Puppy Started Acting Strange After Walk—Vet's Diagnosis Leaves Owner Horrified
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Pet owners have been left horrified after their puppy began acting strange after a walk, only for his owner to be told he had likely ingested opiates.
Daniela, 34, lives in Cincinnati with her 10-month-old Maltipoo, Louis, who, like many dogs of that age, his owner describes as "a vacuum and will eat anything."
And while it is possible to puppy-proof your home, and keep a close watch on them to ensure they don't get at anything they are not supposed to, while out in public, it can be much more difficult.
Daniela told Newsweek that she and Louis had just returned from a walk when the puppy began acting strange—he was unsteady on his feet, "stumbling, and falling over," she wrote in a post to Reddit's r/DogAdvice.
Posting a video of Louis from her account u/sillygoose1415 showing him swaying on the spot, Daniela said she soon had an appointment with the vet, but asked internet users for advice as she was so worried.
"We had a regular morning (walk, breakfast, play). He started becoming uneasy on his feet, swaying back and forth, and has stumbled/fallen a few times," Daniela wrote. "He is 'out of it'—zoning out, staring at nothing, and has very little energy.
Daniela said: "We live in a downtown metro area. The only thing I can think of was that he could have eaten something he shouldn't have on our morning walk (a cigarette or joint butt, street food, another animal's waste). I've recently seen empty/discarded Narcan in the park in front of our apartment. He is notorious for trying to eat stuff he sees on the street."
Reddit users, giving the post close to 4,000 upvotes, were quick to share theories, with some suggesting Louis could have eaten cannabis outside, and another wondering if Louis could be having an epileptic seizure. Others offered no theories, but instead sent well wishes to the owner and her dog ahead of the vet visit.
Daniela told Newsweek she noticed Louis acting strange "about 30 to 60 minutes after our morning walk," and at the veterinarian, received devastating news: Louis had likely ingested opiates. "The vet did a urine test on him, [and] mentioned it's the same strip tests they use for humans.
"I don't have opiates in the home, the only place he could have ingested anything was at the park in front of our home. We went straight out for a pee and then straight back home."
In a comment, Daniela said Louis had vomited and urinated on himself, his eyes were like pinpricks, and his temperature was low. The vet administered Narcan—a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses—gave him IV fluids, and kept him for several hours to keep an eye on him.
Daniela's dog swaying and unsteady after returning from their walk.
Daniela's dog swaying and unsteady after returning from their walk.
Reddit u/sillygoose1415
Narcan is a brand name for medication naloxone, which can reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose, including heroin and other opioids, and prescription pills. A nasal spray version also exists, which requires no special training to administer, according to WebMD.
Opiates in dogs causes sedation and weakness, shallow breath, low heart rate and loss of consciousness, according to Ohio State University clinical professor and veterinarian Edward Cooper. Narcan should be given to a dog if it has collapsed, lost consciousness or has shallow breathing, or immediately if it is confirmed the dog has ingested opiates. The use of Narcan can reverse opioid effects in dogs within minutes, but the animal should be kept under close watch for several hours.
In an update posted the following day, Daniela shared that Louis had perked up following the Narcan—while she herself had gone to the park and found multiple "needles and other drug paraphernalia," with her vet saying this was an "increasing problem for local pets."
Daniela said: "The area has been overrun recently with anti-social behavior. Our car was broken into last night, along with about 20 other cars in the local parking garage for our apartment. The local Chinese restaurant and the local corner shop have also been burgled. The police have told me that the good weather brings out crime."
In Louis' case, Daniela said in her update post that he was now "home resting," but still appeared "loopy," and would have a follow-up appointment with the vet.
"Please watch all your doggos in public parks this summer," she said. "We are gobsmacked this happened to our little guy."
She added that, for now, she had ordered Louis a "soft muzzle for walks, until he learns the command 'drop' and 'leave it'."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Preliminary data shows opioid deaths dropping big in Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says its latest data shows opioid deaths continue to drop across the state. Nitrous oxide abuse up more than 500% in Michigan Provisional data from MDHHS says overdose deaths likely dropped by 34% from 2023 to 2024 — approximately 1,000 fewer lives lost. The agency called it 'continued progress' thanks to investments to combat oversdoses, both financially and in effort. Since 2019, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office has worked to secure more than from several drug manufacturers and retailers, providing funds for state treatment, recovery and prevention programs. 'The progress we are seeing in combatting the opioid epidemic proves what is possible when real investments are made in treatment and prevention,' Nessel . 'My office will continue working to hold those responsible for this crisis accountable to ensure the health and well-being of residents are put ahead of corporate greed.' 'You can do it': Woman who beat addiction aims to inspire others According to MDHHS, more than 1.3 million naloxone kits have been purchased and distributed, and nearly 34,000 have reportedly been used to reverse overdoses and save lives. Michigan's , which is powered primarily by opioids, has steadily climbed from 2000 to 2021. The MDHHS notes a rise in opioid prescriptions starting in 2000, a rise in heroin use starting in 2010 and the emergence of fentanyl in 2013. In Michigan, overdose deaths took a sharp rise in 2013, from 1,300 to 1,535. By 2017, the number was up to 2,686. Numbers dropped before another surge sparked in 2019, going from 2,354 to 3,096 in 2021. Since then, deaths have trended down. The state recorded 2,998 in 2022 and 2,931. The preliminary data recorded just 1,045 deaths from January through June of 2024, on track for roughly 2,100 for the year. Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter Lauren Rousseau, the president of the Northwest Wayne County Chapter of Face Addiction Now, says there is still a lot of work to do. 'White overdose deaths have declined significantly, due in part to the increased accessibility of Narcan, nonfatal overdoses remain high,' Rousseau said in a statement. 'Sustained funding, community engagement and a continued focus on reducing stigma are essential to turning the tide on the opioid crisis for good.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Stray Cat Steals Bread—Refuses To Give It Back in Hilarious Clip
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A former stray cat was caught stealing bread from his owners' kitchen, but once confronted, he refused to give it back, hanging on to it as if it was his most-prized possession. The hilarious theft was caught on camera and shared on TikTok. In the now-viral clip, shared in May, under the username @carlykfuller, the tuxedo cat, Corbin, from Denver, Colorado, can be seen holding the bread between his paws and his fangs, hanging on to it as his mom tries to take it away with tongs. "Side effects of taking in a stray cat: the demons come out," reads layover text in the clip, as the cat growls at his mom nonstop, managing to snatch a piece of bread while she takes it away form him. "Someone save me from this cat (he's actually a sweet boy until the demons come out)," the poster writes in the caption. While bread itself isn't necessarily toxic or dangerous to cats, it offers no nutritional values, and so they shouldn't really be eating it. Pet MD says that cats are "obligate carnivores," which means that they obtain most of their nutrients for their diet from meats and meat-based products. Because bread has no meat, it is essentially empty calories, which replace the proteins they need. Carbohydrates are also considered unhealthy for cats. Moreover, flavored breads are a major no for pets. Anything that includes sugar, spices, onions, or garlic is toxic to cats and must be avoided. Rough dough, even if plain, is also toxic. Other human foods that cats should never eat include chocolate, raw meat or eggs, nuts, grapes and raising, bones, yeast, milk, alcohol, and citrus among others. You can read the full list of foods that are toxic to felines here. Stock image: A cat on the grass plays with a baguette in its paws. Stock image: A cat on the grass plays with a baguette in its paws. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 472,000 views and more than 51,800 likes on the platform. One user, Christian S, commented: "Are you planning on eating that bread? If not why can't he just have it? Just saying." Shawnna Marie posted: "God forbid the cat wants a roll with dinner." Brooke.m added: "Our youngest cat came from the streets. He's a dumpster goblin. If I don't share bananas with him he'll murder my face. I literally just found my last banana on the floor in the kitchen …" Newsweek reached out to @carlykfuller for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Puppy Started Acting Strange After Walk—Vet's Diagnosis Leaves Owner Horrified
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Pet owners have been left horrified after their puppy began acting strange after a walk, only for his owner to be told he had likely ingested opiates. Daniela, 34, lives in Cincinnati with her 10-month-old Maltipoo, Louis, who, like many dogs of that age, his owner describes as "a vacuum and will eat anything." And while it is possible to puppy-proof your home, and keep a close watch on them to ensure they don't get at anything they are not supposed to, while out in public, it can be much more difficult. Daniela told Newsweek that she and Louis had just returned from a walk when the puppy began acting strange—he was unsteady on his feet, "stumbling, and falling over," she wrote in a post to Reddit's r/DogAdvice. Posting a video of Louis from her account u/sillygoose1415 showing him swaying on the spot, Daniela said she soon had an appointment with the vet, but asked internet users for advice as she was so worried. "We had a regular morning (walk, breakfast, play). He started becoming uneasy on his feet, swaying back and forth, and has stumbled/fallen a few times," Daniela wrote. "He is 'out of it'—zoning out, staring at nothing, and has very little energy. Daniela said: "We live in a downtown metro area. The only thing I can think of was that he could have eaten something he shouldn't have on our morning walk (a cigarette or joint butt, street food, another animal's waste). I've recently seen empty/discarded Narcan in the park in front of our apartment. He is notorious for trying to eat stuff he sees on the street." Reddit users, giving the post close to 4,000 upvotes, were quick to share theories, with some suggesting Louis could have eaten cannabis outside, and another wondering if Louis could be having an epileptic seizure. Others offered no theories, but instead sent well wishes to the owner and her dog ahead of the vet visit. Daniela told Newsweek she noticed Louis acting strange "about 30 to 60 minutes after our morning walk," and at the veterinarian, received devastating news: Louis had likely ingested opiates. "The vet did a urine test on him, [and] mentioned it's the same strip tests they use for humans. "I don't have opiates in the home, the only place he could have ingested anything was at the park in front of our home. We went straight out for a pee and then straight back home." In a comment, Daniela said Louis had vomited and urinated on himself, his eyes were like pinpricks, and his temperature was low. The vet administered Narcan—a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses—gave him IV fluids, and kept him for several hours to keep an eye on him. Daniela's dog swaying and unsteady after returning from their walk. Daniela's dog swaying and unsteady after returning from their walk. Reddit u/sillygoose1415 Narcan is a brand name for medication naloxone, which can reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose, including heroin and other opioids, and prescription pills. A nasal spray version also exists, which requires no special training to administer, according to WebMD. Opiates in dogs causes sedation and weakness, shallow breath, low heart rate and loss of consciousness, according to Ohio State University clinical professor and veterinarian Edward Cooper. Narcan should be given to a dog if it has collapsed, lost consciousness or has shallow breathing, or immediately if it is confirmed the dog has ingested opiates. The use of Narcan can reverse opioid effects in dogs within minutes, but the animal should be kept under close watch for several hours. In an update posted the following day, Daniela shared that Louis had perked up following the Narcan—while she herself had gone to the park and found multiple "needles and other drug paraphernalia," with her vet saying this was an "increasing problem for local pets." Daniela said: "The area has been overrun recently with anti-social behavior. Our car was broken into last night, along with about 20 other cars in the local parking garage for our apartment. The local Chinese restaurant and the local corner shop have also been burgled. The police have told me that the good weather brings out crime." In Louis' case, Daniela said in her update post that he was now "home resting," but still appeared "loopy," and would have a follow-up appointment with the vet. "Please watch all your doggos in public parks this summer," she said. "We are gobsmacked this happened to our little guy." She added that, for now, she had ordered Louis a "soft muzzle for walks, until he learns the command 'drop' and 'leave it'."
