Sara Bell was at North 40 Park Reserve in Delta, B.C., with her two-year-old husky, Nilak, when he ingested a napkin off the ground. Despite previous similar incidents, Bell became concerned when Nilak, who has a liver condition called Portosystemic Shunt, began exhibiting unusual behavior. A visit to the veterinarian confirmed that Nilak had overdosed on cocaine. After receiving necessary treatment, Nilak recovered.
Bell, shocked and scared for her dog, shared the incident on Facebook and was surprised by the number of similar stories from dog owners whose pets had also ingested drugs found on the street. Mia Riback recounted a similar experience where her dog ingested hashish at a campground, leading to a costly emergency vet visit. Melissa White also shared a past incident where her dog ingested cannabis at the same park.
Veterinarians have noticed a rise in dog overdose cases, with Dr. Tracy Fisher of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association highlighting the importance of prompt veterinary care, especially for substances like fentanyl. She emphasized the need for owners to be vigilant if their pets exhibit unusual behavior after being outside and to disclose any exposure to drugs, whether prescription or illicit.
Dr. Heather James of the Society of B.C. Veterinarians mentioned an increase in dogs with multiple drugs in their systems, possibly due to ingesting contaminated human waste in urban areas. Signs of potential ingestion include imbalance, difficulty walking, twitching, vomiting, or urinary issues. Vets utilize human drug tests to identify substances ingested and administer appropriate antidotes when necessary.
