On Tuesday evening we had a dog present at the practice with sudden onset, strange neurological signs – this was such an unusual and sudden development of symptoms that we were concerned they were caused by a toxin.

This would have been something this dog had eaten out on a walk and one of our suspicions was that this was cannabis poisoning. The patient in question made a full recovery but this got me thinking about the various cannabis toxicities I have seen over the years.

When working in my first practice in Somerset I was presented with a Golden Retriever that was extremely “sleepy”… from what I remember (for this was many years ago) he had all the signs of cannabis toxicity and we admitted him to the hospital for supportive therapy. What I clearly remember is the slight awkwardness of presenting my suspicions to the owner; I was only a young vet in my early 20s and this was a respectable middle-aged couple who lived in a large house in a leafy Somerset village.

When I informed them that I was highly suspicious of cannabis toxicity they looked shocked, they made no particular comment but the whole conversation was extremely awkward.

The Golden Retriever made a good recovery and, interestingly, when his owners came to pick him up, they were accompanied by their son who was home from university with some friends. He was looking extremely sheepish and was carrying a large bunch of flowers as a thank-you present for everything that we had done.

I can only imagine the telling off that boy had received when his parents got home earlier – thank goodness their beloved dog survived.

*Alice Moore is a vet at Castle Veterinary Clinic, Dorchester and Weymouth. Tel 01305 267083