Puppy Started Acting Strange After Walk—Vet's Diagnosis Leaves Owner Horrified

Newsweek

09-06-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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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'."