Number Of Dogs Intoxicated By Marijuana Consumption Rises In The U.S.: BBC Mundo Report

In the United States, veterinarians detected a rise in the cases of dog intoxication due to marijuana consumption, reported BBC Mundo.

According to experts, these dogs have accidentally ingested the drug their owners have in their homes. The intoxication causes them to shake, vomit, hinders their coordination, changes their heart-rate and dilates their pupils.

The source points out that the states of California and Colorado have seen a rise in the number of cases of dogs getting intoxicated by cannabis after the drug was legalized for medicinal use.

BBC Mundo shared that an American veterinary magazine published a study which shows a growth 4 times larger than the years 2005 and 2010 in some areas of the United States.

"In the Denver area, we used to treat four or five dogs a year. In recent years, there have been more cases as more dispensaries open", said the co-author of the study, Elisa Mazzaferro, according to BBC Mundo.

The researcher explained that the cases have been rising as a consequence of the legalization of the drug in some states.

"To make sure this wasn't a local phenomenon, we gathered data from around the state and it showed a significant rise in the number of intoxicated dogs", Mazzaferro said.

Ahna Brugtlan, operator for the Pet Poison Helpline, told BBC Mundo that during the past few years, calls regarding dogs getting intoxicated after consuming marijuana has doubled.

"A key factor has been the legalization of medicinal marijuana, although the disappearance of the stigma surrounding the plant means owners are not ashamed to report these cases so much. The good thing is that in most cases the intoxications can be treated and the dogs recover".

Of the hundreds of reported cases, Brugtlan claimed that only two dogs have died and recommended that owners safely store their drugs to keep animals from ingesting them.