A dog was left 'stoned' after consuming human faeces containing traces of cannabis during a walk which caused him to start 'stumbling about'. Two-year-old Moose was out with his owner Liane on the coastal route around Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire earlier this month when he started eating something vulgar at the side of the path.
Liane was horrified to discover that her border terrier had been eating human poo and rushed him to the vet after he became dizzy and was showing signs of lethargy. A medical check up later revealed that Moose was suffering from 'cannabis intoxication' and was 'high' as a result of ingesting the human excrement, Wales Online reports.
Liane said: "When I saw Moose was up to something I pulled him away as quick as I could, but when I looked down he’d managed to get a mouthful of human poo. I know, totally gross on so many levels.
"Anyway, we finished our walk and drove home. But about three hours later he started stumbling around and became very lethargic.
"So I took him to straight to the vets, by which point he had also become incontinent. The vet kept him in, put him on a drip and took bloods."
Moose's bloods came back normal but one of his symptoms was low body temperature which is a 'classic sign of cannabis intoxication'. The owner said that the faeces her dog had found had been produced by someone who'd consumed edible weed.
She explained: "I've since learned that when people eat cannabis they poo out 65% of it, which contains low levels of THC" - or Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive ingredient that gives the user a high. And, because dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans, they are more sensitive to its effects.
"It also makes the poo much more appealing to them, other pets and wildlife in general." One recent study published by the Australian Veterinary Journal presented numerous cases where dogs' natural scavenging instincts has led them to pick up THC toxicosis.
This causes 'incoordination, urinary incontinence, dilated pupils and stupor' in the affected animals. Liane said: "It’s becoming an increasing problem as more people move towards eating cannabis than smoking it".
Moose has thankfully made a full recovery, despite cannabis not being safe for dogs and even causing death in extreme cases. She added: "He was pretty poorly at the start.
"Then, as he recovered, he became ravenous - he actually got 'the munchies'. It's funny but also not funny." Lisa has shared the story to make others aware of what the dangerous substances their pets may be sniffing around at while on a walk.
Addressing the culprit and other cannabis users, she said: "And, for those who like to partake in the odd hash cake or other kinds of edible cannabis, please don't poo in public - and, if you do, then make sure you dispose of it properly."
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