Marijuana may be legal in certain states, but unless it’s as a cannabis product specifically designed for pets and prescribed by their veterinarian, it still needs to be kept away from dogs and cats.

Over the last five years, pet medical insurance provider Trupanion has seen 1,852 claims for marijuana toxicity-related health issues in pets.

Marijuana Toxicity Claims by State

In all, nine states have had more than 40 marijuana toxicity-related claims since 2020. Florida is the only state with more than 40 claims where marijuana is not legal recreationally.

The average cost of a marijuana toxicity-related claim varies from state to state but can be more than $800. Claims can include both treatment and medication.

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Marijuana Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats have more cannabinoid receptors than people so the effects of even small amounts of marijuana are more pronounced.

Marijuana toxicity in dogs and cats can happen when a pet eats something they shouldn’t have like an edible designed for people, part of a marijuana plant or a baked good containing marijuana.

Signs and symptoms of marijuana toxicity vary depending on the amount ingested, weight of the animal and species of dog or cat but usually develop within 30 minutes to a few hours and last as much as 72 hours.

Signs of Marijuana Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

• Difficulty walking or standing
• Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli (hyperesthesia)
• Vomiting (cats more than dogs)
• Dilated pupils
• Lethargy
• Urinary incontinence

Marijuana Toxicity Treatment in Pets

It’s important to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect your pet has eaten or been affected by marijuana.

The method of exposure is also important because a “chocolate edible” may require additional treatment for chocolate toxicity, while an inhaled exposure may require treatment for respiratory issues.

About truInsights

The data presented in this report is part of Trupanion’s truInsights initiative. truInsights is a data focused initiative introduced by Trupanion and designed to deliver valuable health-related data and insights to pet parents, veterinarians and pet lovers alike. With over 20 years of pet health data, Trupanion has explored its veterinary invoice data from more than two million pets and provides details on data trends, as well as prevention tips for keeping our pets safe.

About Trupanion

Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico and Australia with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

Methodology

For this report, Trupanion analyzed the number of marijuana toxicity-related claims in each state and nationwide from January 2020 to December 2024.