Maximum Yield Cannabis USA April/May 2018 | Page 35

K9-1-1
Recent figures show that in jurisdictions where marijuana
use is now legal, reports of emergency vet visits have nearly
doubled over the past few years. Many of these visits are the
result of a hungry pooch finding its master’s stash of edibles.
With ingredients in these edibles not intended for dogs, side
effects can be moderate to severe.
Like with any medical situation, dogs can’t tell us what’s
wrong, so it is up to us to assess their symptoms. Symptoms
a dog may show after consuming cannabis may include:
• Severe depression
• Walking drunk
• Lethargy
• Coma
• Low heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Respiratory depression
• Dilated pupils
• Hyperactivity
• Vocalization
• Seizures
Thankfully, a study conducted by the Animal Poison
Control Center at the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) found that in 250 cases
involving pets ingesting cannabis, zero deaths were directly
attributed to marijuana overdosing. Much like a drunk
person, nearly all the dogs returned to normal within a
few hours with no lingering effects. Unlike
a drunken person though, the dogs
didn’t have to go around apologizing
to everyone the next day for their
ignominious behavior.
“
BEFORE YOU decide it might
be cool to burn a doobie with
Scooby, consider the unforeseen
consequences that may come
into play if he does get high.”
Chocolate
Chocolate contains cocoa, and cocoa contains theobromine,
a bitter alkaloid. This compound is chemically related
to caffeine and is also found in tea leaves and foods like
chocolate candies, cookies, brownies, and numerous other
products. Humans possess an enzyme that breaks down
theobromine. Dogs, however, do not. This makes chocolate
harmful to them. Dutch cocoa is the most toxic for dogs,
followed by baker’s or baking chocolate, dark chocolate,
then milk chocolate. There are online
calculators to help you determine
if your dog requires a vet after
consuming chocolate.
One for Me, None for You
The big problem with edibles for
our furry friends isn’t so much
the marijuana but some of the
other ingredients. Two of the most
dangerous ingredients in these
designer treats are chocolate and
xylitol. Chocolate can be very
harmful, if not fatal, to dogs.
Xylitol can be a death sen-
tence. Since marijuana edibles
designed for humans often
include these ingredients,
they are worth discussing
on their own.
myhydrolife.com
grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
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