Cannabis ingestion (accidental)

Accidental cannabis ingestion is the unintended swallowing of cannabis or a THC-containing product, most often by a child or a pet who finds an edible left within reach.

Pediatric cases have risen as edibles that resemble candy and baked goods have become common, and dogs are the most frequently affected animals because they eat indiscriminately and are more sensitive to THC than people. In children, signs include unusual sleepiness, unsteady walking, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and in severe cases slowed breathing or seizures. In dogs, typical signs are wobbliness, dribbling urine, dilated pupils, glassy eyes, drooling, tremors, exaggerated startle response and lethargy, usually within an hour or two of ingestion.

Suspected cases are assessed by a clinician or veterinarian or through a poison-control or animal poison hotline, and the packaging helps estimate how much was eaten. There is no specific antidote; care is supportive and most cases recover with monitoring, though chocolate, xylitol or raisins in the same edible can add their own toxicity for dogs. Storing all cannabis and hemp products locked and out of reach is the main safeguard, and a veterinarian is the right contact for any ingestion by an animal.