Sara Bell was at North 40 Park Reserve in Delta, B.C., with her two-year-old husky, Nilak, when he swallowed a napkin from the ground. Concerned due to Nilak’s Portosystemic Shunt condition affecting his liver, Bell quickly took him to a vet where tests revealed he had ingested an overdose of cocaine. After receiving necessary fluids, Nilak recovered.
Shocked and scared for her dog, Bell shared the incident on Facebook, realizing many others had similar experiences with their dogs ingesting drugs picked up from the street. Mia Riback recounted a similar situation when her previous dog ingested hashish at a Squamish campground, leading to a costly vet visit but a positive outcome.
Another dog owner, Melissa White, shared her past experience of her dog ingesting cannabis at North 40, emphasizing the need for caution when walking dogs. Veterinarians have observed a rise in dog overdose cases, particularly from ingesting various drugs, sometimes from contaminated human waste in urban areas.
Dr. Tracy Fisher, president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, highlighted the importance of prompt veterinary care if a dog ingests harmful substances, especially opioids like fentanyl. Owners should be vigilant if their pets exhibit abnormal behavior after being outdoors and must disclose any possible drug ingestion to the vet for appropriate treatment.
Vets recommend watching for signs such as imbalance, twitching, vomiting, or urinary issues in dogs suspected of ingesting substances. Utilizing human drug tests, vets can identify ingested drugs and administer appropriate antidotes to reverse their effects on dogs.
