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A new study finds that hundreds of pets in the US are being unintentionally poisoned by cocaine and methamphetamine by their owners in their own homes.
In the study, the researchers emphasized the crucial role that pets play in households, often providing comfort and emotional support, and how it is the humans’ responsibility to make sure they stay healthy.
“Considering the involvement of cocaine and methamphetamine in overdose deaths among humans in the US, this study examined trends in cat and dog exposures to these substances using data from a specialty animal poison control center,” the researchers wrote.
For this study, the researchers used secondary data from calls to the Pet Poison Helpline from 2019 to 2023.
According to the results, a total of 63 cats and 433 dogs were exposed to illegal drugs from 2019 to 2023.
And among those 63 cats, 65% (41 out of 63) were exposed to cocaine while 58% (250 out of 433) of the dogs were exposed to meth.
While the study found no significant trends of meth exposure for either cats or dogs from the data used, they saw a staggering increase in cocaine exposure.
“Animals are highly sensitive to the stimulatory and sympathomimetic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine,” the authors of the study wrote.
“Any degree of exposure should be considered concerning, as there is a high risk of toxicity and death, even with aggressive medical therapy.”
Furthermore, the researchers said that as this continue to “trend upward”, creating awareness and recognizing the potentially fatal effects on pets can help minimize the exposure to these drugs.
Symptoms of cocaine and meth poisoning in dogs include hyperactivity, panting, vomiting, hypersalivation, dilated pupils, and seizures among many others.
Lort Smith Veterinary Hospital explains, “Cocaine causes stimulation of the central and sympathetic nervous systems, causing constriction of blood vessels, an increased heart rate (tachycardia), cardiac arrhythmias and high blood pressure.”
