On the other hand, if the animal consumes cocaine, that’s another story. According to the Poison Control Center, it caused two victims in 2023.There is a lot of coke in Belgium and more and more animals. It’s not surprising that there are interactions between the two. But cocaine is a very aggressive drug. If the animal licks the leftover cocaine, it will have dilated pupils and be very active. Cocaine is a neurostimulant while cannabis is a neurodepressant. The major risk is hyperthermia: the body temperature will increase due to hyperactivity until it becomes dangerous.explains the veterinarian.
Fabienne Bedet, veterinary behaviorist and holder of a diploma in veterinary psychiatry, once took care of a dog poisoned with LSD. “He remained with seizures for over a week. Drugs are a violent toxicant for animals. This is the overdose depending on the weight of the dog, the quantity and the concentration ingested.” The number of animal victims of amphetamines increased from one in 2018 to 4 in 2023.
The 5-year-old boy was found positive for cocaine after spending time with his dad in Flémalle
Treatments
Sugar and sometimes hospitalization on a drip is generally enough to manage cannabis poisoning. On the other hand, when it comes to cocaine, there is no antidote. “We have to treat the symptoms. We will give valium to calm the animal, put it on a drip and try to make it swallow activated charcoal to eliminate drug residue.explains Dr David Krygier.
-In the event of poisoning, whether from chocolate, human medicines or drugs, the four hours following ingestion are crucial.“We can make the animal vomit. The problem will then be almost solved because the drug is still in the stomach. Afterwards, it is absorbed in the intestines”signals the veterinarian.
Leftovers or a pacson lying around and the dog grabs it without being aware of the toxicity of the product. “People are often ashamed to say it. There are plenty of underdiagnosed cases and we practically have to confront them to get them to admit the facts. However, it could save the animal instead of wasting our time.”continues the veterinarian. “If a whole pacson is swallowed, the poisoning is serious because we enter a vicious circle. The animal will be so active that it will have convulsions. The body temperature will increase very sharply and this will lead to death by hyperthermia or cardiac arrest as in humans. Often the situation is desperate.”
