The Australian study collected records from four emergency vet hospitals across Melbourne between 2011 and 2020 and found 15 dogs were suffering marijuana toxicosis or poisoning after snacking on human poop. Eight dogs required hospitalisation.
“It is likely that marijuana toxicosis in dogs as a result of the ingestion of human faeces is an under-reported phenomenon,” the study published last month by the Australian Veterinary Journal found.
“Marijuana toxicosis in dogs can cause marked morbidity (a greater risk of disease), and in some cases, death.”
Symptoms of marijuana in dogs
The most common symptoms the dogs in the study exhibited were uncoordinated movement and hyperesthesia; a heightening of the senses. Other symptoms included vomiting, depression, incontinence and tremors.
The dogs consumed the excrement mostly in local parks but there was one instance each on a beach, at a campsite and on a walking trail.
Study co-author Dr Clara Lauinger said a dog’s tendency for coprophagia, otherwise known as poop-eating, was a throw-back to their wolf ancestry, where it was a necessary step in keeping the den clean.
However, the dogs eating human faeces were also at risk for other diseases including salmonella and giardia.
The problem with dogs eating contaminated poop
“The majority of dogs engaged in coprophagia outside of their home environment during an exercise activity and had a body condition score that was normal or above, making dietary preferences (including greed), compulsive behaviour or curiosity a more likely reason for coprophagia in these dogs,” Dr Lauinger says.
“It is possible that the presence of marijuana in faeces increases its attractiveness for ingestion by altering its scent, texture or taste.”
More generally, coprophagia is prevalent in “greedy” dogs, dogs from multi-dog households and terrier and hound breeds.
More study needed
The study found that the ingestion of human faeces by dogs may be more prevalent that previously thought with owners commenting that toilet paper had been noticed in the eaten faeces or the dog’s vomit.
All dogs in the study were successfully treated and made a full recovery. The study authors are keen for an Australia-wide study involving general practice vet clinics to determine the frequency of dogs ingesting human faeces containing marijuana.
Dogs that had ingested other substances were excluded from the study, however Dr Lauinger says humans using marijuana may also be using other medications such as anti-depressants or chemotherapy and this should be considered by treating vets.
