It seems Cannabis is the talk of the town these past few weeks! It’s true legalizing marijuana is a huge step for Canada, one that will be marked in the history books! Since it is such a huge topic I think it’s appropriate to discuss how cannabis can affect your pets. Remember to always keep your stash safe and out of reach from them! It can cause quite a bit of damage if they ingest it.

With the legalization of marijuana, it is inevitable that it will be more out in the open than ever. While it may be easy to remember to keep your stash safe, also remember to keep anything you cook with it safe. This includes anything you throw away! After all, the biggest culprit in going through your trash is the furry one with the guilty look in his/her eyes.

The picture above says is all, look for the symptoms! Please take a moment to review them.

• panting
• dilated pupils
• lethargy
• diarrhea
• loss of bladder control
• drooling/vomiting
• staggering/stumbling
• dazed/confused

On the other end of the spectrum, veterinarians are exploring the idea of medicinal marijuana for pets. It can be used to treat pain, inflammation and anxiety.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CAVM) and a group called the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine (CAVCM) have teamed up to urge Health Canada to amend the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes regulations to allow cannabidiol (CBD) as a veterinary health product for pets.(Click here for the link to this article)

Though a very interesting notion, please don’t try this on your own or without a veterinarian’s consult! Though it may be used for medicinal purposes, the dose for your animal is unknown at this point. A large amount, or extremely concentrated amount can be deadly.

Be safe with your now legal cannabis!