Dog Rescued from Mountain After Eating Discarded Cannabis on Trail

Rescuers saved an ailing Labrador retriever from a mountain in Scotland after the dog likely ingested cannabis that had been discarded on the pup’s hiking trail. 

Christina Bluhme, from Surrey, England, was halfway up Ben Nevis —a mountain that stands around 4,413 feet above sea level and is the tallest peak in the U.K. — when her hiking companion and pet, a black Labrador named Tokyo, collapsed, according to the BBC. 

The canine began drifting in and out of consciousness and lost the use of her legs during the incident on Sunday, 5 July.

She was rescued by the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, who carried the 55-pound dog down Ben Nevis on a stretcher and took her to a local vet.

Bluhme said that after assessing Tokyo, vets told the pet parent that it was likely her dog had eaten cannabis left on the trail, according to the outlet, which caused the dog’s troubling symptoms.

“I genuinely thought I was going to lose her”, Bluhme, a dog trainer, told The Guardian, before adding: “A little reminder to fellow dog owners – please be aware that discarded drugs and other toxic substances can sometimes be found even in the most beautiful outdoor places.”

The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team shared on Facebook that Tokyo has made a full recovery and added: “It’s now suspected that Tokyo, a usually very fit and active working dog, had ingested something that made her critically unwell.” 

The group of rescue volunteers shared pictures of Tokyo strapped to a stretcher as it was carried down the peak, along with an image of the dog wrapped in a blanket while receiving medical treatment at the vet.  

Bluhme thanked the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and the vet team for their “compassion and dedication,” per the BBC. 

According to the U.K.-based vet chain, Vets Now, dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans, meaning that cannabis tends to affect dogs more than humans of the same size. 

In general, symptoms of cannabis consumption will show within two hours after exposure, and these can include increased sensitivity to light, sound, and motion, glassy eyes, vomiting, disorientation, uncontrolled urination, and lethargy.

Dogs may also experience unsteadiness or lack of coordination, and in severe cases, seizures or coma may occur.

“Dogs are notorious for eating things that they shouldn’t, whether it’s something that they pick up from a walk or something they search out of a hiding spot somewhere in the house,” Vets Now states. 

“It’s not uncommon for us to see clinical cases of dogs that have been affected by cannabis. Most cases involve ingestion, either due to direct consumption of the drug or a marijuana-infused edible,” it added.

Pet parents who suspect their animal has ingested cannabis should contact a vet immediately for guidance and treatment.