Can Dogs Get High From Weed?
Yes. Dogs can be affected by THC, the intoxicating component of cannabis, but describing the reaction as simply getting "high" can make the situation sound more harmless than it is. In dogs, THC exposure is a form of intoxication that can affect coordination, alertness, heart rate, body temperature and other functions.
Most dogs recover well with appropriate care, but the severity of an exposure depends on what the dog encountered, the THC concentration, the amount involved and the individual animal. Cannabis concentrates and some edibles can create very different exposures from a small amount of plant material.
If you know or suspect your dog has eaten a THC-containing product, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison service rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Weed
The useful first steps are straightforward: stop further access, identify what your dog may have encountered and get professional advice.
In New Zealand, the National Poisons Centre directs owners of poisoned animals to their veterinarian or the NZ Animal Poisons Helpline on 0800 869 738. The helpline can assess the exposure and advise whether veterinary treatment is required.
Remove Any Remaining Cannabis
Move your dog away from the source and collect anything else they could reach.
That may include:
- cannabis flower;
- joints;
- edibles;
- oils or concentrates;
- discarded material;
- wrappers or containers.
If other pets are nearby, make sure they cannot access the same material.
Keep useful packaging rather than immediately throwing it away. A label can provide information about THC concentration, serving size and other ingredients.
Check What Your Dog May Have Eaten
Try to establish:
- what the product was;
- approximately how much may be missing;
- when the exposure happened;
- the THC concentration, if it is listed;
- whether your dog has already developed unusual signs;
- whether the product contained other potentially harmful ingredients.
Do not delay asking for help because some details are uncertain. The NZ Animal Poisons Helpline uses information about the animal, product, amount, route of exposure, timing and current symptoms when assessing poisoning risk.
Contact a Vet or Animal Poison Service
If your dog is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having a seizure, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
For other suspected exposures, contact your veterinarian or the NZ Animal Poisons Helpline for advice.
Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian or poison specialist specifically tells you to. Current New Zealand poison guidance advises against inducing vomiting without professional direction, and veterinary toxicology guidance notes that vomiting can become particularly risky once neurological signs have developed.
What Does a Weed High Look Like in Dogs?
THC intoxication often produces a combination of changes in movement, alertness and behaviour.
Some dogs become extremely quiet or sleepy. Others appear disoriented, unsteady or unusually sensitive to movement, sound or touch. The exact combination varies between animals and exposures.
Changes in Coordination and Alertness
Poor coordination, known medically as ataxia, is one of the most commonly reported signs of THC intoxication in dogs.
An affected dog may:
- sway while standing;
- stumble when walking;
- appear unusually sleepy;
- respond slowly;
- look dazed or disoriented.
Lethargy and ataxia are among the most frequently reported clinical signs after THC ingestion.
These signs are not unique to cannabis poisoning. If your dog could have accessed cannabis, tell the veterinarian what happened rather than trying to diagnose the cause from behaviour alone.
Other Signs of THC Exposure
Other possible signs include:
- vomiting;
- trembling;
- urinary incontinence;
- dilated pupils;
- increased sensitivity to sound or movement;
- agitation or twitching;
- changes in heart rate;
- difficulty regulating body temperature.
More serious effects such as respiratory depression, seizures or coma are possible but uncommon.
The absence of dramatic symptoms does not establish that an exposure was harmless. Signs can take time to develop after cannabis has been eaten.
How Long Can Weed Affect a Dog?
The effects of THC in dogs can continue far longer than many owners expect.
After oral exposure, clinical signs commonly begin within approximately one to two hours, although onset can sometimes take longer. In more substantially affected dogs, signs can persist for one to three days.
Cornell similarly notes that signs may begin anywhere from about 30 minutes to several hours after exposure and can persist for up to 72 hours, with most dogs recovering fully within one to two days when appropriate care is provided.
Those timeframes are general veterinary observations, not a countdown for deciding whether an individual dog is safe.
If your dog remains very sleepy, unstable, difficult to rouse or otherwise abnormal, continue following veterinary advice rather than assuming the THC simply needs more time to wear off.
Can Dogs Die If They Eat Weed?
Fatal THC poisoning in dogs is considered extremely rare, but severe intoxication can occur.
The Merck Veterinary Manual describes THC exposure as having a high rate of clinical illness but an extremely low mortality rate. Published canine fatalities have been reported, although the exact cause of death was not established in those cases and concentrated cannabis-containing baked products were involved.
That does not create a universally safe amount of cannabis.
Risk can change substantially depending on:
- THC concentration;
- quantity consumed;
- product type;
- the dog's size and condition;
- additional ingredients in an edible.
An unknown exposure should therefore be assessed on what actually happened rather than on the fact that death from THC alone is uncommon.
Is Eating Weed Different From Breathing Weed Smoke?
Yes. Dogs can be exposed to THC both by ingestion and inhalation, but the route affects how quickly the substance reaches the body.
Inhaled THC is absorbed rapidly and can produce clinical effects within minutes. After cannabis is eaten, signs more commonly develop over the following hour or several hours.
Ingestion remains a common route of poisoning because dogs may eat cannabis itself, discarded joints, concentrates or food containing cannabis. Secondhand marijuana smoke can also cause signs of intoxication.
Why Secondhand Smoke Still Matters
Do not deliberately expose a dog to cannabis smoke.
An enclosed room can make inhalation exposure more significant because the dog cannot simply choose to move away from the smoke. Cornell recommends avoiding smoking around pets as part of cannabis-poisoning prevention.
If your dog has been exposed to concentrated cannabis smoke and becomes unusually sleepy, unsteady, disoriented or otherwise unwell, move them away from the source and contact a veterinarian.
Why Cannabis Edibles Can Be More Risky
When a dog eats a cannabis edible, THC may not be the only concern.
Chocolate is one example. Some baked goods and sweets can expose the dog to both THC and chocolate at the same time. Sugar-free products may also contain xylitol, another ingredient that can be dangerous to dogs.
The fat content in some baked cannabis products can introduce additional gastrointestinal concerns as well. This is why identifying the actual edible is much more useful than simply saying the dog "ate weed".
Check What Else Is in the Edible
Keep the package if it is available and check:
- total THC content;
- serving size;
- chocolate or cocoa;
- xylitol;
- other listed ingredients.
Take the packaging with you or have it available when contacting your vet or the poison helpline.
Do not assume the ingredient that prompted your cannabis search is necessarily the only hazard involved.
How to Keep Cannabis Away From Your Dog
Prevention is more reliable when access is physically blocked.
SPCA New Zealand recommends keeping human and illicit drugs out of pets' reach, preferably inside closed cupboards.
Cannabis deserves the same approach. Keep flower, joints, concentrates, oils and edibles somewhere your dog cannot open, climb to or pull down.
Use Secure Storage
A kitchen bench may seem high enough until a determined dog reaches it.
Closed storage is preferable to:
- coffee tables;
- open shelves;
- bedside tables;
- bags left on the floor;
- accessible drawers;
- open containers.
Also consider visitors. A secure household routine can fail if cannabis is left inside an accessible backpack, handbag or jacket pocket.
Keep Edibles, Bags and Rubbish Out of Reach
Food-based cannabis products can be particularly attractive because a dog may be interested in the food rather than the THC.
Return edibles to secure storage after use and dispose of wrappers, leftovers and discarded cannabis where your dog cannot retrieve them. The Animal Poisons Helpline also recommends keeping recreational drugs well out of reach of pets.
The cannabis theme itself can stay separate from the real substance. If novelty pet products are part of your sense of humour, a paw joint dog toy can keep that reference in playtime while actual cannabis remains securely stored away from your dog.
The distinction is straightforward: a novelty toy belongs in the toy box. THC-containing cannabis does not.
What to Remember About Dogs and Weed
If your dog gets into cannabis, focus on the details that will help with a proper risk assessment rather than trying to decide whether they are simply "high".
Stop further access, keep the product packaging, work out what may have been consumed and contact your veterinarian or the NZ Animal Poisons Helpline on 0800 869 738. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional specifically advises you to.
Most dogs recover well from THC intoxication with appropriate care, but the concentration, amount, route of exposure and additional ingredients can materially change the situation.