Dog Ate Weed? What to Do First, Second and Third (Hint: First Is Call the Vet)

Last checked: October 7, 2026

The bag sat by the door for a minute. Now it's open, there's a gap where something used to be, and the dog won't meet your eye.

If your pet has eaten cannabis, or you think it might have, call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital now. Then come back here. Dog ate weed, what to do after that call? Everything below is general information for adult cannabis owners (19+) in Ontario, drawn from a Canadian veterinary association's pet FAQ, Health Canada, the Government of Ontario and the federal Cannabis Regulations. It isn't veterinary advice, and nothing replaces someone who can actually examine your animal.

We're the neighbourhood shop at Kingston Road and Main Street. Here's the plain version, in steps.

Dog ate weed: what to do, in order

The Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine (CAVCM), a Canadian veterinary group, is clear: if your pet "has eaten cannabis or a cannabis-containing product," you should "contact your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital promptly."

1. Call. Right now. Your vet or an emergency veterinary hospital. Don't wait and watch.
2. Grab the package. CAVCM's instruction: "Be honest about the product and possible amount involved." A legal product's label shows the class of cannabis, a lot number and its Total THC figure, so read those out to the vet. Estimate how much is missing if you can.
3. No home treatment. CAVCM: "Do not induce vomiting or give home remedies unless a veterinary professional specifically directs you to do so."
4. Tell the whole story. Don't shrink the amount or skip the awkward parts. In CAVCM's words: "Accurate information helps the veterinary team provide appropriate care."
5. Do what the vet says. They'll tell you whether to come in and what to bring.

Your vet is the right call. Every time.

Not even sure it was cannabis? If you think your dog ate weed, what to do doesn't change: pick up the phone and let the vet decide what happens next.

Two things the vet group wants on your radar

Straight from CAVCM's pet FAQ:

• Edibles carry extra risk. CAVCM notes edible products "may contain chocolate, xylitol, raisins, caffeine, alcohol or high concentrations of THC." If it was an edible, say so on the call.
• There's no pet prescription. CAVCM puts it plainly: "Veterinarians cannot authorize an animal to access cannabis through the medical-cannabis system." Your stash is never for the dog.

Cannabis and pets under one roof: stash it like they're smarter than you

Health Canada's safe-storage advice starts with the basics: "Always store your cannabis locked away and out of sight and reach of children and pets." Ontario's Ministry of Health lands in the same place, with every cannabis product kept "locked up and out of reach of children and pets." Then Health Canada adds the rule that matters most in a kitchen with a food bowl on the floor: "Always store edible cannabis separately from regular food and drinks."

With a dog in the house, "out of reach" has to account for an animal that jumps, noses things open and finds food you forgot you had. Do the room-by-room sweep:

• Bags on the floor. Backpacks, purses and grocery bags by the door sit right at nose height. Never leave cannabis in a bag on the floor, not even for a minute.
• Coat pockets. If a jacket hangs low or gets tossed on the couch, empty the pockets first.
• The garbage. Used pre-roll ends and empty packages go in a bin with a lid your pet can't open.
• Coffee tables and nightstands. Assume anything on a low surface is reachable.
• The pet food shelf. Take that Health Canada separate-from-food rule one step further: in a house with a dog, the treats and kibble are part of the food supply too. Give your cannabis its own locked spot nowhere near the pet shelf, so the two never get mixed up.

Smoke and vapour: keep the animals out of it

CAVCM doesn't hedge: "Smoke and vapour should not be used around animals." If you smoke or vape at home where that's allowed, keep your pets out of that space. Simple as that.

Quick answers

Should I make my dog throw up?

No, not unless a vet tells you to. CAVCM is explicit about not inducing vomiting or trying home remedies without a veterinary professional's direction.

Dog ate cannabis in Canada: vet or emergency hospital first?

Either one, and don't wait. CAVCM's advice names both: your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital, promptly.

Will the vet need to know exactly what it was?

It helps. CAVCM asks owners to be honest about the product and possible amount, and the package label is the fastest way to give the details.

My pet seems fine. Do I still call?

Yes. If you think your pet may have eaten cannabis, CAVCM's advice is to contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital promptly. Let them make the call on whether it's serious.

Sources we relied on

• Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine, "Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis and Pets" (last reviewed September 2026)
• Health Canada, "Safe storage of cannabis"
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health, safe storage guidance on cannabis edibles
• Cannabis Regulations (SOR/2018-144), label requirements for class of cannabis, lot number and Total THC

Come see us at Kingston and Main

You'll find Main Kingston right on the Kingston Road and Main Street corner, at number 615, with a transit stop at that intersection. New to the neighbourhood, or to cannabis? Start with our first-visit guide for Kingston Road or the basics in Cannabis 101, then come say hi. In Ontario you have to be 19 or over to buy cannabis. And if you landed here because your dog ate weed, what to do is still the same: put this page down and call your vet.