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In the NoCo

Cases of marijuana intoxication in dogs have grown in Colorado. Here’s how to protect your pets

Sara Aglietti and her dogs Scout, left, and Pickle. Both dogs have accidentally consumed cannabis. Aglietti believes Pickle picked up an edible or a cast off roach at Dry Creek Trail, a popular off-leash walking area in Boulder County. (Provided)
The Colorado Sun
Sara Aglietti and her dogs Scout, left, and Pickle. Both dogs have accidentally consumed cannabis. Aglietti believes Pickle picked up an edible or a cast off roach at Dry Creek Trail, a popular off-leash walking area in Boulder County. (Provided)

Colorado is known as a very dog-friendly state. A recent study by Colorado State University noted that if you’re a pet owner in this state, there’s an 80 percent chance that pet is a dog.

Colorado is also known for being one of the first states to legalize cannabis.

But the high number of dog lovers plus the state’s long history of legal weed appear to have created a growing trend that worries veterinarians. As cannabis has become more widespread – and more potent – there's been a significant uptick in veterinary emergency calls for dogs who have ingested marijuana. The problem is complicated by edibles – which can be very enticing to a dog.

Boulder-based journalist Kate Ruder recently wrote about this for the Colorado Sun. She joined Erin O’Toole to discuss the symptoms to watch for and what veterinarians advise if you think your dog may have eaten cannabis.

Kate Ruder, a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and wearing a black shirt and black puffy vest, smiles for this photo.
Courtesy of Kate Ruder

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.
As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.