My dog ate weed: signs, timeline & what to do
THC poisoning is one of the most common toxicity calls vets get — and the honest headline is that most dogs recover fully with time and supportive care. But "most" isn't "all": dose, dog size, and product type decide whether this is a long weird night on the couch or an ER visit. And one more thing upfront: tell your vet the truth. Vets are not the police; the classic THC signs are unmistakable to them anyway, and an honest answer saves you the cost of tests for conditions your dog doesn't have.
The 60-second version:
1. Signs start 30 minutes to 3 hours after eating (faster if inhaled): wobbliness, dilated pupils, dribbling urine, startling easily, unusual drowsiness or agitation.
2. Edibles are the wild card — brownies and gummies often contain chocolate or xylitol, which can be more dangerous than the THC. Check the ingredient list.
3. Small dog + concentrate (carts, oils, butter) = treat as an emergency.
4. Recovery typically takes 24 to 72 hours. Keep your dog warm, quiet, hydrated, and away from stairs.
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How much THC is a problem for a dog?
Dogs have far more cannabinoid receptors in their brains than people do, which is why a dose that's mild for a human can flatten a dog. Risk tracks with milligrams of THC per kilogram of body weight — and products vary wildly:
| Product | Typical THC content | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flower / bud | ~15–25% THC by weight | A gram of flower ≈ 150–250 mg THC — a lot for a small dog |
| Gummy / edible | 5–25 mg per piece | Dogs rarely eat one. Check for chocolate & xylitol too |
| Brownie / baked edible | Varies widely | Chocolate adds a second, deadlier poison |
| Vape cartridge / oil / dabs | Highly concentrated (up to 80–90%) | Small volume, big dose — highest-risk products |
| Cannabutter / homemade edibles | Unknowable | Treat as concentrated; dosing is anyone's guess |
Deaths from THC alone are rare and usually involve concentrates in very small dogs — but "rare" is why the dose math matters. The checker below runs it.
THC risk checker
Enter your dog's weight, the product type, and roughly how much is missing:
Prefer the full-page version? Open the THC Toxicity Risk Checker →
The hidden danger: what else is in the edible?
This is the part people miss. A dog that ate a pan of pot brownies has eaten two poisons, not one:
- Chocolate — the theobromine in dark or baking chocolate can be more immediately dangerous than the THC. Run the same numbers through the chocolate calculator.
- Xylitol — some gummies and baked goods use this sweetener, which causes life-threatening blood-sugar crashes and liver failure in dogs at tiny doses. If the label says xylitol (sometimes "birch sugar"), it's an emergency regardless of the THC. See the xylitol calculator.
- Raisins, macadamia nuts, high fat — other edible ingredients with their own vet-visit potential.
Bring the package to the vet. The milligrams per serving and the ingredient list change the treatment plan.
Symptoms — and how long they last
Signs usually appear 30 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion (within minutes if smoke was inhaled) and the classic picture is hard to mistake:
- Wobbliness — a drunk-looking, unsteady walk (vets call it ataxia)
- Dilated pupils and a dazed, glassy expression
- Urinary dribbling — leaking urine, a signature THC sign in dogs
- Startling easily at sounds or touch; sensitivity to light
- Drowsiness or agitation, sometimes alternating; whining
- Drooling, vomiting, slow heart rate, low body temperature
- Severe cases: tremors, seizures, coma (concentrates, small dogs)
Most dogs peak within a few hours and recover over 24 to 72 hours. A dog who is merely stoned — wobbly but responsive, breathing normally — is usually safer monitored at home per a poison line's guidance than stressed by a car ride. A dog who can't be roused, or who is getting worse instead of plateauing, needs the ER.
What to do if your dog ate weed
- Identify the product. Flower, edible, or concentrate? Find the package and note the THC milligrams and the full ingredient list (chocolate? xylitol?). This single step decides everything else.
- Run the dose through the checker above, or call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 for a case-specific read.
- Timing matters: if it just happened (under ~1–2 hours) and your dog is still normal, a vet may induce vomiting — don't do it at home once signs have started, because a sedated, wobbly dog can inhale vomit.
- Set up a recovery den: quiet, dim room; water within reach; block stairs and furniture jumps; keep other pets and kids away. If your dog vomits, keep their head positioned so they can't inhale it.
- Go to the ER if: your dog is unresponsive or barely rousable, having tremors or seizures, breathing abnormally, very small and ate a concentrate, or the product contained chocolate or xylitol. Find the nearest open emergency vet →
- Be straight with the vet. They're not calling anyone; they've seen this a hundred times this month; honesty saves you money on unnecessary tests.
What the vet will do
There's no antidote for THC — treatment is decontamination plus supportive care while the drug wears off. Early arrivals may get vomiting induced and activated charcoal. Hospital care means IV fluids, temperature support, anti-nausea medication, and monitoring of heart rate and breathing; severe cases get seizure control. Some clinics can confirm THC with a urine test, but most diagnose on the unmistakable clinical picture plus your honest history. The vast majority of dogs go home within a day or so with nothing worse than a hangover.
What treatment costs — and the insurance question
Ballpark figures: an exam and outpatient monitoring for a mild case runs roughly $300–$800; overnight hospitalization with IV fluids and observation typically runs $1,000–$2,500; severe concentrate cases needing intensive care can exceed $3,000. Accident-and-illness pet insurance covers toxin ingestion — usually up to 90% after the deductible. If this is the second time you've swept a countertop for edibles this year, it's worth comparing plans before you need one.
Frequently asked questions
Can weed kill a dog?
Death from THC alone is rare and typically involves highly concentrated products (oils, dabs, butter) in very small dogs. The bigger killers in practice are the co-ingredients — chocolate and xylitol in edibles — and complications like inhaling vomit while sedated. Treat concentrate ingestion in small dogs as an emergency.
How long does it last?
Most dogs show signs for 24 to 72 hours, with the peak in the first several hours. Edibles can prolong things because they're digested slowly. A dog who isn't clearly improving within 24 hours, or who worsens at any point, should be seen.
My dog ate one gummy — should I panic?
Don't panic — do math. A single 5–10 mg gummy is a mild dose for a 60-lb dog but a significant one for a 6-lb dog. Run the checker, check the label for xylitol (that changes everything), and call a poison line if you're unsure.
Will the vet report me? Should I lie about what happened?
No, and no. Vets are medical professionals, not law enforcement — reporting pet owners for marijuana exposure isn't their job, and in most places they have no obligation to. Lying sends them hunting for brain diseases and poisonings your dog doesn't have, which costs you money and your dog time. The wobble-dilated-pupils-urine-dribble combo is one of the most recognizable presentations in vet medicine anyway.
Is secondhand smoke dangerous for dogs?
Heavy exposure in an enclosed space can intoxicate a dog, but it's far less common than ingestion and usually milder. Fresh air and monitoring usually suffice; call a poison line if your dog is showing clear signs.
What about CBD? Is that safe?
CBD itself is much less toxic than THC, and pet-specific CBD products are widely sold — but quality control in the industry is uneven, and some products contain more THC than the label claims. A dog that raided a bag of CBD gummies still warrants a call, partly because the xylitol question applies there too.
Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; Merck Veterinary Manual (marijuana toxicosis); Pet Poison Helpline. Cost figures are general U.S. estimates and vary by clinic and region. This guide is general information, not a substitute for veterinary advice — when in doubt, call a professional.