15 July 2024

Little Bugsy, a 5-month-old Brussels Griffon puppy, came to Mountainside when he became wobbly and lethargic after eating what looked like a cigarette butt. A rapid urine test confirmed Bugsy had ingested THC.

Marijuana toxicity has an excellent prognosis for full recovery with early supportive care. Symptoms include excitability or drowsiness, behavioral changes, wobbly gait, abnormal eye movement, changes in body temperature, muscle weakness, and rarely vomiting. Untreated severe overdoses can lead to serious conditions like shock, seizures, or coma.

Since the effects had already occurred and drowsiness could make vomiting dangerous, we did not induce vomiting. Bugsy was treated with outpatient management and given activated charcoal to flush out the toxins. He returned home and has since had two more unrelated emergencies, including a broken leg! He’s recovered well from all his mishaps and will surely keep his owners on their toes!