Assess the situation
Fill in what you know. Estimates are fine, exact numbers are better. Keep the packaging nearby for your call.
Emergency vet or poison control: which do I call?
Most dogs recover with supportive care, but signs can be severe with concentrates and large edibles, and other ingredients can change the picture entirely.
Go straight to an emergency vet if…
- Your dog is very sleepy, hard to wake, wobbly, trembling, dribbling urine, or having a seizure
- The product was a concentrate (oil, wax, vape cartridge) or contained chocolate or xylitol
- The estimated dose is in the Emergency range
- Your dog has vomited and is very sedated (risk of inhaling vomit)
Call poison control first if…
- Your dog just ate it and seems normal
- You do not know how much THC was in the product
- You want help deciding how urgently to act for your dog's weight
- You want a case number to hand to your vet
How THC toxicosis develops
THC acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain, and dogs have more of these receptors than people. Edibles are absorbed slowly, so signs can start late and last a long time.
Onset
- Wobbliness, stumbling
- Lethargy or unusual sleepiness, or sometimes agitation
- Sensitivity to touch and sound, dilated pupils
- Dribbling urine
Peak effects
- Vomiting
- Slow heart rate, low body temperature
- Tremors; with concentrates, possible seizures or coma
Recovery
- Most dogs recover with supportive care
- Edibles and concentrates can cause longer-lasting signs
Published case data behind these estimates
Published THC dose data for dogs is limited, and product labels are often inaccurate (one study found THC content correctly labeled in only 17% of products). These figures come from the Merck Veterinary Manual.
| THC dose | Documented clinical effect |
|---|---|
| 0.3–0.5 mg/kg | Mild clinical signs reported |
| > 2–3 mg/kg | Moderate clinical signs reported |
| Concentrates, edibles with chocolate or xylitol | Higher risk of severe signs; rare deaths reported after edibles |
Because the literature does not support precise cutoffs, this calculator uses conservative tiers: under 0.3 mg/kg = contact a professional now; 0.3 to under 2 mg/kg = Urgent; 2 mg/kg and above = Emergency. Unknown THC amounts, concentrates, baked edibles, and edibles with chocolate are always at least Urgent. Edibles with xylitol or "sugar-free" products are always Emergency.