CBC and serum chemistry to rule out metabolic or organ disease
Urinalysis when urinary changes are present
Imaging if foreign material, packaging, or co-ingestion is suspected
Additional disease-specific testing (such as drug screening, advanced toxicology analysis, or imaging for co-ingested materials) may be considered based on the overall clinical picture.
Veterinary Differentials - Serious / Must-Rule-Out First
Ethylene glycol toxicosis. A toxic antifreeze exposure can cause early neurologic signs that look similar before progressing to kidney failure.
Tests may include venous blood gas analysis, serum chemistry profile, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine measurement.
Amphetamine or stimulant toxicosis. Certain drugs cause agitation, tremors, hyperthermia, and seizures that can resemble THC toxicity.
Tests may include blood glucose testing, electrolyte evaluation, serum chemistry profile.
Seizure disorder or acute neurologic disease. Primary brain disease can cause sudden disorientation, tremors, or collapse.
Tests may include blood glucose testing, electrolyte evaluation, advanced imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
Hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can cause weakness, tremors, seizures, or collapse.
Tests may include blood glucose testing, serum chemistry profile.
Opioid or sedative ingestion. Certain medications can mimic THC-related depression and abnormal mentation.
Tests may include blood gas analysis, serum chemistry profile, drug screening.
Head trauma. Unwitnessed trauma can cause acute neurologic changes mistaken for intoxication.
Tests may include blood pressure assessment, imaging studies, neurologic evaluation.
Veterinary Differentials - Common / More Typical
Marijuana (THC) toxicosis. A neurologic and systemic response to THC exposure causing ataxia, sedation, or agitation.
Tests may include blood glucose testing, serum chemistry profile, urinalysis.
Dietary indiscretion. Ingestion of unusual foods can cause lethargy and gastrointestinal upset.
Tests may include serum chemistry profile, abdominal imaging.
Chocolate toxicosis. Frequently occurs with THC-containing edibles and may worsen severity.
Tests may include serum chemistry profile, heart rate and rhythm monitoring.
Mild gastrointestinal irritation. Some pets experience nausea or drooling without severe toxicity.
Tests may include physical examination, blood glucose testing.
Behavioral intoxication-like response. Anxiety or panic responses can mimic intoxication in some dogs.
Tests may include physical examination, blood glucose testing.
Safety, Psychology, & Peace of Mind
Waiting can feel reasonable when a pet looks “just sleepy,” but marijuana toxicosis is unpredictable.
THC absorption varies widely, especially with edibles and oils, and symptoms can worsen hours later.
Veterinary assessment reduces uncertainty, identifies hidden complications, and prevents avoidable deterioration.
Calm monitoring, appropriate diagnostics, and supportive care are usually effective, but only after risk is properly assessed.
Clear answers replace guessing and help pets recover safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is marijuana toxicosis an emergency?
Marijuana toxicosis can range from mild to serious, depending on the amount, formulation, and the individual pet. Because outward appearance does not reliably indicate severity, marijuana toxicosis is treated as urgent rather than benign. Same-day urgent care is recommended, especially if neurologic signs, vomiting, weakness, or behavior changes are present.
My pet seems normal now — can this still be serious?
Yes. Pets often hide illness, and marijuana toxicosis may temporarily improve even while THC continues to circulate internally. Apparent normal behavior does not reliably reflect internal stability, which is why veterinary assessment is appropriate even when symptoms appear mild or short-lived.
What if it only happened once or seemed mild?
Even a single episode of marijuana toxicosis can be clinically meaningful. Temporary improvement does not equal resolution, and waiting to see if signs recur can delay identification of complications or co-ingested toxins. Early assessment helps determine whether the exposure is self-limiting or progressing.
Why are tests needed if we already know it’s marijuana?
Clinical signs alone cannot determine severity or exclude other dangerous causes that look similar to marijuana toxicosis. Diagnostic testing is how veterinarians assess internal effects, identify complications, and distinguish THC exposure from more serious neurologic or metabolic conditions. Testing replaces guesswork with clarity and guides appropriate care.
What should I do right now?
Do not rely on watchful waiting. Suspected marijuana toxicosis warrants veterinary assessment, particularly if signs are persistent, worsening, or associated with lethargy, weakness, vomiting, or abnormal behavior. Same-day urgent care helps reduce risk and determine next steps.