Owner Panics as Dog Starts Acting Strangely—Then Vet Discovers the Cause
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 pet owner was left stunned after rushing their dog to the emergency vet believing she had suffered a serious neurological issue—only to discover the pup had accidentally ingested an edible.
Janelle Alexander (@zoey.doesthings), 42, from Redding, California, shared a now-viral TikTok showing their dog Zoey's dazed condition after unknowingly consuming THC. The video, which has racked up more than 29,000 likes and over 1.1 million views, captured Zoey's unusual behavior and sparked widespread conversation among fellow pet owners.
Edibles are cannabis-infused food items that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. While relatively safe for humans in small doses, THC can be toxic for dogs.
Alexander told Newsweek: "We were relaxing on the couch when Zoey's dad and I suddenly realized we hadn't seen Zoey in awhile. She typically lays in our lap in the evenings, getting in all the cuddles. Her dad went to find her. He called out for me from the kitchen that something was wrong. Zoey could barely open her eyes.
A split image showing the dog on the way to the emergency vet; and waiting.
A split image showing the dog on the way to the emergency vet; and waiting.
@zoey.doesthings/@zoey.doesthings
"Struggled to stand up, and couldn't bear weight on her hind legs. She had been lying in a puddle of her own urine and continued to lose bladder control as we assessed her. We were terrified. We were convinced she had hurt her spine or had a sudden neurological problem," Alexander said.
She added that it was especially distressing because Zoey's dad had lost his previous dog, a chocolate Labrador, to oral bone cancer the year before. The experience triggered a wave of panic and PTSD. While her partner carried Zoey to the car, Alexander contacted emergency veterinary services.
They rushed to the only emergency clinic available in nearby Cottonwood, California. Upon examining Zoey's unsteady movements and lack of coordination, vets asked if she might have ingested anything toxic. Alexander and her partner were stumped. "We don't have THC in our home. I don't even drink alcohol," Alexander said.
Despite their confusion, blood tests were run, and the results came back positive for THC.
The vet said that cases like Zoey's were becoming increasingly common. Many dogs are exposed to cannabis products in public places—parks, neighborhoods, campgrounds—without their owners realizing it. "Sadly, it doesn't stop at THC. They treat dogs for methamphetamines and other toxins people manage to lose in these public places," Alexander said.
While the couple still doesn't know exactly where Zoey picked it up, they suspect it happened during one of their recent outdoor adventures. "We take Zoey everywhere with us: walks, hikes, camping trips, dog parks," they said.
Fortunately, the vet was optimistic about Zoey's recovery. They administered IV fluids to flush out her system—"dilution is the solution to pollution!"—and sent her home with activated charcoal to reduce further absorption of the THC.
Alexander continued: "We got her home, gave her lots of water, some snacks and put her to bed. She was back to her usual, loving, happy, and cuddly self the next morning."
She said the experience was so traumatic that she felt compelled to make a video in hopes of helping other pet owners recognize the signs. "This dog is our soul dog, healed a lot of pain for both of us … I thought, 'Gosh, it would have great to know this before! Still would have gotten her into the vet, but maybe it would have saved us the panic and heartbreak of thinking this was fatal?'"
The signs the couple wanted to highlight are: loss of coordination, urinary incontinence, sensitivity to light, sound, touch and disorientation.
The video struck a chord with many TikTok users who shared their own similar experiences.
"Great job taking her in, you never really know what it could be. Better to be safe than sorry," posted Kira.
"Put a fan blowing on them and smooth jazz with extra cuddles. They will have the zoomies in approximately 3 hours," commented Britt.
"We spent $600 to find out our husky was high. Still have no idea how it was possible though," said Kimberly Kopet.
"Happened to my 5 months old pup a few months ago. I was crying but thankfully my bff [best friend forever] is a vet tech so we made a FaceTime and she immediately knew … We think he found a roach in the park on our walk. Poor dude was very confused for a couple of hours," another user wrote.
"I thought my 15 year old chihuahua had a stroke or something. nope, just waited till he was an old man to steal a nug [piece of marijuana]. I was so embarrassed at the vet," said Brittany Hooten.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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