What Happens If A Dog Eats Edibles? What Should I Do [2023]

Medically Reviewed By Pet Expert

Dogs love to eat. They love almost anything we give them. And when dogs get hungry, they will grab whatever food that’s within reach.

This includes our snacks! There have been multiple incidences where dogs managed to sneak into the kitchen and steal an unattended brownie or other edibles.

These unfortunate incidents can be dangerous for your dog because edibles are not easily digestible.

I will tell you what happens if a dog eats edibles and how you can prevent it in the future.

What You Should Know About Edibles Before We Start?

There are two types of edibles-

Cannabis edibles and Marijuana edibles.

Cannabis edibles are cannabis-infused foods- which are often desserts and baked goods.

What You Should Know About Edibles Before We Start

On the other hand, Marijuana edibles are herbal extracts that are often used in cooking.

What symptoms you find depend on the edible your dog ate. As with any ingestion, the more you know about what your dog ingested, the better you can treat him if he gets sick.

How To Prevent Your Dog From Eating Edibles?

Edibles are not suitable for dogs. They are curious and like to scavenge for food. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to keep edibles out of reach of dogs.

There are several ways to do this. You can: – Keep edibles in a high place so your dog can’t reach them.

Find a container that keeps edibles out of reach.
Close the container when you’re not home.
Keep edibles on a table or countertop that a dog can’t jump on.
Closely monitor your dog when he is in the kitchen.
Put the edibles in an airtight container.
Prevent your dog from eating the wrappers.

Here’s What Happens If A Dog Eats Edibles

I mentioned that edibles are not suitable for dogs. Some dogs can tolerate edibles better than others. Again, every dog is different.

The size and weight of your dog play an essential role in how much edibles may affect your dog. What happens if a dog eats edibles?

Here’s What Happens If A Dog Eats Edibles

Edibles affect the dog’s central nervous system. The symptoms are mainly the same as when a human ingests edibles.

They include- increased heart rate, blood pressure, hallucination, and altered body temperature.

Dogs have a lower body temperature than humans. It means that edibles can affect them more severely. What happens if a dog eats edibles? They can also have some other symptoms.

The Dangers Of Edible Consumption For Dogs

Dogs who consume edibles can develop severe health complications. Edible poisoning can be fatal for dogs.

The severe symptoms might require your dog to be hospitalized. What happens when a dog eats edibles?

The Dangers Of Edible Consumption For Dogs

Dogs can die from consuming edibles. They can also become very ill and require intensive treatment. Edible poisoning can be dangerous for your dog. It can lead to death if it’s not treated quickly and adequately.

If you suspect your dog has consumed edibles, you must take him to the vet immediately. The quicker your dog is treated, the less severe his symptoms will be.

Signs Of Edibles Poisoning In Dogs

When a dog ingests edibles, it may seem like he’s just acting like a drunk. There are several other symptoms that you can watch for. If your dog ate edibles, you should look for the following symptoms:

Increased heart rate – An increased heart rate may be the first symptom of edible poisoning.
Increased blood pressure – High blood pressure can cause bleeding in your dog’s paws and nose. Increased body temperature
Sleeping difficulties – If your dog ingested a high dose of edibles, he might have sleeping difficulties.
Vomiting – Diarrhea – Diarrhea is another sign of edible poisoning.
Lethargy – Confusion – Hallucination – Abnormal behaviour – Seizures – Death

How To Treat A Dog Who Ate Edibles?

If you suspect your dog ate edibles, you must get him to the vet as soon as possible. Edible poisoning is a medical emergency. The sooner you get your dog treatment, the better his chance of surviving.

What to do if a dog ate edibles? Depending on the severity of your dog’s symptoms, your vet may prescribe him one of the following:

Activated charcoal – Activated charcoal can help your dog’s body break down the edibles.
Gastric lavage – Your vet can perform gastric lavage to flush the edibles out of your dog’s system.
Fluid therapy – Fluid therapy is used to treat low blood pressure. – IV fluids – IV fluids are used to treat low blood pressure, high blood pressure, and dehydration.
Sedatives – Sedatives can calm your dog down and reduce his heart rate.
Anti-nausea medication – Anti-nausea medication can help reduce your dog’s nausea.
Anti-diarrhea medication It can help your dog’s bowels return to normal.
Vitamin K – Vitamin K can help your dog’s blood clot properly.
Vitamin B – Vitamin B can help calm your dog’s nervous system.
Vitamin C – It can help your dog’s immune system fight off the edibles.
Antibiotics – Antibiotics can treat any infections that develop because of edible poisoning.
Anti-seizure medication – Anti-seizure medication can help your dog’s seizures stop.

How Long Will My Dog Feel The Effects?

The symptoms of edible poisoning usually last for 24 hours.

However, this can vary from dog to dog. How long does it take for edibles to leave a dog’s system? It can take up to 72 hours for edibles to leave your dog’s system.

How Long Will My Dog Feel The Effects?

The effects of edible poisoning can persist for longer in older dogs with certain health conditions.

In this case, your dog may require more extensive treatment. How long does it take for edibles to leave a dog’s system? The only way to prevent this is to keep edibles out of reach.

Final Words

When dogs eat edibles, they can seriously harm them. That’s why it’s essential to keep edibles away from your dog.

It includes edibles that are infused with THC and CBD. Your dog can get sick if he eats edibles or marijuana. Make sure to keep your edibles out of reach.

If you have edibles in the house, ensure they’re not accessible to dogs. Keeping your dog close when you have edibles in the house is also a good idea.

Amy Brown
Amy E. Brown is a licensed psychotherapist (serving and author of three self-help books. She’s also a dog rescuer in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Her life-long love of literature and writing developed from her passion for author Jackie Collins novels. She discovered at the age of 12 that she wanted to become a published author. She is a Quora contributor who writes about mental health and addiction issues in both the United States and throughout the world. She is the owner and founder of Blamberg & Associates LLC, which is a private practice specializing in psychological and addiction issues. She has been working with physically and emotionally scarred people for over 30 years.