http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698

APHC Animal Health

This information brochure was written by Army 

Veterinary Services personnel and published by the 

Army Public Health Center to inform and educate 

Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about 

Animal Health. Comments or questions regarding 

content can be directed to ARMY-VSPublications@

mail.mil. Locate your local Veterinary Treatment 

Facility at https://tiny.army.mil/r/JG66r/VTFs

Approved for public release, 

distribution unlimited. 

TA-398-0217

Pet Poison/Toxicology

DOGS CATS POCKET BIRDS PETS RABBITS HORSES REPTILES /

AMPHIBIANS

Army Public Health Center Animal Health

Pets & Marijuana

know the facts

Please schedule an

appointment with your 

veterinarian to discuss any 

questions or concerns!

Marijuana can make your pet sick.

Your Veterinary Treatment Facility can help!
If you think your pet has eaten or been exposed 

to marijuana or is exhibiting any of the signs 

above, have a responsible driver take them to 

your veterinarian immediately. Be up front about 

what happened and is making your pet sick. 

Treating your pets is the veterinarian’s primary 

concern.

Hospitalization is sometimes required to ensure 

proper supportive care and to protect the pet from 

falls. Long-term health consequences and death 

are extremely rare. Most animals will recover over a 

period of a few hours, but it can be up to a day or 

two depending on amount ingested or inhaled and 

care provided.

Prevention is easy:

• Smoke it OUTSIDE. Second-hand smoke, 

whether from tobacco, vaping, or marijuana, is 

harmful to your pets.

• Secure your plants, baked goods, and any oils 

or salts that contain THC out of reach of your 

pets, preferably under lock and key to prevent 

accidental ingestion.

• Do NOT self-administer or medicate your pets. 

Medical Marijuana for Pets

It is illegal in every state for veterinarians to 

prescribe/recommend marijuana for the treatment 

of an animal. In humans, marijuana can bring 

a sense of euphoria to its users and may be 

prescribed for anxiety, pain relief, and to stimulate 

a person’s appetite. It should not be assumed that 

marijuana affects animals in the same way it does 

humans. There is minimal pharmacological research 

on the affects THC has on animals, and it has shown 

to be toxic to cats and dogs.

Pets and Marijuana: The Good, 

the Bad, the Munchies 

As marijuana becomes more readily available and 

even legal to purchase and consume in some 

states, more pets will be exposed to the drug and 

its side effects. Although a “natural” product—a 

plant—it is still not safe for our animals and pets to 

be exposed to or consume marijuana. A “high” pet 

is not a happy or a healthy pet.

Marijuana intoxication is primarily seen in dogs 

and occasionally in cats. Pets can become sick 

after being exposed to second-hand smoke 

or, more commonly, by ingesting the plants 

or marijuana-infused sweets and foods. The 

toxic dose is dependent on the size and weight 

of the pet and on the concentration of the 

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the plant or food. 

Newer, more concentrated plant strains are being 

grown today, as well as synthetic analogs (oils and 

salts) that have much higher concentrations of THC 

in the product. Pets will react differently to different 

amounts of consumed THC. It is important to 

remember that the food itself (chocolate brownies, 

butter, and so forth), without the added THC, can 

also make your pet ill. 

Marijuana Makes Pets Sick!

Signs of Marijuana Toxicity:

• Drooling and vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Loss of bladder and bowel control 

• Anxiety, agitation, and excitement

• Extreme response to noise, smells, and sights in 

their environment

• Loss of balance leading to stumbling and falls

• Lower heart rate

• Coma and seizures 

• Death (if large amounts are eaten)

If you think your pet has 

eaten or been exposed to 

marijuana, contact your 

veterinarian.