During a visit to North 40 Park Reserve in Delta, B.C., Sara Bell’s two-year-old husky Nilak swallowed a napkin he found on the ground, leading to an unexpected turn of events.
Bell recounted, “He just swallowed it whole, and I wasn’t able to get it out of him.” Nilak, who has a liver condition called Portosystemic Shunt, started exhibiting unusual behavior after ingesting the napkin. Concerned, Bell hurried him to a veterinarian, where tests revealed that he had consumed and overdosed on cocaine. Fortunately, after receiving necessary fluids, Nilak recovered.
“I was mostly in disbelief and shock and really, really scared for my dog,” Bell expressed.
Sharing her experience on Facebook, Bell was surprised by the number of people who shared similar stories of their dogs overdosing on substances found on the streets, emphasizing the heightened fear associated with taking dogs out for walks.
Mia Riback, who went through a similar ordeal years ago when her dog found hashish at a campground, highlighted the emotional turmoil and financial strain of rushing her pet to an emergency vet, underscoring the importance of pet safety.
Reflecting on a past incident, Melissa White recalled a similar situation involving her dog ingesting cannabis at North 40 Park, which led to a visit to the vet. Although her previous dog has since passed away from natural causes, White remains vigilant when taking her current dogs out, acknowledging the unpredictability of such incidents.
Veterinarians have noted an increase in cases of dog overdoses, with Dr. Tracy Fisher from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association observing a rise in such incidents, particularly relating to illicit substances.
Dr. Fisher emphasized the importance of prompt veterinary care, especially for opioid-related ingestions, highlighting the critical role of immediate intervention in cases of overdose.
Owners are encouraged to be vigilant for any signs of abnormal behavior in their pets, particularly after outdoor activities, and to provide comprehensive information to veterinarians if drug ingestion is suspected.
The Society of B.C. Veterinarians has reported an uptick in cases where dogs have ingested multiple drugs, emphasizing the importance of pet owners being proactive in preventing such incidents.
Dr. Heather James, a board member of the Society of B.C. Veterinarians, explained that dogs consuming contaminated substances, such as human feces, could lead to multi-drug ingestions, particularly in urban settings.
Recognizing the severity of the issue, pet owners are advised to be alert for symptoms indicating possible ingestion and to seek veterinary assistance promptly to ensure optimal care for their pets.
Dr. James highlighted the significance of utilizing human drug tests to identify substances ingested by dogs, enabling timely intervention and potential reversal of toxic effects.