If your dog has eaten cannabis in any form (flower, joint, edible, gummy, brownie, vape cart, hash oil, rosin, or topical cream), call Burlington Veterinary Emergency Hospital (BVERH) at (905) 637-8111 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 right now. Be honest about exactly what your dog ate, brand and THC content if you know it. Veterinarians in Ontario do not report cannabis exposure to police, and your dog’s treatment depends on the vet knowing what they are dealing with. Symptoms typically appear 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion and can last over 24 hours, longer than in humans because dogs metabolize THC much more slowly.
What to Do in the First 10 Minutes
- Find the product. Note the form (flower, edible, oil, vape cart), the brand, the total THC content in milligrams, and the amount your dog ate.
- Check for added toxins. Chocolate edibles contain theobromine. Sugar-free edibles often contain xylitol. Both are serious independent toxicities that change the treatment plan. See our chocolate and xylitol guides for the dose math on those.
- Note the time of ingestion and your dog’s weight.
- Call BVERH at (905) 637-8111 or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661. Both 24/7. Tell them exactly what your dog ate. No judgement, no consequences.
- Do not induce vomiting at home. Dogs that are already wobbly or sedated can aspirate vomit into their lungs.
- Keep your dog warm and quiet during transport. Carry small dogs. Avoid stairs. Cannabis lowers body temperature and impairs coordination.
- Drive to BVERH at 775 Woodview Road in Burlington if symptoms are present or if the dose was significant.
The full Burlington emergency contact list and first-aid steps for related toxins are on our pet emergency page.
Why Cannabis Is Worse for Dogs Than Humans
Dogs have far more cannabinoid receptors in the brain than humans do, particularly in the cerebellum (movement coordination) and brainstem (basic life functions like heart rate and breathing). This is why the classic dog-THC symptom is the dribbling-urine wobble: cannabis affects the parts of a dog’s brain that control balance and bladder tone more strongly than it affects humans.
Combined with slower metabolism (THC is fat-soluble and gets stored in fat tissue), dogs experience longer, more intense effects from the same dose. A piece of edible that would mildly affect an adult human can incapacitate a 10-pound dog for 36 hours.
Concentration matters more than form
| Product | Typical THC per unit | Risk for a 10 kg dog |
|---|---|---|
| Joint (~0.5 g flower at 20% THC) | 100 mg | Moderate to severe |
| Single edible gummy (legal Canadian limit) | 10 mg | Mild to moderate |
| Pack of 10 gummies | 100 mg | Severe |
| Edible chocolate bar (Ontario legal cap) | 10 mg (plus theobromine) | Moderate (compounded) |
| Vape cartridge (1 g at 80% THC) | 800 mg | Life-threatening |
| Hash oil / rosin / dab (1 g at 70%+ THC) | 700+ mg | Life-threatening |
| Black-market edible | 100 to 500+ mg | Life-threatening |
Concentrated products (vapes, oils, rosin, dabs) and black-market edibles (often dosed well above the legal Canadian retail cap) are responsible for most life-threatening dog cannabis cases.
Symptoms and Timeline
30 to 90 minutes after ingestion:
- Wobbly walking, stumbling, falling sideways
- Dribbling urine (the most distinctive sign in dogs)
- Glazed eyes, dilated pupils
- Slow heart rate
- Low body temperature (cold to the touch, shivering)
- Hyperesthesia (flinching or twitching at small sounds or touch)
- Drooling, vomiting
- Quiet, depressed demeanour or anxious panting
2 to 24 hours after ingestion (peak effect):
- Inability to stand
- Tremors or muscle twitching
- Sometimes agitation or vocalization
- Cold extremities
- Rarely, seizures or coma (usually with high doses or co-ingredients)
24 to 72 hours after ingestion:
- Gradual return to normal, often with lingering lethargy and reduced appetite
- A dog that ate a chocolate edible or a xylitol edible may show later kidney or liver effects, even after cannabis symptoms resolve
What the Vet Will Do
Standard emergency protocol for cannabis ingestion at BVERH or any 24/7 clinic:
- Decontamination if within an hour and the dog is alert enough: induced vomiting with apomorphine, followed by activated charcoal.
- IV fluids to support blood pressure and accelerate clearance.
- Thermoregulation: heated blankets or warming devices if body temperature is low.
- Anti-nausea medication to prevent aspiration.
- Intravenous lipid emulsion for severe cases: a sterile fat infusion that pulls THC out of the bloodstream into the lipid phase.
- Cardiac and respiratory monitoring for the duration of symptoms.
- Hospitalization for 12 to 24 hours is typical. Severe or combination poisonings may require longer.
Cost: a typical case at BVERH runs $600 to $1,500 for observation and supportive care. Severe cases requiring lipid emulsion and overnight ICU can reach $2,500 to $4,000. Combination poisonings (cannabis plus chocolate, plus xylitol) cost more because each toxin requires its own monitoring and treatment.
Prevention
- Treat all cannabis products like prescription medication. Lockbox, top shelf, never on a coffee table or nightstand.
- Audit your edibles. Gummies, chocolates, and baked goods look like dog-attractive food and are often eaten in one go if a dog finds the bag.
- Watch for cigarette-style discarded joints on walks. Burlington trails, parks, and downtown streets are common sources. Train a strong “leave it” cue.
- Tell house guests before any social gathering. Bowls of edibles at parties are a regular accidental-ingestion source.
- Be honest at the vet. No charges, no judgement, faster treatment.
- Save BVERH (905-637-8111) and the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) in your phone right now.
The complete Burlington emergency resource list and first-aid steps for other ingestion emergencies are on our pet emergency page.
Cannabis ingestion is now one of the top reasons dogs visit emergency vets in Ontario, and the numbers have climbed steadily since legalization. The good news: with prompt treatment, recovery is usually full. The single most important thing you can do, after calling (905) 637-8111, is to be completely honest about what your dog ate. The vet’s only goal is to help your dog.