Dog put on a drip after swallowing cannabis in Northampton park
Christine Proctor with her brown labrador Major, the dog spent the night at the vets after eating cannabis on Ecton Brook playing fields.
A DOG owner was forced to take her poorly pooch to spend a night at a vets after he inadvertently swallowed a lump of cannabis on an afternoon walk.
Major, a chocolate-coloured Labrador, had ‘a funny turn’ after returning home from a walk around Ecton Brook playing fields on Sunday.
Christine Proctor, who owns the seven-year-old dog, said Major lost control of his bladder and became drowsy when he got home. She then noticed his pupils had also dilated.
She said: “He was sitting on my lap when he looked up in fright as if he’d seen something. Whatever it was it terrified him, he went and hid behind the sofa and wouldn’t come out.
“Eventually we managed to get him to lie down in his bed, but he was sensitive to light and touch and we couldn’t help him. He’s normally a big boisterous dog, always happy, but he was terrified.
“Whenever he tried to stand up his legs collapsed underneath him and there was no way he could walk straight anywhere.”
She took it to the vets and after a brief examination was told Major was likely to have sniffed out some discarded cannabis on their walk and eaten it without her knowledge.
Mrs Proctor, aged 57, added: “He had to stay overnight at the vets and had to be put on a drip. Even 24 hours later he’s pretty spaced out, he’s just lying around not doing a lot.
“The vet said a small dog or elderly or poorly dog could have died if they had eaten the drugs.”
Mrs Proctor revealed the trauma had already cost her more than £350 in vets bills and said she wanted to warn other dog owners of the potential danger.
She added: “He seems okay but it is scary. Hopefully there won’t be any adverse reaction. I don’t want other dogs to suffer.”
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Comments
There are 18 comments to this article
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ErmintrudesDaisy
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:32 PMNot sure the vet has conducted a thorough enough assessment. Paranoia and the responding to unseen stimuli suggests a drug induced psychosis and we all know that cannabis causes schizophrenia after all-anyone know a good dog psychiatrist.....?!
Finker
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:05 AMEveryone says it is meant to make you more chilled - doesn't seem to be working for some on here. The paranoia on the other hand...
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Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:36 PMMind you, I used to work for a certain government organisation concerned with animal health. We would always ask one of the vets first if we were ill for their advice. I even had a minor operation from one of them one day. I had a splinter in my paw I said!
tony2th
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:42 PM"Mrs Proctor revealed the trauma had already cost her more than £350 in vets bills and said she wanted to warn other dog owners of the potential danger." that's the only relevant point in this story. the vet made an inspired guess but couldn't boost the consultation fee with drugs so 24hr room and board and a litre of saline makes it worth his while. beware vets, they may love animals but they seem to love money even more.
McD
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:19 PM"All the Vet did is scare the crap out of an old lady for no reason..." Whajamean 'no good reason'?! Howsabout £350? Couldn't agree more with other points, ChopShopVinyl - well put.
mojo
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:33 PMChopShopVinyl you are talking rubbish 57 is not old, thank you! Lovely looking dog by the way hope he gets well soon.
ChopShopVinyl
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:22 PMThe Vet is an idiot and I would suggest people keep their animals away from a person that that spews ignorance without the regard for the fact that he is a trusted person in the community on animal health issues. He should have done some research considering it is commonly known that cannabis has NEVER killed anyone not even an animal. If fact you would think that a Vet would know that Cannabis was used as a deworming agent for animals in ancient Greece. It also is effective against bacteria, for which reason it was used in topical corn remedies up until the last years before the US government pushed it out of the market in the1930s. All the Vet did is scare the crap out of an old lady for no reason and whoever thought this was news worthy in the first placed should be fired for not doing their job and getting the facts straight. Its really ashamed that we are so far removed from nature that people don't realize that Cannabis is a completely NON-TOXIC Substance. Don't trust crap like this... Do Some Research!
mccoop
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:56 PMWell done for going to the vets,so what £350 that dog is well worth it.If it was drugs then that over night stay at the Hilton saved your dogs life.Give Major a big kiss and a nice big long walk.
Love Child
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:12 PMCant stop Im off down the Meadow for a TRIP!!
Montys Mum
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:41 AMSimilar thing happened to my 5 year old Spaniel last May after a walk around Sixfields lake where he had shown particular interest in something under the picnic benches. Within hours he was, what I would describe as, 'spaced out' & his legs wouldn't hold him. As his heart rate was slowing down vet put him on a drip in order to flush out his system & fortunately he made a full recovery. Yes there was a big bill to pay the vet but as dog lovers will understand I couldn't take the risk he would sleep it off. McD presumably you have not owned a Labrador - they eat absolutely anything, hungry or not!
lady muck
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:25 AMThat's how it starts. Next thing...won't get out of bed...loses job...fails exams...shoplifting...then the Big H.
.~* JEZ *~.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:22 AMDilated pupils != (IS NOT EQUAL TO) Cannabis intoxication. Probably more like a few magic mushrooms eh?!!!
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Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:03 AMThat's a beautiful dog. Beware vets though. they all want to be paid £100,000 a year. What does a vet know abour Cannabis? Pedigree dogs do get a bit funny at this time of year, is spring on it's way? I don't see a spliff in it' mouth though.
Finker
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:50 AMLike you never find dropped canabis, it doesn't happen often but I can think of at least three times I have found it, and in one case a significant amount. As to the impact on a dog, I have no idea.
AlunBuffry
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:38 AMHow on earth id the vet or anybody know it was "probably cannabis" - had it been cannabis and had the vet known his stuff, he would have known that a small lump would not be enough to kill even a small dog - he earned his money for nothing. However, had the vet thought it was something else, he would have better earned his money. as for the dog looking "spaced out" , I've never actually seen a spaced out dog. Dog walkers would be better warned to try not to let their dogs eat anything - the chances of it being "discarded cannabis" are pretty slim. I am saddened that Ms Proctor was so scared but it really has nothing to do with cannabis. Just speculation and panic in humans!
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