Smoking cannabis, or anything else in a closed room could be inadvertently putting the health of your pets at risk.
Veterinarian Dr. Ian Sandler says we already know secondhand smoke from cigarettes has an impact on pet health.
“We know both cats and dogs, especially cats are very, very sensitive to secondhand smoke,” says Dr. Sandler. “So certainly if you’re in a closed environment, when the windows are closed, cigarettes alone are potentially just as bad if not worse as they would be for people.”
He says it is possible your pets could develop breathing issues if they remain exposed to smoke regularly.
“Certainly some cases that have been reported where people that have either been high themselves, or just thought it was a good idea to blow smoke into the faces of their pets, there have been some reports they can show effects of being high,” says Dr. Sandler.
However, he cautions dogs and cats can’t understand what is happening to them, which can lead to anxiety, stress, howling, and illness if they ingest cannabis.
Dr. Sandler says in a situation where you are in an enclosed room, people “should be very, very cautious, and in fact, certainly with smoking bud in the form of a pipe, or a pre rolled joint you just don’t want to be doing that with your pets present.”
If your pet does ingest pot accidentally or deliberately and become ill, or show symptoms of confusion and stress, you should bring them to a vet.
