Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How gas chromatography confirmed synthetic cannabis poisoning in a dog
By Kelmer, Efrat et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2019·Department of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for definitive diagnosis of synthetic cannabinoid toxicity in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old neutered female Boxer was brought to the vet after suddenly vomiting, having trouble walking, and showing signs of confusion and seizures. The dog's condition worsened, and she was found lying down with vomit around her. After being put under anesthesia and receiving ventilation support for 16 hours, she made a full recovery. Tests confirmed she had ingested a synthetic cannabinoid, which is a type of illegal drug. This case highlights the importance of advanced testing methods for diagnosing such toxicities in dogs.
People also search for: dog vomiting and seizures · Boxer dog synthetic cannabinoid poisoning · treatment for dog cannabis toxicity
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to confirm a diagnosis of synthetic cannabis toxicosis in a dog and to describe the clinical course of the intoxication. CASE SUMMARY: An 11-year-old neutered female Boxer dog was referred due to acute onset of vomiting, ataxia, dull mentation, and delirium that progressed to generalized seizures, unresponsive to diazepam. Prior to presentation, the dog was found lying down, minimally responsive with vomitus around it. A chewed bag containing dried plant material was found next to the dog. The dog was anesthetized and ventilated with positive pressure for 16 hours, and eventually made a full recovery. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the plant material and a plasma sample from the dog revealed presence of the synthetic cannabinoid N-[(1S)-1-(aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropyl]-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide, also known as AB-CHMINACA, a relatively new illegal synthetic cannabinoid, known by the local forensic police department as a drug of recreational abuse. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Reports of synthetic cannabinoid toxicosis in dogs are scarce and are based on urine test kits for tetrahydrocannabinol that have not been validated in the veterinary literature. This is the first report to describe utilization of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on canine plasma to reach a definitive diagnosis.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31342645/