In the Literature
Loewen JM, Munn-Patterson ML, McEwen KE, Vuong S, Alcorn J, Chicoine AL. Analysis of cannabinoids in plasma from 38 cases of suspected cannabinoid intoxication in dogs. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2024;34(6):545-553. doi:10.1111/vec.13428
The Research …
Rapid and accurate in-clinic analytic methods to verify and/or quantify exposure to marijuana in veterinary patients are lacking. Human point-of-care urine tests are generally ineffective (false-negative results) for detecting delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or its metabolites in canine urine.1-3
The goals of this study were to assess the specificity of cannabis toxicosis diagnosis based on clinical signs alone, quantify plasma cannabinoid concentrations, and correlate plasma cannabinoid concentrations with the clinical severity of toxicosis. Blood samples were collected from 38 dogs with suspected cannabinoid toxicosis based on patient history or physical examination findings. Samples were analyzed via a validated method of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol (CBD) and their active metabolites.
The most common clinically observed abnormality was ataxia (35 dogs), followed by urinary incontinence, decreased mentation, and hyperesthesia. Cannabinoids were detected in all 38 plasma samples. THC was the predominant cannabinoid and was quantifiable in 37 samples (97.4%). CBD (34.2% of samples) and cannabinoid metabolites were also detected. THC concentration did not correlate significantly with clinical signs, with the exception of abnormal menace, pupillary light, and withdrawal reflexes.
… The Takeaways
Key pearls to put into practice:
Results of this study support the ability to diagnose cannabis toxicosis with high specificity using only patient history and clinical signs. More sensitive analytic methods for verifying and quantifying cannabinoid exposure are available but are impractical because of increased turnaround time and cost.
Ataxia was the most reliably observed clinical sign in cases of THC toxicosis.
Clinical signs were similar across a range of plasma cannabinoid concentrations. Aside from abnormal reflexes, specific signs were not associated with specific plasma THC concentrations; however, this study did not examine known times from cannabis ingestion or doses, which may have yielded different results.
Therapy for THC toxicosis should be supportive and focused on treatment of clinical signs. Confirmation of toxicosis can be helpful but does not affect treatment.
You are reading 2-Minute Takeaways, a research summary resource presented by Clinician’s Brief. Clinician’s Brief does not conduct primary research.