Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jan 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: James Meikle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

VETS TREATING SPACED-OUT PETS AS DRUG LAWS RELAXED

It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "sniffer dogs". As drug laws are 
relaxed, family pets are increasingly being reported to vets for stumbling 
upon their owners' stashes.

A chilled-out chinchilla that ate some cannabis is the latest victim of 
accidental poisoning, joining earlier instances of spaced-out dogs and a 
comatose ferret whose cases have found their way into scientific literature.

"It was obviously off colour," said Blackpool vet Romain Pizzi, who 
believes more pet owners will be willing to admit how their animals get 
stoned, thanks to the home secretary David Blunkett's decision to ease the 
cannabis law.

Mr Pizzi is asking colleagues nationwide to share their experiences of 
animals unable to just say no.

Mr Pizzi reported the case of the chinchilla in the Veterinary Record and 
revealed that since Mr Blunkett's proposal to reclassify cannabis became 
public last autumn, people have been phoning the surgery to ask what they 
should do because they think their dogs have been at the marijuana.

One owner had actually brought a small crossbreed in for a check-up after 
it showed very mild signs of distress. The chinchilla, an adult female, had 
been brought in by a man who believed she had eaten some of his teenage 
son's cannabis.

"It is never theirs," said Mr Pizzi. "The cannabis obviously had very 
minimal effect in this case.

"The animal was anorexic and mildly depressed. But it can cause coma and 
even death in some animals. It depends on the species." He prescribed 
fluids and antibiotics to ensure the chinchilla's gastric system was not 
harmed and it was back to normal health in a week.

Mr Pizzi said the change in public perception over cannabis improved the 
likelihood of these cases being presented to vets "for what they truly 
are". There might still however be problems about identifying the cause 
when other "recreational drugs" found their way into pets.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager